With the help of Rook Irwin Sweeney, a family secured local authority funding for their daughter to attend her preferred post 18 placement, a specialist residential college

James Betts acted for parents concerned that their daughter was in her final year at school and the local authority had failed to confirm what placement she was going to attend the next year.

The family had supported their daughter to consider local provision but it was felt there was no local college that would be able to meet their daughter’s needs. They had attended an open day at a specialist residential college which went really well.  It was felt the specialist curriculum and 24 hour approach offered by the college would provide the support needed to develop independent living skills which would not be possible if living at home.

Despite repeated requests the local authority had failed to confirm what placement it proposed for September.

After instructing Rook Irwin Sweeney an appeal was made to the SEND Tribunal. Eventually this led to the local authority agreeing to fund the preferred placement without need for a Tribunal hearing. This meant our client’s daughter was able to enjoy her final days at school safe in the knowledge she would be moving to her preferred placement in September.

We are pleased to hear that she has settled in really well and is thriving in her new placement.

‘This is the second time we have engaged the help of James Betts to help navigate through our daughters educational placement at both secondary school and college and her associated EHCP. We simply cannot praise James enough. He is so thorough and determined. We have been able to avoid tribunal on both occasions, all of which I put down to his perseverance and tenacity. We would not have achieved the level of support and college placement if it weren’t for James. We would not hesitate in recommending James and Rook Irwin Sweeney to any family who needed help with their child’s SEN provision.’ – Mr and Mrs Wild

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