Hi Gill, if they are still within the timescale then parents should lodge an appeal. It is much more tricky when a mainstream school say they can meet need as the LA will take that at face value and (in my experience) almost always place in mainstream. School need to step up and be honest that they cannot meet need (even the highest band of EHCP funding doesn’t pay for a full time TA)
It is a sad situation that seems to be happening more and more as places in special schools are so limited.
Steph