How do you apply for a statement?

[Joanna3]

Hi my DS is having problems at school. He can't concentrate at all and has great problems sitting still during any group activities. He is in a class of 30 (reception). He is clearly not ready to start any formal learing at present (can't hold a pen). Suspect he might have ADHD but I have not talked to anyone about this officially. I would like to try and get a statement so he can have some extra one to one help at school but don't know anything about how to go about this. Does anyone have any experience of this? Thanks

[Davros]

1. Go to GP, get referral to Developmental Paediatrician and/or Child Development Team. Get Paed or one of team to write to LEA to request statement or write yourself. Visit IPSEA website.
   OR
   2)Go direct to LEA, having checked IPSEA website and request assessment/statement.
   First option more usual and effective prob.
   
2. Visit MN Special Needs board
   
   HTH

[Joanna3]

Thanks Davos. Do you think you need an actual diagnosis of ADHD to get a statement or will it be enough that he is having serious problems concentrating and needs some one to one support?

[dogwalker]

See you schools SENCO (Special Needs Coordinator) to see about getting him on an IEP (Individual Education Plan). Then also see about getting him to see an Education Psychologist. You'll really have to push for this and hopefully you will have the support of the school. It is still quite early for him actually.

[Yorkiegirl]

Message withdrawn

[Davros]

No, you can do it yourself, I did. I always forget to suggest speaking to the school as we did ours long before school ever came up (DS was 2.5 when we applied, 3.5 when it was agreed). Good idea to speak to Senco and poss the first thing to do. Diagnosis always makes it easier, not sure if its essential though, probably not in theory but maybe in practice.

[Jimjams]

Agree with Davros- have a look at IPSEA site- lots of good advice. Like Davros we applied for our son's statement - he was 3 or 4; we applied before we knew where he would be going to school.

[ScummyMummy]

Hi joanne. Sorry to hear this- you must be worried about your boy. I hope you will find that there's lots of help around for him though.

As Davros says, you can indeed ask for your son to be assessed yourself. There's a proforma letter by IPSEA here. I'd agree that IPSEA is generally v good on statutory assessment/statements and you'll probably be able to find all you need to know on there if you decide to go that route.

However, personally I would definitely recommend speaking to the school first and, if at all possible, getting their support/advice before deciding whether to ask for your son to be assessed. Does the school think he needs a statement? Why or why not? You really, really, really need to know what the school thinks because the LEA will consult with them to decide whether to assess your son for a possible statement. If the school reports no worries or only mild ones, the LEA will almost certainly refuse to assess. And if you want to challenge a decision not to assess you will need lots of good evidence about your son's needs and, ideally, a lawyer to present it to tribunal- not always a stress free journey, IME.

So I'd suggest that you save that approach for when you're sure it's needed and try to work closely with the school in the first instance- this will be important in any case, obviously, so that your son gets the best support. Have you spoken in depth to his class teacher and asked how he is doing and what extra help he is getting? I'd agree that requesting a more formal meeting with the class teacher and SENCo if the teacher alone can't give you the answers you need can be helpful. Is your son on the School action or School action plus stages of the school's special needs register? What support does that give him? Is it enough? If not, would the school agree that a statement is necessary?

Really HTH, and best of luck, joanne.

[ScummyMummy]

sorry, joannA :}

[ScummyMummy]

Arrgh! , I meant

[Davros]

Scummy speaks sense (and I am indebted to her for a link on another thread ).
Also didn't say sorry to hear that he is having problems and you are worried, have got hardened over the years I suppose and forget to sympathise sometimes

[mieow]

Not quite the same, My DD was assessed for a Statement and found to be too high functioning to get one. The advisory teacher is sure she fits the critera for Ear marked pupil funding. She had a Child devolpement check done 3 weeks ago, where they said her physical skills are that of a nearly 2 year old (she is 4) and her speech is about 3 years. her play skills are age approprate (sp??) I have asked the doctor to send a copy of the report onto the education dept. so they can start the EMPF process, but have they got time?? She starts Reception class in January

[ScummyMummy]

What link's that then, Davros? Glad to have been of help but I have no idea what you're talking about and am now wracking my brains to think of links I have made recently!

I think lots of people on here would argue that you're seven thousand million trillion miles away from hardened, btw.

[Thomcat]

I applied myself without speaking to school but she is known to hospital therapist and portage. I have to appeal though and will be asking school for support this time round. If you ring your local LEA they can send you a booklet all about statementing that will be useful to you.

[Davros]

Thanks Scummy (big hug!), I mean the Drunk Coddygate link!

[Joanna3]

Thank you so much for taking time to reply to my message. Davros - I was not offended by the tone of your message at all but I really appreciate all your good wishes. I just want to try and get the right sort of help for my ds as it sounds like he is floundering at school at the moment. I am not that surprised by this, but a bit disappointed obviously. He is a bit "different" from other kids and likes to do his own thing. For example when he was little I took him to a toddlers gym class and he could not do what the teacher asked him to do even though all the other kids of his own age were sitting still and doing the games etc. I decided not to start going to my GP then because I did not think it was necessary - I was just about coping with him at home. It is only now that he is being compared all the time to his peers that his differences are becoming more apparent. I think I am going to have a formal meeting with the teacher and SENCO person first to see what sort of help they can offer him and just how bad his problems are. It is upsetting to think that his teacher probably just sees him as a problem who needs to be controlled in the classroom. I love him despite his problems and know how sweet and good natured he can be. Anyway sorry this is so long but I just wanted to let you know how grateful I am for your postings.

[ScummyMummy]

Oh right, Davros! Yes- was ludicrously slightly scared about that one- thought the whole board might rise against me and accuse me of being a terrible stirrer! One of those ones where a few days later you can't think why on earth you wasted five whole minutes worrying about such an utterly trivial thing. The power of mumsnet, I guess.

Hope your meeting goes well, Joanna3.