We got the Statement!

[yesitsme]

After nearly 18 months of reports and panels and assessments we got the letter yesterday to say they have given my son a Statement of Special needs, we now have to wait to see what the draft statement says and see if we agree with it, so begins another battle I would imagine!

At the moment just chuffed we have got this far!

What can I expect in a draft Statement never even seen one before?

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

It will come in six parts. Part 4 will be blank (this is normal and this is blank in order for you to name the school you wish your child to attend).

Parts 2 and 3 are the most important in this whole document. You must ensure that these are the best they can possibly be. You need to see specific support, a set number of hours of support per week and properly detailed strategies - no wishy washy vague stuff. If Speech and Language is applicable SALT should be in Part 2 as well (it often is not but it should be there as well).

Reject out of hand if none of the above is the case.

Organisations like IPSEA www.ipsea.org.uk and SOS;SEN are very helpful and either could tell you what Parts 2 and 3 should say. It is always worth contacting fully independent organisations like the above.

Also do look at the Special Needs: Children section posted on this website and ask questions there too. That part of the SEN board gets far more traffic daily and the women on there are very helpful.

[amybookbug]

Part one gives you basic information about your child and a list of advice recieved as part of the assesment.
Part two and three gives a list of all the needs your child has, and what help they're going to get.
Part four is blank, and you should fill that in yourself - information about schools goes here, what school you want them to go to, etc.
Part five and six are about any non-educational needs your child has and what help you will recieve with them.
Hope I could be of help, and this link should be of help: Direct.gov.uk

[Willmum]

well done yesitsme! hope it's not as wishy washy as mine, and sorry to highjack your thread but have a question for Atilla (or anyone else).
How can you find out what is required when it's not specified. e.g The ed psych has stated my lo would benefit from several different strategies, 'time to talk' use of social stories, social use of language programme' etc. I very much want to quantify these but feel unable to as I have no ideas of what is reasonable. I have asked for clarification but am not getting it? Any ideas?
Thanks

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

If the support in the statement is not specified or quantified it is infact unlawful and should be rejected outright.

"Would benefit from" is too wishy washy and inportantly unspecified. Do not accept such wording as it is too weak. You need "child x will have" instead.

Speaking to organisations like IPSEA or SOS:SEN is advised as they can advise on parts 2 and 3 (the most important parts of this document) and can tell you what it should say.

[sugarcandyminx]

ACE have a good guide to checking a statement on their website.

Just to add that Parts 5 and 6 are non-educational and aren't legally binding - so if any therapies are listed in there and not listed in Part 2/3, you can't challenge the LA if it's not provided.

For Parts 2/3/4, you can appeal to SEND if you're not happy with it, and if it's not enforced, you can complain. So you want anything important (SALT etc) to go in parts 2&3; having it in part 5 is meaningless.