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SN children

statement advice please sorry for the typo's!

28 replies

emmalou78 · 25/01/2006 14:52

Hi.

Can any of you lovlies give me a bit of advice?

my youngest, elijah was dx ASD in july, we were tod at the post meeting consultation that a tatement of special needs would be requested, unsuprisingly this still hasn't happened. We [myslef and teh re school mamanger] pressed the ed psych on htis nad she says theres insufficient evidence to put forward a request for assessment?

At present SS have stumped up 600 quid to pay for 1:1 support for him in pre school, but its only enough for 1 term, I can't afford 50quid a week, to pay tehm myself, pre school are hoping to raise enough from ajumble sale and end of term raffle to continue the provision after easter.

Part of the trouble seems ot be that he's improving, his behavioirs better nad his attention and eye contact are amazign when you thik back to how he was a year ago.This is partbecuase he is used ot the setting, and part because I have tried ot continue the work of teh SALT at home and have worked hard ot create a predictble daily routine [inc timetable] and gradually introducing communincation methods, PECS is aboutto start but I need the SALTS advice on how to approach it.

BUT, what I want to know is this, are the following things enough ground for me to put the requets in myself, ?

he's 3.5 yrs old ASD
he doesn't talk
he doesn't have any concept of potty training [amd god knows I ty]
left alone to 'self direct' he stimshe runs riot,
he is prone to violent outbursts
he gets stuck on certian activities


and this term he's ben gettign assitance, and still I've had thre reports of him pinching staff and children, he's headbutted a little girl, because she said hello half way through the session, and has thrown a hissy fit so bad he left bumps on his head from thrashing around.
AT home he's no better, I have to wear long sleeves to hide the scratch and bruise marks he leaves on me, he attacks his brother and is destructive... and even if you expalin thisto the ed psych she still says if we go ahead nw they'll refuse the application!

Its driving me mad. Theres a special school that I think he owuld thrive in,but I can't apply becuaehe has no statement, so I've had to chose his brohters m/s school which I'm not happy about, but had no choice, it was either apply or break the law IYSWIM, I'm waiitng tohear when teh area SENco is next in as I should like to chew his ears off over this.

but what do you think, am i just frustrated baout nothin, or could I push for more help?

our SALT clinical psych etc are all wonderful, but no one seems to tell me diddly squat withregards ot what we're entitled to and what should happen.

TIA

emma x

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MeerkatsUnite · 25/01/2006 15:54

Hi Emma.

You are not frustrated for no good reason.

Ed Pyschs are under pressure from LEA's not to issue statements (they are employed by the LEA) but this should not put you off applying for it. Infact don't let them put you off applying full stop.

Would strongly suggest you look at IPSEA's website - this is www.ipsea.org.uk. They are very good in this regard and have a range of model letters you can use when writing to the LEA. IPSEA also have a helpline you can call (details are on their website).

You can apply to the LEA yourself as a parent and I would suggest you do this now. Unfortunately the onus falls very much on the parents to apply for a statement. BTW if the LEA assess you as a parent can appeal. If the school did apply and the LEA said no then there is no right of appeal. Not surprised to read unfortunately that school have not done anything with regards to this; this seems to happen a lot.

If all goes well and the LEA agree to assess Elijah then it will take around six months for a statement to be drawn up. This is a legally binding document that is reviewed yearly. It will state how many hours of support he will get per week and what help they are prepared to give him.

If you get the statement you can also name the school you want him to attend.

I wish you well and do apply to the LEA in question asap.

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MeerkatsUnite · 25/01/2006 15:56

Sorry should have read this part more carefull before posting. It should read:-

BTW if the Lea refuse to assess you as a parent can appeal.

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emmalou78 · 25/01/2006 16:04

thanks, will look at the IPSEA site, and discuss this with pre school tomorrow.

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mamadadawahwah · 25/01/2006 16:12

My son was only 2 and 8 months, not in nursery and in a part time ABA program. I personally requested him to be statemented and all things have gone according to plan. I am now awaiting a proposed statement. YES, ABSOLUTELY, your child is ready to be statemented. Do not listen to teachers or ed psychs who tell you anything different. The minute your child got a diagnosis is the minute he should be statemented, particularly if you want 1:1 help.

Its a minefield. I can send you info on how to do the statement but Ipsea are very good, very helpful. Make a paper trail. Do not discuss anything of importance over the phone, write it in a letter and keep a copy. Take notes of any phone calls. this should be what you should be doing all the way through the process. They can be devious, undermining and sometimes just plain lie!! (LEA's i mean)

let me know if you want more info. I will CAT you.

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SqueakyCat · 25/01/2006 20:30

Sounds v frustrating.
In the meantime, do you need the statement to get the 1:1 help funded NOW? My DS1 (age 3yr 2 mo) gets funded 1:1 via LEA without a statement. He had funding for 1:1 via SS before he was 3 & entitled to the 'early yrs education' and then the funding was taken on by the LEA. Our preschool is v good at getting funding, though.
Round here, you can get a place at the special school nursery on the advice of the EP and without a statement, though statements are needed for the primary-age places at those schools.
Is he due to start school this yr or next?

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emmalou78 · 26/01/2006 10:44

we were advised by the SENCo that there was no availiable funding for a 1:1 support worker from the LEA, and our pre school are struggling financially at present so they can't afford the staff wages to provide 1:1, so when the one off payment from SS is gone thats his 1:1 gone, I donb't want to think about the disruption and problems thats going to cause.

He starts school Jan O7 and the ed psych wants to have his statement in place for then, which would also mean he's up for review every january... which mean IF [ha ha ha IF ffs] full time mainstream isn't right for him theres a chance he'd be stuck there for at least a further term before transferring full or part time to the SEN unit that caters for ASD 2-19 yr olds. [to my knowledge I can't get him in there without a statement, but a quick chat with the clinical psych on monday should clarify that one..]

Don't get me wrong, he's a bright little boy, but his autism really impacts on everything... he can't be left to self direct because without the guidance and support of an adult he can't focus, he over loads, stims, meltdowns you name it... the problem is, he seems to have this fantastic memory for al his support workers etc, so when tehy go into pre school to work with him or observe, he behaves how they have conditioned him to over the past year, he enjoys his basket work with the Pre-school special ed teacher who goes in every week, he loves his SALT [and he loves her as well, she's the only person he can say the name of, not 'mummy' no, but 'sarah' oh yes!]and he really enjoys the 1:1 attention he gets from the ed psych, not one of the LEA employed people have ever taken a detailed history from me, and form the ed psychs last set of recomendations I aren't sure she's got a lot of experience with ASD, she seems to think he'd settle at story time if he's shown teh book firt on his own [no, he'd stil want to be up fron to see the pictures] and at song time, she wanted amember of stff to sit/stand behind im and forceflly manipulate him so he's joining in, till he just needs tapping prompts! if she read any of his file she'd know you can only have prolonged physical contact from elijah if he initiates it.

the ed psych and special teacher arein tomorrow to observe him, I've cleared it with the staff and I'm in to discuss the matter with them, I want to know what evidence they need, how long it will take, and what alternative support could be offered in the meantime, and if I get fobbed off I can ask if It would be favourable for me to put the request in, becuase I could appeal it if i was refused.

they'll try to blind me with science. problem is, I'm so geared up to get him the help come what may I won't stop till he has it... my concern is that if I piss the ed psych of, she'll somehow f*ck the application process up.

your all very helpful thankyou

sorry for waffling again!

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Socci · 26/01/2006 10:55

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Socci · 26/01/2006 11:44

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tobysmumkent · 26/01/2006 13:19

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Littlefish · 26/01/2006 13:31

Some LEAs are now devolving the SEN finance formerly set aside for statements, directly to schools. Do you think this is what was meant? If so, it is then down to the school to decide how to use the money.

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Socci · 26/01/2006 14:26

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Socci · 26/01/2006 14:29

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Littlefish · 26/01/2006 14:46

Sorry - I didn't explain myself very well. What I meant is that possibly when Emmalou was told that the LEA didn't have the money, did they mean that it was because it had been devolved to the schools already (I didn't mean that the school could choose to ignore the details of the statement).

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Socci · 26/01/2006 15:38

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Littlefish · 26/01/2006 17:53

I agree that the whole system seems to be designed to put as many obstacles in the way as possible, in the hope that parents and schools will eventually give up trying!

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mamadadawahwah · 27/01/2006 05:27

When a comment was made by the principal of our local nursery regarding not being able to pay for a 1:1 for my little guy (ASD) without a statement, i said he is benig statemented right now, and when he is you will get the funding. She poo pooed and said that is very unlikely cause of so many cut backs yada yada.

I have heard the money issue so many times. GET THE STATEMENT YOURSELF. They try to fuddle up your brain. If you do it yourself, there is nothing they can do. If Tony Blair could come up with 20 billion dollars in a moments notice for the Gulf War, he can come up with a 1:1 for my child!!

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Graciefer · 27/01/2006 12:40

[quote]If Tony Blair could come up with 20 billion dollars in a moments notice for the Gulf War, he can come up with a 1:1 for my child!![quote]

HERE HERE!!!!

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Davros · 28/01/2006 16:47

The thing about funds being devolved to schools is correct and it means m/s schools, but it does not all go to schools and LEAs MUST provide statements and assess children's needs by law, as Socci says.

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caffeine · 06/02/2006 10:29

Emmalou, I'd suggest you contact the Special Educational Needs department at the LEA, if you havent already as they set the criteria for deciding who gets a statement. The criteria vary in different authorities, so in our authority a diagnosis of ASD is not on its own a grounds for getting a statment. Most authorities also have some sort of ASD department or resources which you could also try. If you are seeing medical professionals for your son they can request the statutory assessment if they feel that he needs additional support. Actually, so can the SALT. Hope this helps, good luck.

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Socci · 06/02/2006 13:46

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MeerkatsUnite · 06/02/2006 15:59

Caffeine.

re your comment:-
"in our authority a diagnosis of ASD is not on its own a grounds for getting a statement".
This LEA of yours are complete barstewards for
acting like this.

I would agree fully with Socci here. They are clearly not playing by the rules and you should realise that what they are doing is unlawful. They cannot and should not adopt blanket policies of refusal to certain groups of individuals.

The LEA can and should write to the various professionals involved with a child within a certain time period if assessment is agreed.

The onus on getting a statement is very much down to the parents; if they apply to the LEA and are turned down they can appeal against the decision.

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LizLocket · 06/02/2006 22:58

Same as Caffeine here, a diagnosis of ASD is not grounds for getting a statement either. A lot of the funding for SENS has been devolved to the schools and it seems very variable how much the schools actually use this budget on SNs or on other things. The LEA here will only consider assessing for a statement if the child needs 15hrs or more additional help a week irregardless of whether there is a diagnosis or not. On the one hand it is good that it is based upon needs rather than diagnosis but on the other a lot more kids are being left to the mercy of SA+. We're currently going through the process as DS will likely need 15+ hours additional help a week but even if the statement is awarded the school will fund it (the first 15 hours I think) out of their SNs budget so it won't help them financially. I think where it does help is that the LEA will get billed if the school use Autistic Outreach or other equivalent services if it's in the statement. That's my hazy understanding of the process though talking to friend who live elsewhere LEAs are doing a variety of different things

Liz x

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Socci · 06/02/2006 23:32

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MeerkatsUnite · 07/02/2006 07:55

Liz

The LEA in question are acting illegally, no two ways about it.

I would also suggest you report this LEA in question to IPSEA (www.ipsea.org.uk). They have clout and have successfully challenged numerous LEA's on several occasions re this particular issue.

LEA's cannot turn a statutory duty into a discretionary one.

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caffeine · 07/02/2006 10:50

i think the problem is that LEAs all use different criteria to meet the broad principle in the code of practice that children with SEN should have their needs met. Not in any way justifying LEAs but this is the position i seem to see across the country. but in order to provide some way forward for the children in question, i think that close and ongoing communication with school and lea is crucial. I agree that the onus is very much on parents to push for their childrens needs to be met, but this seems to be in any arena. if we want good medical care, we have to find it, if we want good schools we have to move house etc. In the end, the way to support children with SEN is to work as closely as we can with school. Afterall, what we want is for children to make progress, whatever it takes. Of course we have to fight against systems otherwise we'd never change anything, but we also have to work within them sometimes because valuable time gets lost if we dont.

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