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Sorry, another statementing question!!

2 replies

Dingle · 06/06/2006 13:25

Amelia is due to start mainstream school in September and is currently attending the attached nursery where the staff know her well.

I am please with their attitude and Amelia is coming along in leaps and bounds BUT....

...I still have my concerns. Not sure what level of support they are able to offer her in September and for my own peace of mind, I still want a statement. The school have said a few times that they were going to apply for stat. assessment but as of yet an application hasn't been made. If she attends school in September without one, it isn't a big issue, but I want the ball to be in motion by then IYSWIM.

I have drafted a letter requesting assessment myself but I am weary of when to post it to the LEA. I don't have enough knowledge about the system and what I don't want is to be refused and for everyone to be unavailable to help the appeal (if necessary) because of the summer holidays.

Can someone please advise me of the timescales in which the LEA need to respond to a request. And if refused, how long do I have to gather evidence?

This has been hanging over me for so long, like a huge black cloud!!! I really need to fight this battle and get on with life!

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 06/06/2006 14:21

IPSEA are very good when it comes to all this and I would suggest you look at their website as well (they have model letters you can use).

Do not rely on the school to apply for it because you could wait forever for them to do so. It needs to come from yourself as the parent - you as the parent have thr right to appeal if LEA say no to assessment (school do not have this right).

It takes around 26 weeks for such a document to be set up if the LEA agree to assess so you're looking at perhaps February/March for it to start if all goes well.

I would therefore put in your letter to the LEA asap and wait.

The tribunal panel does not work at all in August.

IPSEA's web address is www.ipsea.org.uk