Asking on behalf of a friend.
Her 13yo DS (who has dyspraxia, hypermobility, ADD and possible ASD) has been out of school since Yr6 of primary. She deregistered him to HE after being told by the school there was no chance of him getting a statement - she was not happy to send him into secondary without one as he is vulnerable and very much in need of additional support not just in lessons but at breaktimes and between lessons.
They have been looking at the possibility of him returning to school recently and went to visit local secondary a few weeks ago. He was offered a place which they did not accept as there was no additional support and no school transport (essential for various reasons) available for him as he does not have a statement.
She's now been contacted by the EWO saying she must go to a meeting at the school about his educational needs with the threat at the bottom that the letter may be used as evidence in court 
I've offered to help her compose a response and to go to the meeting with her if necessary. I'm an ex HEer so know a fair bit about that side of things, and have learnt a massive amount about the SN side of things from MN.
But, I am struggling to find out if its possible for her to apply for the statement herself whilst he is still HE so that he does not have to go into school completely unsupported and suffer to prove that he needs extra help - google is proving unhelpful as its just telling me about HE if a statement is already in place which isn't the question. She is in Wales if that makes any difference.
TIA 
Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.
SN children
Applying for a statement for a child currently home educated? Is this possible?
Queen0fFlamingEverything · 09/11/2013 16:03
She has time to write the statement application letter today. Post it and take a copy to the meeting.
It doesn't have to be massively detailed as all it asks for is for the LA to ASSESS the child's needs. They have 6 months then to do so, and she'll be asked for her views on this further down the line. A one pager as per IPSEA's example letters is all that's needed.
Monday she can phone the EP and take notes of what is said. Likewise she can email the EWO asking what the expected outcome of the meeting is to be.
What's she's doing right now is starting the paper trail. I know Tuesday isn't much notice - that's done on purpose to put her on the back foot 
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If he has dyspraxia she should use the meeting to formally request an OT assessment as he may be entitled to use a laptop in class/ extra time in school exams etc and it's an OT who can work this bit out. It's worth asking her GP about this even if she continues to home ed as he's getting to GCSE age. (she can ask the GP after the meetings over when she has a bit more free time).
I applied for and received a statement for my 14 year old son this year, after five years of home educating. Like your friend, I too was told that it was pointless applying for a statutory assessment while he was still in school as he wouldn't get one. He doesn't get any practical support with the statement (my main aim in applying was to document a history of need which I can use for college applications when the time comes) but he would be quite well supported if he did have to return to a school setting.
Education Psychology is a statutory service that anyone can apply to, regardless of how they are educated (school/otherwise) so your friend is well within her rights to make the application.
Your friend is lucky to have you to support her 
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Thank you streaky Ed Psych is on the list of people we are going to ring when I go round later.
I have one more question - how do I find out who the director of childrens' services is, and where they are based? I'm looking but not finding anything other than email addresses. Is it a ring them up and ask job?
Your CAB should be able to tell you, I would think. They do under different titles depending on your LA - in this case you might want to look under Special Needs services, Pupil and parent etc. In my LA, this information is on the last page a logical person would expect to look .
I don't know if it's of any help but initially I went through my MP as I had other issues that weren't going anywhere. I'd had a rotten relationship with our previous Director of Learning and the MP told me he'd been replaced, and set up a meeting for me with the new chap. He was the one who got the ball rolling with the EP, though to begin with this was for assessment for exam access arrangements. Once I'd pinned her down she encouraged me to apply for SA and came to visit again to do the formal assessment a few weeks later.
There are a range of ways around the system, you just need to find the one that works in your favour.
Ah streakybacon epic x-post, don't think I'd refreshed after all! Sorry and thank you so much! Will read it properly now 
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