can you get apply for a statement if your child is at private school?

[indiasmum]

or is it, as i suspect it must be, only for those in state schools?
ds1 (AS) is at private (we moved him there this year as he couldnt cope socially at the local state school) and ds2 (HFA/AS) starts at that state school in sept (just for a year before joining ds1 in the private one). the reason for that is that the private one only goes from age 5/yr1, not reception.
anyway, he isnt statemented at the moment but i do envisage problems when he starts school and they are going to keep an eye on him for a term or two before deciding whether we should apply for a statement. tbh i dont know really very much about it or how the system works. if he does need a statement for extra help and he can only get it in the very big state school, is that better than him going to a private school of 10 in a class and not getting the extra support from an LSA as he will be getting pretty much 1 to 1 anyway? does that make sense.
any advice gratefully recieved. though am off to bed now as have a pounding head but wil check back in in the morning.
thanks all

[indiasmum]

bumping before i turn off computer nighty night

[Fubsy]

I know children in independent/private schools who have statements, but Im not sure if they had them before they started there - I would have thought youwere entitled to ask for one, but may have more difficulty getting the funding sorted for support that is recommended.

Sorry thats a bit vague - i can ask peopl I know for more info if that will help, but I would also contact the LEA and ask them.

[indiasmum]

thanks fubsy. i guess i will have to speak to school SENCO and see if they know anything. i just wanted to know if it was poss to get one or whether it was def just for state schools. didnt want to make myself look really daft in front of the headmistress!

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Indiasmum,

Re your comment:-
"but i do envisage problems when he starts school and they are going to keep an eye on him for a term or two before deciding whether we should apply for a statement".

I would apply for a statement regardless for your youngest son (and you may want to consider same for the elder one).

The school may not actually do this (it cannot be assumed that they will actually keep an eye on him for a term) and may also take a long time to decide if they ever do. Preempt this by applying for it now. You have far more power than the school does in this regard and I would never let a school go anywhere near a statement application - it needs to come from the parents.

Bearing in mind it can also take six months for such a document to be set up (and that is if there are not delays thrown up by the LEA) time is crucially important.

IPSEA are very good when it comes to special needs education - their web address is www.ipsea.org.uk. You may also want to contact the NAS.

[indiasmum]

attila, thanks for that advice.

i have heard before (poss from you advsing others on diff threads!) that it is better for parents to apply as we can appeal if its turned down which the school cannot do. but would i not need to have support from current playgroup/future school? i dont think they will support my applictaion. he seems fine at playschool. i think they will have probs at school with regards to changing teachers if his reg one is off sick, also generally getting him to do things he might not want to do. he can be very defiant if he doesnt understand or cant do something and he is forced to do it (something his 'helper' at home has been trying to get him to do over last few weeks to gear him up for school.
if i was successful with application for the school he starts in sept would he then be able to use that statement in new private school next year? it would be interesting to hear if anyone has done this.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

"But would i not need to have support from current playgroup/future school?"

The short answer to that question is no. Although the school backed my application you do not need their backing to write to the LEA.

On a wider level if a school will not support a statement application (goodness alone knows why a school would do that anyway but it does happen) then it is really worth sending the child to that school?.

[MABS]

you can get one in private i hav been told, but not always a lot of point as can only be used to fund an lsa in state stystem. I might be wrong but good luck.

[indiasmum]

right thanks, after some deliberation and help on your part i am filling in online application now! wish me luck

[Blandmum]

You can apply for a statment in a Private school, and (I think) it can provide funding. It is, however, a real fit. I know that they all are , state and private

The SENCO in the private school my kids go to has battled for several, and won a few.

[indiasmum]

ok so i am applying for statement for state school for this sept. if and when he moves to his brothers school, can i still have the statement- will it come with him? perhaps thats the best way to get it in private- to carry it over with you?
is this staement thing a bit like the dla application? i had a nightmare with that with both boys when it was turned down both times and with ds1 it went to appeal. its all so flipping stressful as dh never does any of this. its always me. i wish someone else would take some of the responsibility sometimes. but thats a whole other thread!!!

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Have never done DLA but the whole statementing process can be somewhat of a minefield to negociate. You will need to prepare for a long and drawn out six months. You may even have to go to Tribunal. The application may be refused initially - you must appeal any refusal. Show the LEA as much evidence as possible, meet with them, be firm with them and don't ever give up!!.

When my DS went to Junior school in Year 3 his statement was rewritten to reflect the name of the new school.

IPSEA's website is very good at the issues re statementing and would suggest you read it if you haven't already done so - www.ipsea.org.uk.

[Fubsy]

I think if you transferred you would need to discuss with the school first - but I def know some kids who were statemented in their state schools who still get support in Private, although I think the school has to pay for some of it.

But thats the same in state, some of the schools budget is ringfenced for SN

[alycat]

I know very little about statementing, but my SN ds is in the nursery of a private school. You are lucky if your private school will accept your DS with SN without a LSA - I have to pay extra for my ds' 1 to 1.

It is possible to get a statement in a private school, I know of one child that got their 1 to 1 (in private school) and SALT (private - as it was cheaper for LEA than the NHS option!)paid for after statementing although a lo at my DS' school is going through 3rd appeal (or whatever - he is now 5yrs old started at 3.5yrs) and has appointed a very good legal brief as LEA say "All needs are being met" of course they are the parents are paying for full time a LSA!!!

I am moving my DS to a more accepting private school in Sept where the head has got a pupil with CP statement/funding for LSA within the last few years.

Good luck, I hope the school are very supportive whatever you choose to do.

[Flocci]

We had this issue as we don't know whether dd will go to a state school or a private school.
My understanding is that you get a statement for the child regardless of what stage they are in, and then you apply it to the school once you have decided - the statement just says what help is needed and then you work with the school to sort it out.
Our EP clearly stated that if we go private the statement will apply in just the same way and any 121 will be funded in the same way, although the school fees will be our resposnibility obviously.

[alycat]

Also our area SENCO is applying for some funding for DS (at the next MAYEMS)before statementing and says that the private school will get money to fund man hours for DS - lessening my financial burden of paying for the 1 to 1 in nursery/kindergarten.

[sibella43]

H has down syndrome. She is at a private school and is about to enter year 1. She is in the process of being statutorily assessed (after appealing against refusal to assess). I have decided to pay for a one to one LSA pending the LEA's draft statement etc. We are only 6 weeks into the process. i have done this for two reasons; I don't want her to suffer and the school are adamant that she needs this support (and I agree). Any tips on dealing with this tactically with the LEA to avoid it concluding that her needs are being met?

[kitegirl]

DS1 (ASD) is about to start kindergarten in an independent pre-prep. We are in the middle of statutory assessment at the moment, and I am pretty certain he will be statemented. As people have said on this thread already, the statement details what support your child is entitled and how it is funded, and it can equally well apply to a private school. The only thing is that the independent schools have no obligation to accommodate pupils with statements, but if you find a very welcoming school, you should be able to sort it out. We have friends who have a son in a private pre-prep, and the LEA is funding their ABA programme.

Request for a statutory assessment, don't be fobbed off if you are turned down (some LEAs first refuse to shake off a few less determined families, it's disgusting but there you go), appeal if you have to (we had to but as soon as we filed, our LEA unsurprisingly changed their mind).

[alycat]

Sibella43,

I would hold off on the 1to1 if you can, as ime (at the independent school my dc's attend) the LEA just say"All needs met" every time if parent provide 1to 1.

Obviously not at the detriment to your DD, but once 1to1 in place it is hard to reverse.

A good gf at our school are still battling over statementing 1.5 yrs later.