My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

SN children

turned down for statement....what next?

29 replies

aloha · 10/08/2007 15:18

Obviously we shall appeal, but want to know how to go about it next time.
Am angry and feel frustrated.
As you may know, ds is 5, has Aspergers and is not coping at school. Is constantly being taken out of the classroom, we have been asked to take him out of school at lunchtime, he has learned nothing at all and in fact regressed in his ability, the school admits it can't cope, his paed supports a statement, but apparently a whole year in school isn't long enough to say he isn't coping, and because he is be 'prioritised' by the educational psychologist at the start of next year that is sufficient reason to refuse a statement. At the end of term there was nobody in place to help him in the classroom at all - which is just our worst nightmare. The ed psych is only seeing him because we went into the school all guns blazing and insisted on meetings, on changes (the school even resisted a home/school book), on greater classroom support, none of which is guaranteed for yr1.
Any advice?
I told the woman in Southwark SEN that I knew perfectly well this was a way of saving money, and that if they hoped that we'd be too exhausted, depressed and demoralised to appeal, they had another think coming. Because though it is clear they couldn't care less about another five year old being left to sink without trace in Southwark's education system, we weren't going to let that happen. And yes, it is exhausting, depressing and demoralising, but we have to do this for our son. Woman started muttering something about 'all teh children are fairly assessed' etc and I just found myself saying, 'yeah right! Yada yada yada'.
I actually attended a meeting about special needs policy in Southwark in which someone from the LEA actually said than they wanted to phase out statements altogether in Southwark, and there wouldn't be any need for them because the provision would be so good. Provision? What provision.
Bastards.

OP posts:
Report
Dinosaur · 10/08/2007 15:29

When this happened to us (with DS1) we got an independent Ed Psych to come and assess him at nursery and write a report. In fact, he concluded that DS1 wasn't so bad that we would win at tribunal, but in itself that was very helpful because it was an independent assessment (iyswim) - so much easier to accept than the LEA's.

Also, IPSEA are very good - you should definitely contact them.

I know how - making it all is.

Report
expatinscotland · 10/08/2007 15:32

What a great strategy! If we phase out statements, all the SN pupils will just go away and everyone will learn happily.

NOT.

Report
aloha · 10/08/2007 15:38

I think we will have to look into getting an independent ed psych when ds is back at school in Sept. Any recommendations anyone? Do you remember who did yours Dino?
Am terrified he won't have support in school for yr1. There will be no point to his even turning up without that.

OP posts:
Report
aloha · 10/08/2007 15:39

Yup, that's the stated policy Expat. Terrible, isn't it?

OP posts:
Report
Dinosaur · 10/08/2007 15:43

Yes, I do, but when Bink tried to contact him a couple of years later he seemed to have disappeared off the face of the earth! His name is David Urani, but none of the contact details I had for him worked when Bink tried them.

Report
motherinferior · 10/08/2007 15:44

Oh god, I am so sorry. Let me know if there's anyone I can look out.

Report
expatinscotland · 10/08/2007 16:05

Bumping to see if anyone might have the word up on an ed psych.

Report
staryeyed · 10/08/2007 18:11

I have a list of Ed psychs that a mumsnetter passed to me. I havent contacted them so I dont know who is good or how much hey charge etc. If you want it let me know.

Report
Peachy · 10/08/2007 18:20

we appealed DS3's statement (was offered 10 hours, have been told he needs SALT specialist unit)- got letter today that they have upped his hours by 60%, not ideal but far better and they also allowed for SALT provision in the statement


Which goes to show an appeal may be all you need

IPSEA for definite, they played a major part in ds1's statement (AS / HFA), also the NAS has an educational advice line that helped loads (and to be brutally frank, was possible to get through to- acknowledging that is not IPSEA's fault)

I know an amazing chap who does staements and is an IPSEA helper / aba chap- he's not your area but I bet if you email him he'd know who you wanted



will go look

Report
Peachy · 10/08/2007 18:21

here


Spoke to him loads and got lots of excellent advice

Report
jenk1 · 10/08/2007 18:39

Aloha for you. we were at this stage last year with our LEA and we appealed it all the way and now Mike is going to the right school.

APPEAL APPEAL APPEAL.
They work on most parents being too tired like you say to carry it through but the minority that do usually get good results.

We got DS independently asessed and the NAS give out i think 3 professionals details nearest to your area when you ring them up.

HTH

Report
Dingle · 10/08/2007 18:44

Our LEA are the same. They refuse to even assess DD last year so she started school last September with no additional classroom support as all. Only the odd 20 minutes of working with the LSA outide the classroom to cover SALT, physio, OT, sensory..she has Down Syndrome.
We appealled, with the support of IPSEA and the LEA back down the day before papers were submitted to the tribunal services. It took till February for them to agree she needed a statement, and it was finalised in May. The support still wasn't in place when she left in July Just keeping my fingers crossed it is going to happen when she starts in Y1 next month.
Our LEA are currently turning all requests for statementing down. Their policy is that the funding is already in the schools (no additional money is given to support a child's individual needs) and it is up to the schools to spend that money accordingly. This was obviously the reason why the school didn't support our request for statementing!

I cannot deny, it has been such a rotten year, letting her go into school knowing she needs and should be getting more help...BUT she has coped in many ways and I need to focus on that every now and then to keep me going.

The system stinks but you MUST fight!!

Report
Greensleeves · 10/08/2007 18:49

Bloody hell aloha, that sounds truly atrocious

Still, they've picked on the wrong parent - I'm sure you'll get what he needs out of them, eventually. But you shouldn't have to fight for it. Fuckwit system.

Report
aloha · 10/08/2007 18:50

Thanks for all this. I think I will start by ringing IPSEA (I spoke to a fantastic woman before I sent in the letter requesting a statement) and then call the NAS to ask about ed psychs in my area.
I suppose I need the independent ed psych to see ds in school, as this is where he falls apart, so that will have to wait until Sept.

HOnestly, unless the school has organised a helper for ds in the classroom, there will be no point sending him at all. I'm serious. Even with classroom help he was out of the class more than he was in it by the end of last term and his academic stuff has all gone into reverse - not even remained static. The ONLY good thing about school is that he has made some friends, and one came to play today with her v nice mum and little sis, same age as dd. We all had lunch in the garden and it was lovely. I don't quite know what she sees in ds - she is so grown up and sensible and ds is such a loon, sitting there babbling nonsense or having a screaming fit over nothing! But I'm glad she does like him.

OP posts:
Report
Peachy · 10/08/2007 18:56

ALoha ds1's stuff went into reverese, once he got help its ahs started to move forwards- it WILL happen, they eliminate all theycan with these pathrtic tactics. In our LEA every child with a statement gets offered 10 hours, regardless. thats a child like DS3's friend with dyspraxia, or non-verbal ds3- equal. Its when yu apepakl they really look at it. AS his SALT assessment isnt complete (in betweene very visit you abck on the waiting list- they've managed 1 appointment so far in going on 18 months ) he still can't have access to the provision he needs, we ahve therefore arrnaged for him to start school late- Easter, aprt time after Christmas- as I know he can't cope alone. I was told that as he was passive it wasnt a problem, but they wouldnt answer when I asked if sitting 9or wandaering) at the abck of a class equated an education.

its a bit of a PITA as I'm pg and due easter, but hey ho.

DS3's assessment came out average abilities- akthough 9and this amde me pmsl and simultaneously 'we were unable to carry out X tets on this child as despite pictorial support, he could not understand the tests rpesented and therefore could not attempt him'. Surely a chid who was average culd ahev attempted them...... so on all the classic ASD ones )eg puzzles) he rates between low average to exceedingly over average,a nd anything eh cant do they discount.

I love the Lea. Like, honest Guv.

Report
Peachy · 10/08/2007 19:02

Aloha, reading another thread it would appear our ds's share first anme, amngst all else

We have good taste

Report
mymatemax · 10/08/2007 19:52

Aloha

What a sh*t, how much did they pay someone to come up with that policy?
Not an easy option but is there an alternative school with a better attitude willing to work with you to help your ds.
Even if you appeal & your ds (fingers crossed) gets the statement & support he deserves it sounds like the school need more than extra funding & a legal document to improve!

Report
aloha · 10/08/2007 21:08

There might be an alternative school locally, but of course it is hugely over-subscribed (it has a good rep for ASD, which I didn't realise when choosing schools - runs social skills groups from reception etc) and they have no places at all, so don't know where that leaves me.
I just need him to have help, even the school now agrees, and so does his paed. I think it is shameful that the LEA just says no and so weeds out parents who are too tired, too confused, too demoralised or depressed to fight any more. What about their children?

OP posts:
Report
expatinscotland · 10/08/2007 21:11

And what about the NT children trying to learn around a child who needs support and help, and the teacher who is trying to teach them all?

See, that just burns me up, because everyone gets cheated so their bottom line looks better.

Report
Nat1H · 10/08/2007 21:15

I know its a bit drastic but can't you tell them that you are withdrawing him from school until he gets appropriate support? They can't leave him in that position can they?

Report
mymatemax · 10/08/2007 21:30

ALOHA, sadly you are right its the parents whose children challenge & fight that eventually get the help, the other get left behind, its all about money ...oh i'm on my soapbox now.
Would they notice your ds at the better school if you just turned up in Sept & sat him at the back of the class.

Report
Bink · 10/08/2007 21:46

I think it is worth developing contact with the other school, as it seems so common in London that places suddenly come up. (But would that be too unsettling for ds, to move him with almost no notice?)

Dino is right, her ed psych has completely disappeared - gone back to NZ at least. We found another very promising one in the spring (I think I mentioned her on another thread), but it now seems she's moved jobs & I don't know how to find her now. I might find out through ds's school once term starts - but that might be too late for you.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

TotalChaos · 10/08/2007 22:10

aloha, sorry the LEA are being such bastards. absolutely and surely illegal these no statement policies? I agree with Bink, maybe worth looking more seriously at other school, seeing if they have some sort of waiting list provision etc if they seem so much more clued up re:ASD

Report
coppertop · 10/08/2007 22:11

It's a crappy system that fails those who need it the most. The pros working with ds2 despair of the way the SN funding has changed over the last couple of years. Whereas ds1 had 1:1 for a few hours a week in Reception, ds2 will get absolutely nothing, despite being on SA+.

Good luck with the appeal.

Report
Peachy · 11/08/2007 11:02

We looked at an alternative school for the boys- its not as high rated as the one they're at as it tends to get left with the 'leftovers' from the other (bit off a sad mess), but when we went it was so much mroe holistic in its approach- the very fact that it has mroe kids with sn, far less student numbers, a much warmer Head- Ir eally wanted to go for it. Only 2 things stopped us: ds2 is so settled andhappy at the other schoola s an NT child, and he always seems to suffer missing events etc for appointments, we decided it was time to put himfirst; and then with ds2 staying the logistics became impossible.

fortunately the statements were sorted after (with DS1) a farce you wouldn't believe so school has become more tolerable, indeed the Head is leaving soon so there is potential soon in the current school.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.