Children with a statement

[Blandmum]

Saw these stats today in the Times Ed and thought that they were interesting enough to post.

The percentages of children with a statement of SEN

58.7- in mainstream state schools
37.9- In special schools or pupil referal units
3.5 in mainstream private schools.

[coppertop]

Wow! Was there any explanation of why it's so low for private schools? Is it because they have the facilities/funding to manage without or something else? Very interesting in any case.

[Blandmum]

I think that many will be selective and will probably 'keep out' kids with a statement.

I was surprised at the number of children still getting into special schools....since they are under threat in our LEA.

I know that we don't have that many children coming into us with a statement any more....scarce as hen's teeth. In general most of the kids coming to us, enter on school action plus, and we then have to go through the statementing process, as their needs are no-where near being met at SA+.

Because statmented kids have some rights don't they? [fume emoticon needed] and it is just so much cheaper to keep them on SA+

[LIZS]

Probably because they don't have access to the same system of evaluation and funded support if successful , particualr bugbear. Looks v high for state schools since they seem so hard to come by, does it include all those who have any extra assistance.

[LIZS]

.. or have I misread it - that is the split of all those with statements by where they attend isn't it , not % of pupils attending those schools as I think I first read it.

[hana]

am slightly surprised at the stats for special schools - at our school ( it's a MLD/SLD secondary in London) and all students have a statement - it's a requirement of the school that they have one to be accepted as a pupil

[beckybrastraps]

MB - is that the distribution of children with statements?

How does it compare with distribution of all pupils?

[LIZS]

hana, think you made same mistake I did at first - 37.9 % of all children with statements attend special schools/referrals units.

[coppertop]

The whole 'you can only have a statement if the school can't meet your needs' system is useless IMHO. I think of children like my ds1 who hasn't yet needed a statement in his primary school because the set-up suits his autism IYSWIM. He stays in the same classroom all day and with the same teacher. Secondary school is a whole new world and I'm 99% sure he's going to find it difficult. But would he get a atatement in place for when he arrives? Probably not because the school hasn't had a chance to find out whether his needs can be met. Then add 6mths+ for a statement to be put in place and most of the first year has been wasted. It's cr@p.

[Blandmum]

that is the break down of all children with a statement. I would think that verey few children go to special/ pru schools, so the % of kids with statments in them is out of line, IYSWIM.

We are finding that those children coming to us with a statement have needs in line with thise children who were given a place in special schools 5 years ago. Children coming in on SA+ have needs equal to, or greater than those who used to come in with a statement 5 years ago.

The delaying in getting fundinf and extra help is abysmal, and utterly detrimental to the welfare of the child

[clnccl]

Mmmmmmm, they seem to have left out the children that have a statement that aren't in school at the moment!

[PeachyClair]

Quote from my applicatioj pack (going through statementing atm) : at appeal (man, many statements goto appeal) you MAY NOT specify an private school. Even if the appeal is absed upon your child not attending the school specified, it will still not be considered if you put a private school as the alternative.

There ahs to be some system for LEa funding of places, as a local woman got her AS son into a specialist school with LEA funding, however it took several years and a court case for that to happen.

[Jimjams2]

I think more private schools would take children with statements if the funding that the statement comes with could be transferred to the school. So for example when ds1 was in mainstream he had full time 1:1, but the LEA would never allow an LEA employed LSA to work in a private school, so who would have paid the LSA's salary?

I know quite a large number of people running home programmes, and some of them have very successfuly flexi-schooled their children in private schools. In that case the "shadow" is funded as part of the programme, so they can go wherever is seen to be best. Some private schools have been very welcoming.

And how many of those wiith statements are excluded or not accessing school? (Current because I saw a friend today whose dd comes with a statemenrt specifiying 0.9 and the school have completely cocked up with her- she's very able, but very anxious.- Provision for HFA/AS locally is non existent.)

[Jimjams2]

ha ha great minds cincci

[Blandmum]

The answer is probably far too many (to the excluded thing)

The school my two go to is private and their senco has got state funding for a statement. But she says it is a horrific job to get it! The school has quite a lots of statmented kids, and about 16% on the SEN reg as a whole.

Ds has his Ed psych appointment soon

[chatee]

a private primary up here basically said 'er no thank you' when a friend applied for her s/n child

[Jimjams2]

CT- you can apply for a statement anytime you like. I appplied for one for ds1 before he started school (naming the school he was going to go to). In your situation in the year before secondary (say 8 months before) I'd put in an application to be in place by the time secondary started.

[Dingle]

So trying not to bother even commenting ...it's just still far to bitter here!!!

It seemed that DD (5) is one of the only children I know of with Down Syndrome, that I know of, that is coping so well and won't need ANY classroonm suport until she reaches Y1! (sarcastic glare emoticon)

What a load of B**CKS!!!

It doesn't matter that the teachers haven't a clue about her SENs, that they don't sign, that she is allowed to wander in and out the class as she pleases...it suits their staffing levels and the budget for her not to be statemented.

So in my very humble, very bitter opinion figures mean nothing.

Sorry to rant!

[PeachyClair]

Hope the appointment goes well MB

There is a private school apparently accessed by local kids (not sure which- kids from here go Monmouth, cardiff and newport directions) that is known to be excellent with AS / HFA, Its been suggested I send Sam there several times but as funding is not available thats hardly likely. There's a Mum at school whose child (the only other ASD kid there) has a statement specifying 1:1, but for some bizarre reason the help has never materialised- they're always interviewing or whatever but no asnswers are forthcoming. She's thinking of it, but she's a full time Mum (as if I am not- snort!) and her Dh works one week away / one week off, so half the time she ahs someone to help with a multiple school run.

[chatee]

CT- for a statement to be in place for Year 7, then a transitional review is held when the child is in year 5, to give the LEA time to prepare it and for the school to be ready to meet the childs needs???

[Blandmum]

Chatee, I think it depends very much on the school. the one mine go to has a very good rep for children with ASD (HF end) ADHA and the dyspraxisa/lexias, there are also children there with physical /sensory SN

[Blandmum]

Dingle, the school I work in has a young man in year 10 who has Downs. He has done exceptionally well but has 100% 1 to 1. Anything else would be impossible.

[Jimjams2]

Oh Dingle, I get so cross when I read your posts. I can't believe what your LEA are putting you and your dd through.

[PeachyClair]

Ditto Dingle, really feel for you and dd.

[chatee]

martianbishop - i agree, but all this school is interested in, is the academically able child/ren that will keep their results high and the children that will go straight through to their secondary school on the same site.ANd money....

there is also a private school locally that is recognised for its work with pupils on the dyslexia/dyspraxia traits


until i win the lottery i will just have to continue the fighting with the lea every year at dd's annual review

[Blandmum]

One of my mates has just won a three year battle to get her very able ds (asd) the support he needs to go to mainstream.

Three frigging years. Make syou want to cry!