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FAO any parent who has posted recently if they should go for statementing process and how to get started

9 replies

nostoppingme · 22/05/2013 10:27

This book 'Special Educational Needs - Getting started with Statements' by Tania Tirraoro explains it all ...

Had I known of this book when I started out, I will no doubt have saved at least 6 months of the process. And it also would have avoided me falling 'victim' to an incredibly dishonest solicitor whom I thought had my child's best interest at heart.

Please, do me a huge favour and get a copy of this book to get you started.

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pannetone · 22/05/2013 16:41

Ordered to my kindle thanks Smile.

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lougle · 22/05/2013 17:57

That book is £6.99.

The information within it will all be here, on these forums in several forms - we've discussed it enough over the years Grin

Anyone who wants to start the statementing process simply has to write to the Chief Special Needs Officer at their Local Authority and say that they would like to request a Statutory Assessment of their child's Special Educational Needs.

//www.ipsea.org.uk has a very good template letter.

It really is as simple as that. No book needed.

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StarlightMcKenzie · 22/05/2013 18:05

By all means buy the book, but I imagine there will be lots about the system that can't be put in, but that is available here.

I doubt the book will state clearly that when you do a DPA request the LA WILL weed out documents that they don't want you to see for example!?

Or that the tribunal panels are not independent, and the LGO can find LA's reasonably unlawful, or that 1:1s will 'probably' be hard won and then used as class TAs.

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rosielou678 · 22/05/2013 18:45

On the "how to get started"... I started in January 2012 - it's been such a long, slow and very painful process, that I now can't remember how I got started -apart from it was me who set the ball rolling. But what I write and to whom I wrote, I really can't remember!

18 months (and counting) to get my son 'adequate' provision! If this was the time-scales for a criminal trial and accused people were on remand for 18 months, there'd be an outcry!

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pannetone · 22/05/2013 19:23

Well I got the book (£4 something on Kindle) because I didn't want to pester you knowledgeable lot with the 'mundane' bits about timescales and such like. I shall certainly be taking what I have gleaned from MNSN to give more 'insight' Wink into the process!

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lougle · 22/05/2013 19:29

Pester away Smile and the main information is freely available on the internet in the SEN Code of Practice, which you can get online.

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nostoppingme · 22/05/2013 19:32

It takes about 30 minutes to read this book, no harm. It would have helped me big time at the beginning of my process, and any info I can provide to a fellow parent, I will have done good.

:-)

Rosielou678, words fail me at your timescale. I just recently got a Final Statement, it's all beautiful with detailed provision and independent specialist school named in part 4. But, until he actually starts at the new school, he is still at his current school. They are not giving him any of the provision as stated in part 3 and the school simply ignores me. They have been so disrespectful and neglectful all these years, up until the end.

Disgusting

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rosielou678 · 22/05/2013 19:48

Well we're on the downhill sprint to the final goal post now nostoppingme (that sounds like a total mixed metaphor Grin). This week has been a major milestone as all evidence - everything - has gone to the LA - a whole month ahead of evidence deadline - so feeling punch-drink with relief.

The farce of my DS case makes me want to became an unqualified advocate or something similar for other poor parents/children.

Have learnt an awful lot on the way.

(pls excuse lousy spelling/grammar from any of my posts. One thing I've learnt from this process is that my own dyslexia kicks in big time when I do anything towards my DS's case - it was previously very well hidden!)

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nostoppingme · 22/05/2013 19:55

I'm so so so pleased for you Rosielou! And I understand the dyslexia kicking in thing very well. I was diagnosed at the grand age of 40 and have hidden it all throughout my life. Never understanding why I always felt different to others, my quirks, getting bored quickly of others' conversations as I see the big picture in seconds :-) anyways, you know what I mean.

Enjoy your evening x

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