Proposed statement received................Help!

[sadnog]

Hi everyone, received DDs proposed statement on Saturday morning. Have spent all weekend reading through it and all the reports attached, very upsetting to see in writing how severe her learning difficulties are. It does seem to indicate however that specialist provision is required, so I have decided to go ahead and request a place at special school for her. I notice alot of you mention quantifying the help they need. Statement says 20 hours per week of teaching assistant support (if in mainstream school) but this is the only quantifying statement. There is no mention of allocation of SALT, but in part 2 it says "DDs receptive language skills are delayed by approx 3 years". It does however say under "Appropriate facilities and equipment" - "Those available within a special school", does this mean she will automatically get SALT provision if she is in special school?
Am on my own, so have no-one to discuss with at home and am finding it all very confusing.

[PeachyTheRiverParrettHarlot]

You would need to talk to the SNU in all honesty

There are a few I know of that have a SalT etc as staff, but the one ds3 attends certainly doesn't, his SALT visits him fortnightly at the school. he's lucky, many kids don't get it (his teacher was a bit surprised how much provision we get- though no doubt its needed- yes dear, it's because I have dedicated the past 4.5 years of my life to shouting and am now starting to see results for both asd DS's)

Appropriate facillities and equipment is a big useless phrase- how can you chase them up for not providing sattemented needs from that? you want to scratch it out and spell out word for word what that equipment actually entails.

Same as SALT, make sure it's a specified need rather than anything else.

It would be worth calling SOS!SEN or IPSEA to have them read through the statement, sounds like you have a wishy wash largely unenforceable one. 20 hours is a good start but everything should be right. I am stills truggling with ds1's as a result of being so in shock at geting it that I just accepted the first offer, don't make that mistake!

[sadnog]

Thanks Peachy, like you with DS1, I am just so happy that she has a statement and I would really like her to start a placement at special school in September. I am concerned that by rejecting the statement it will delay her getting that place. My stomach is in knots over what to do for the best.

[PeachyTheRiverParrettHarlot]

The most inportant ting is to get the right statement- that includes palcement.

have you visited schools? if nto you're running out of time! Call the LEA and ask the procedure. here the LEA has to book apointments, so do that today. You may also find that many are booked up already so consider what to do if so- we kept ds3 at home until Christmas hoping for a palcement, then sent his MS part time, full time for a term then to SNU at long last.

Submit a letter to LEA stating that there are changes you need to make, the LEA staff wotrk through summer unlike schools so start with placement and go from there, noting deadlines obviosuly.

[sadnog]

Yes we have visited the school and DD has also spent a morning with the appropriate class. Deputy Head has informed me that a boy is leaving in the summer which would free up a place but not sure of waiting lists etc.

[PeachyTheRiverParrettHarlot]

If you're happy with the school, call the Head and ask about waiitng lists. Tell teh LEA you want it names on the statement but have other changes to make- that way they will now you want the palce.

Fastest way for advice might be IPSEA I think?