Has any one used a dispute resolution service for statement disagreements.

[staryeyed]

The LEA mention it in a letter they sent recently. I looked it up online but doesnt look like much? Any experiences?

[vjg13]

No experience but my feeling would be that it's just an LEA box ticking exercise pre tribunal.

[catrin]

When I did not support a statutory request for one of my pupils I had to attend a mediatory meeting with the parent and the borough.
It was not a great success, so then they took me to tribunal.

[misscutandstick]

catrin you really dont have to answer if you dont want to

I was just wondering why it was that you felt the child was doing fine, and the parents did not? what i mean to say is: what was the basis of the disagreement?

[WetAugust]

All LEAs must provide (and finance) mediation services, sometimes called Parent Partnerships.

These can be a group of parents with SEN children who've been through the system themselves and offer advise and support, although in some areas the LA buy the service from private providers.

I used our local Parent partnership. They provided me with lots of information - but that's as far as it went. I had to read and learn the system myself, although they did come with me to one meeting with the LA but didn't add much to that meeting. It was obvious they were very chummy with the LA's SEN officers - whereas I thought they should have been at least mutual and at best batting for my side.

The only way to find your way through the complex system is to get a copy of the SEN COP and start reading. That way you have the same knowledge as the LA and can use it to best efect.

[catrin]

Misscutandstick - In our borough children get over 18 hours support with a statement - the child in question was already receiving 10 through school funding and 18 would have meant he was receivign more support than he needed. Child is a clever, articulate, sociable child who was already objecting to being withdrawn for support anyway. He has dyslexia, but was working at national averages. Parents thought he should be achieving more.
Does that answer the q in a roundabout way?!

[misscutandstick]

sorry if my question sounded a little offensive, thats really not how it was intended - perhaps it sounded a little accusatory too?

I was just interested in a different perspective thats all. Most people on here have very good reason for wanting a statement, myself included for a non-verbal autistic, GDD, DS5 (but thats a whole different story!).

I have an aunt who wants to get a statement for her son, he IS aspergic no doubt. However although he is quirky and socially he doesnt quite hit the mark - academically he is doing brilliantly, mostly upper sets and a couple of middle sets. He isnt bullied and has a couple of friends who are on the spectrum themselves...I honestly dont think he needs one either.

So, with this in mind i wondered why there seemed to be such discrepancy in with help needed, particularly from your point of view.

Many thanks for answering. X

PS. surely if the parents are convinced that he can do better, why not give him extra tuition at home so that he finds the work easier at school and therefore given more challenging work OR given more challenging work at home ending with the same result? Perhaps easier said than done... Im no hypocrite, i took DS1 (ADHD+) out of school because his IQ levels (9yrs IQ 120) did not match results attained in school (english 1c, maths 2c, science 2c). Hes now doing brilliantly in college (aiming for distinction), aged 16, doing a diploma.

[catrin]

No, not at all!!
As a parent of a child with a statement, I can see both sides. I think it is awful that a child who desperately needs the support has to have their parent/s battle relentlessly for appropriate support. I just didn't feel the child needed it to do well. I find it is sometimes difficult to wear a SENCo/parent hat and be truly unbiased.I had a child in school who was non verbal with ASD; I lobbied on the parents behalf, attended meetings with them and helped them write the parental statement etc. I would never let a child miss out on waht they need.

Hope I explained that ok - was not remotely offended!!

PS sorry staryeyed - have truly taken over your thread

[cyberseraphim]

Hi Catrin - sounds like you are a doing difficult job very well !