Statement for SEN

[nappyaddict]

Is it only for children in mainstream school or do they still get one if they go to a specialist school?

[silverfrog]

In most areas you need a statement in place before you get aplace at SN school.

we are most of the way through statementing, and are curently edging around the issue that dd1 can't go to SN school wiithout a statement, but also cannot get a statement without naming SN school. it's enough to make your head explode, honestly.

[nappyaddict]

I have heard that it is better to self-refer rather than let the school or nursery refer your child. Do you know why this is?

[silverfrog]

self refer for statementing?

I understand it si because as a parent you have more right to appeal, if turned down for assessment, than the school.

it also gets the ball rolling more quickly - if the needs are great enough, there is no reason why a pre-school child should not have a statememt, but if left to the professionals, then they usually don't refer before 3.5 ish

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

A statement is usually mandatory for entry to special school.

A parent can appeal if the LEA say no initially, school do not have this right.

[nappyaddict]

Do you mean a parent can appeal whether the LEA say yes or no to assessing them or appealing the statement they give?

[nappyaddict]

So if school refer and LEA say no to assessment can you still not appeal as a parent?

[silverfrog]

appealing the decision to assess initially.

AFAIK, appealign the statement is always down to the parent - the LEA is always going to want to put less on the statement than you as a parent would want on there.

[silverfrog]

I htink only the people who make the application can appeal, ie the school if that is the case, and then in law, I believe the school has no right to appeal.

if you apply as a parent, then you have the right to appeal.

[nappyaddict]

Thankyou that's much clearer now

[WetAugust]

If parent applies and is refused then parent must appeal.

If school applies and is refused the school has no right to appeal BUT the parent does have the right to appeal that refusal.

Hope that clears things up.

[logi]

My son was being put forward for an autistc unit without a statement,but now we are going to look at a hospital school next week.I asked about statementing and was told whilst most children do have statements they dont have to have one it can be applied for after which is what we are doing.

[nappyaddict]

WetAugust - oh so in that case it doesn't really matter if the school or parent applies as either way as a parent you can appeal if LEA say no to assessment.

[WetAugust]

Yep - nappy, that's right.

In fact there is a debate as to whose application would hold more sway with the LEA, school's or parent's.

It should make no difference but I'm inclined to think that the LEA would take more notice of an application made by school, having tried SA, SA+ etc before making that final step HOWEVER - as we all know schools are positively discouraged by LEAs from applying for Statements and some schools simply ignore chidlren's difficulties - so often the first the LEA gets to hear about a child's particular difficulties is when the parent itself applies - as happened in our case.