Are there any SENCOs about? Or people who deal with SENCOs regularly?

Hi Katymac
First may I say, you know your daughter better than anyone and if your gut feeling is that her support isn't right then no-one else will have the same fire in their belly to sort it. Your post doesn't say what your childs individual needs are but what i would do is write yourself a list of what you as her parent think her needs are. The school must have an individual education plan for her that should state what your daughters current targets are, how these targets are supported and by whom. With the current IEP you can therefore get a jist what the school feel her needs are. If you do not feel the school are meeting her needs then you need to express this to the SENCO and if you feel it will help also send your concerns in writing to the head. As aprildays stated you can yourself start the process of statementing by contacting your LEA, you will need clear targets of what needs your daughter has and how you feel these are not being met and how they should be. Be prepared for an extension to your emotional journey as statements an take time. At the end of the day remember your daughter is entitled to the support she needs to access mainstream education to the same levels as a "typical" child and you personally can often have more pressure power than the school itself with the local education office. I wish you all the best in your meeting and any furthur action you need to take. xx

Big difference between 25hrs and 2hours! I think you are entitled to ask what they are doing with the funding, sorry don't know what single area panel is, but does this mean the school are getting extra money for LSA?

25 hours is a lot of support I would definitly be asking the SENCO to start the statementing process. Also I would be asking what they are doing currently to ensure her safety and what proceedures they have in place if something goes wrong? What is the class teacher doing to include her? What happens during break and lunch etc? You need to ask whatever you need to to satisfy yourself that your dd is being looked after well. A statement though is a legal obligation, it follows your child, it means regardless of staff changes the school legally has to provide her with the support set out for her within the statement.

Good luck

As a parent you can apply for a statement yourself
Contact IPSEA
I would cite the Disability Discrimination Act
Every Child Matters Agenda and safeguarding

Katymac, does your DD have a statement? If she does it will say in there how much support the school is supposed to provide for her. 14 weeks is an awful long time for them to still not have got their act together. It's possible they might be still be waiting for funding but as it is still early on in the financial year they could surely sort something out.

Does your DD have trouble with her eyesight? It sounds like they should be doing a lot more than they are.

I think I would explain (like you have said) that I was concerned for her safety and about lack of support and how it is affecting her confidence. If they still do nothing you might need to complain to the LEA, or even withdraw her from school for a bit. Not sure how that would work, you ouldn't want your attendance people on your case, but you need to know that she is safe while at school.

HTH. Good luck