Statementing process

[benito]

My DD has been going through the statementing process. She has AS and is in Y4.

School have been really slow to do anything as she doesn't cause them any bother and it is only her own needs that aren't being met.

The final statement was issued yesterday and I found out that, a month ago, when consulted, the Head wrote to the LA and told them they were not prepared to accept her as there were too many things they needed to do to support her.

This was not just a question of hours but of the right 'physical environment' for her.

The y have known about what she needs for a very long time but never implemented any of it until forced. Now they are being forced , their position is we can't do it.

Don't you think the head should have had the courtesy to raise these issues directly with me? She says the statement was issued for her school 'desppite what she argued', yet she never even told me that there was a problem.

She clearly doesn't want DD.

does your statement name your current school or is it not yet finalised and that is whay HT is objecting to?

If it names the school my understanding is that they have to accept her - whether you can work with a school that is blatantly not interested in meeting your DD's needs is another issue

Take your child out of this school and get another, more supportive school, named on the statement. It is not worth fighting idiots people like this Headteacher. This is not going to be a supportive environment for your child.

But first - complain to the governors, the HT and the local authority in writing. Why didn't you know this until just now? how does the HT justify 'not being able to meet your child's needs'? A statement comes with funding, after all, so he/she can make the changes necessary if they want to. Make a fuss about this. it is NOT on.

Thanks. It is finalised but it has just come to light that her contribution to the process was to write saying they didn't want DD with the statement.

Initially, it suggests that it is just a question of hours but then it goes on to mention the need for specialist TA provision (obviously it's all going to be dumped on a TA - no teacher is going to be involved with this!)although the statement talks about school training someone, but finally, her coup de grace is that there is no space for DD to 'withdraw' to if she needs space occasionally as the statement suggests. Thus she needs a 'more suitable physical environment'.

This letter was sent at the beginning of Jan but she didn't say a word to me. I'm in school all the time and have always made myself available to talk to. Not that anyone ever wants to.

Her answer- she thought the LA would tell me!

I'm furious. It's such a lame excuse. DD doesn't need to withdraw, it's a safety valve and she is just as happy with a run around the playground. But, behind our backs, she was prepared to try and stop her school being named irrespective of the effect on DD who has made friends and is settled.

You are right this needs another, more sympathetic school - but honestly do they exist? Who wants a kid with SEN?

Gosh, benito, I really feel for you. I have been through the statementing process myself for my son (Asperger's, too). In his situation, we were lucky (after horrendous first two years in school) to find a specialist 'resourced provision' for children with ASD within a mainstream primary school. I appreciate that sort of provision doesn't exist everywhere, though.

What you do have on your side 9although it shouldn't be this way) is that, from what you've said, your DD isn't 'challenging' or 'disruptive'. My DS was throwing chairs at teachers and scaling 12 ft walls, so there really wasn't a mainstream school in the land who would have wanted him

Whereabouts in the country are you?

Does your LA have a specialist advisory teacher for autism? They should know which schools are sympathetic to children with ASD, which work best with them etc. It is really incredibly poor that your HT has behaved in this way, and you are right - her excuses are worse than lame.

I became a hardcore dragon when my DS was being statemented, and think in your case I would complain to the LA in writing (going to the very top), and saying that you were not given the information you needed to make a decision on which school to name on the statement, and that you therefore wish to appeal it. The appeals process is a bit long-winded, which may buy you time to research other schools.

I know this all sounds like a huge headache and must be very worrying for you , but I honestly wouldn't want my child in a school where the HT had such an unhelpful, downright archaic attitude towards SEN. It makes me very cross, actually.

Thanks Ava, just sharing this upset helps! I feel gutted for her. I really do but I agree,, there is nothing more to be done here.

I will complain the Governing Body about the way this has been handled. As for the LA, well the funny thing is that this is the school that people there originally recommended!

I am going to appeal Pts 2 and 3 and may now reopen Pt 4. But I do feel she has never been given a decent chance at m/s school yet.

Do you know what happpens if I choose to HE while looking?

Not sure what hapoens with the Statement when you HE, but I absolutely would not blame you if you chose (and were able) to go down this route for a bit.

Have you heard of IPSEA? They take an age to answer the phone but can offer really useful advice on all aspects of the statementing process. their website is quite good, too.

Are there any parent support groups in your area? We found out about the resourced provision my DS now attends (lovely, lovely place) through another parent. The LEA had no intention of telling us about it because places are expensive for them to fund .

Wish you and your DD luck, and do keep on posting. The SN boards here are pretty good, too.