Advice on Statementing procedure

[rbj949703]

Can anyone advise on what happens. We are trying to get ds diagnosed as dyspraxic. A meeting has been set up next month for ds who is still struggling to spell some reception words amongst other problems. He has been on school action plus since yr2, he is now yr5. He has also been going to movement classes once or twice a week at school since yr3. School have also been doing precision reading with him. We're now near the top of the list for occupational therapy, so just waiting for the appointment.

School have been fantastic and are on side. The local learning support service have been the ones dragging their heals and saying that ds doesn't need a statement. However, there is a new lady in charge and she has arranged the meeting to start the statementing process.

I have no doubt at all that school will keep me up to date with things and let me know what happens when and how, but would appreciate some advice, hints, tips etc from a parents prospective.

TIA

forgot to say, that ds has seen community paediatrician (SP?) who has said that he has some dyspraxic tendencies. He has also seen Ed Psych 2 or 3 times who disagreed with the paed! From what I have researched myself I agree with the paed.
Neuro developmental delay has also been mentioned.

Help please!!

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Hi

Would agree with all Socci says, but would also suggest that you talk to the Dysprxia Foundation, as A) IPSEA can be a bit hard to get through to (worth all the effort); and B) as much info as you can get is invaluable.

We also have SNAP Cymru here, a charity that specialises in getting help for SN kids in wales; the Dyspraxia people may well be able to point you to something similar (asuming you're not in Wales)- they were excellent, phoned the school and talked to the Head directly (whose answer was' The only problem DS has in school is that his mother requires parenting classes- his reply to that was gold dust and I's never have had the nerve LOL, but at least we now know we HAVRE to move school, or at least DH does, I have known for a while).

Grab all the help you can, speak to everybody you know. Also, have you considered www.bibic.org.uk? they're great with Dyspraxia (amongst amny), and their reports can be invaluable, got DS his DX

Thanks both. Lots more research to do.

Socci - I agree totally with your comment about LEA Budgets and Ed Psych's. I work for the lea (yours actually), dealing with school funding (not ed psych's though, that's the other team in my office), so I know exactly what the budget situation is and how it affects the support we may or may not receive. I am also a parent governor at ds's school. As I have said the Headteacher, SENCO and all of ds's teachers are definitely on my side.

DS has also been seeing the SALT since he was 3yo. I must chase the paed as ds's 'check up' is way overdue.

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VERY local (about 3miles away from you, and dd2 goes the nursery across the road from you). I was going to be picking you up for a meet up with NDP & Georginaa, but one of your dd's was poorly (this was probably a couple of years ago now and I've had a name change since).

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No, you gave me your address to collect you for a worcs meet up but you couldn't make it.

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WRT to LA EPs - our role is to assess the needs of the child only - others in the LA make decisions about provision, funding etc - don't even consider the budget when doing an assessment - don't know anything about it - honest!

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Well, ds had an assessment today, there has been a definite improvement in ds's reading thanks to the school. I met with the LBSS lady afterwards. It went really well, I had to go through everything from the beginning as she was new. We agreed that it would be good to have a statement in place ready for his transfer to high school in 2008, which I am happy with as he gets alot of quality support from the staff at his current school.

She asked if ds had been assessed for dyslexia, which he hasn't. The Community Paed said in her report nearly 3 years ago that he has dyspraxic tendencies.

The LBSS lady was genuinely shocked when I told her that it has taken nearly 3 years to get near the top of the waiting list for OT (she is new to the authority). She seems quite keen to get something sorted for ds, so fingers crossed.