Children with a statement

[Blandmum]

Saw these stats today in the Times Ed and thought that they were interesting enough to post.

The percentages of children with a statement of SEN

58.7- in mainstream state schools
37.9- In special schools or pupil referal units
3.5 in mainstream private schools.

It makes me so so angry that the system allows this. IMO the are jeopardising her mainstream education, even though the LEA have finally agreed to assess (that was big of them, the day before papers were submitted to tribunal services...there's a surprise!) they are playing everything right to the line and even if we suceed, we will be luck to get her classroom support by September.......A whole year of her ed. wasted.

Sorry,it is all rather raw ATM, completing yet more forms to the LEA today.

The whole system is a pile of arse IMHO, and is helping very, very few children.

As a Teacher I see the system failing kids on a daily basis. All they learn is that school isn't for them. We teach them to fail

And while they are not getting the help that they need, often none of the rest of the class learn either (not the childs fault...it the the farking system )

Hideous. Disgraceful. Inclusion under these terms is often simply neglect and abuse.

I used to be an Ed.Psych (now a general psych) and worked in a few LEA's. Those national stats at the OP, would vary SO much from LEA to LEA, and just the statementing rate varies HUGELY. I worked in the LEA with the lowest rate and then went to the highest.
LEA's varied parents didn'e all just wanted the best, and their children's needs met.

Dingle - I do hope you get things sorted out soon. Even not knowing loads about your DD, I just don't understand how they can say that she won't need support in reception but will get some in year 1 !?!

Oh Dingle- I know they do that- hold out to the last each time- its a digrace.

I thuink what swung it for us was two things- firstly we clearly ahd a case for disability discrimination lawsuit; secondly, I closed with the sentence that I feared DS would kill someone one day.

I very much doubt his educational needs had much to do with it TBH, friend of mine is A counsilor, married to an AM and an ex techer. She says this locality is being taken to task by the Assembly for its statementing (tto many refusals). certainly, a move of 2 miles would make a HUGE difference in our likelihood fo getting decent support.

In my special school all the kids have to have a full statement to get in.

I think 100% of sepcial school kids are statemented. I thought the school had to be named on the statement to be able to go to the school iyswim. It costs so much more to attend a special school I doubt they'd let anyone in without one.

When I look at children in school with a statement and some of those on SA+ the only difference between them (in everyday, practical terms) is that those kids with a statement have parents who have been able to wothstand the endless grinding ctrap that you have to put up with. And the kids on SA+ have parents who is the end where beaten down by the system, how awful is that? You can see that some kids get the help that they need and others with similar needs done. Make you so

Certainly all authoriies I've worked in you had to have a statement to get into a special school...in theory. In reality lots of kids there still awaiting an assessment, and PRU's full of them.

We are about to enter the land of statementing and DLA for ds4. He is only 18 months but at our last CDC appointment we were told they would put in a Pre school alert to the LEA before he starts nursery next year.(Does that sound right?) They make it sound so simple but the experiences I read about on here show the real story. Why on earth does it have to be such a struggle to help our kids get the schooling and support they need? Apologies if I sound naive but it's all new to me.

MegaLegs- make sure YOU apply for the statement not them, you have much more protection if you do (time limits etc). Have you come across IPSEA- they're invaluable for advice. Pre-school provision varies wildly across the UK, so worth talking to other parents locally to get an idea of how good your LEA are.

Thanks for the info about statementing. It sounds weird but I'm almost hoping that ds1 needs a statement while he's at primary school. It's good to know that that there's theoretically a way of getting one before he starts at secondary school.

It makes my blood boil when I hear stories like Dingle's and Peachy's. Why does it have to be so bloody hard?

It does vary so much from LEa to LEA. In some you don't get any additional support unless you have a statement, in others they have their own systems for alloctaing extra resources, in an attempt to reduce the statementing rate.
(which in itself is hugely expensive, overly complicated and basiclly pretty ineffective)
Some systems work better than others, get in touch with parents in your area. IPSEA are really good.
If you want to request a stautory assessment yourself phone up nearest education offices ask for the address ofthe statementing officer and (or equivalent) just write a letter 'I request a statutoory assessment for .....because, etc.' You can only request an assessment not a statement. They have to reply to you within 6 weeks. They can refuse but have to have a very good reason and you can appeal against the decision. They have to tell you how to do that. Get support though, from parents who've been threough it and know the system, it's complcated beyond belief.

Just had a quick look at the IPSEA website - looks very useful - thanks JJ.
We are hoping that DS4 will attend the local pre school in the village where our other 3 went/are but this is looking more unlikely, due to his mobility issues (although saying that he started crawling yesterday HOORAY and he said Mama (blub)) They have had a little girl with LD who I believe was statemented, there with my ds2 but she has move d on to a special school, sadly mum has bad PND and is seldom around to talk to.
It all seems such a long way off but I know I need to start educating myself to help ds4.

It has to be hard because the demand for extra resources for SEN far outstrips what LEA's have to spend on it.

Statementing is the most unpleasant, offputting, frustrating, mind boggling complicated system. It reduces demand.

SP, where I work we get no extra funding unless a child is statemented. SA and SA+ gets us nothing.

also beware of the parent partnership(i think that's what it is called)that the lea will give you a leaflet about and say to contact them for independent/impartial advice.........do not trust them one bit....they work hand in hand with the lea(or did up here!!!!!)

try contacting a locally based charity(if there is one)for support-best decision i ever made was taking one of their representatives in to dd's annual review last year
the lea representative nearly fell off her chair when she saw who had walked in with us

I was told an employee at the CDC would be able to help us with filling out forms etc.. Would that be the parent partnership chatee?

normally the CDC (child development centre??) is staffed by people who are interested or specialised in working with children with s/n and would be used to helping parents fill in the forms,
personally i would reccomend the charity route/cerebra website and mumsnet advice too.
the wording on these forms is so important.

my dd has cerebral palsy so we went to a local charity that specially helps people with cp.

Children like my DD won't easily pass exams, therefore private schools don't really want children with SN's. The schools miss out but at least their ofsted reports look good aye!

We were basically told thanks but no thanks when we were testing the educational waters and enquired at a private school locally. Fuck 'em!

Yes that does seem to be the norm MB. I did work in one LEA, where they had a very low statementing rate and allocated resources yearly through a local board of teachers EP's Heads etc.
had it's own problems of course that system. The LEA also had a very low number in special schools. I think the tide is turning against inclusion though.

Bottom line is whatever way you do it there is not enough to meet demand from schools and parents.So unfortunately who shouts loudest wins. That's what we're doibg here though. i just gave someone advive to apply directly, parents who that do that get the statements, uneducatde, young, (non MNetting)parents get pushed down the list by parents who directly apply. We may think and presume Megalegs has a good case but many parents who use these tactics don't. Whole system gets logged and resources not allocated fairly.

With a very few number of exceptions I don't see how anyone can say that 'inclusion' is working. Or , for that matter, that it even includes kids.

I see so many children with SN essentially internally excluded (formally or informally) that I have lost count.

Our parent partnership is completely indeprendent Chatee, the chap we have as our contact fought them himself for his ASd son adn is quite happy to phone them and swear at them- in 5 mnutes he established for us:

a) that the Head was useless;
b) that when the school applied for a statement and was refused, it was 100% lie
c) that DS wan't even on the SN register, three montsh after assessment, a year into being on SA.

maybe it varies?

DS3 is now entering the system. he does talk a little mnow, but none of it is much use (imagine an 18 month old- din dins, juice, my ow etc). SALT assessment si required, Sam waited years because they only assessed pre-school kidsw at that point (he was 5 when we moved here). Now they've changed, school kids only- smacks of desperate arse chasing to me. And its 8 months wait (7 to go...) for the Paed assessment. Extra support has bizarrely materialised at Nursery but won't folow him up, we've deliberately placed him in afternoon NNursery (its attached to the school) as in the morning class they're expected to attend daily assembly and worship, which would be a larf- DS3 can understand as much as he says, about two words max in every sentence. The staff at nursery pin him between their knees when he does have to attend assemblies (I have total faith in the nursery staff btw, they're Angels). At reception level here (DS3 will be 4 and 5 weeks) they're expected to sit, pray 5 times a day, attend Church regularly and cope, and they start reading / writing day 1. ha bloody ha . He doesn't even know reed yet, or how to manage more than a scribble. Or not wet himself.

Oh but they DID teach him to hold his hands in prayer

Yep MB, so much 'lip service' paid to inclusion. I think that's been realised, and I think ultimately parents do have the power, they want their speical schools and MP's are realising that...slowly.
Move to inclusion was needed, many parents wanted it and should have that right, but it became a mantra that was followed regardless of whether it worked or not.

With reagrd to statementing, I still don't what the answer is.
That's why I'm not in charge.