Can someone explain what this means on my dd's assessment report?

[Peaceflower]

To cut a long story short, dd (12) was diagnosed as aspergers. There's a bit towards the end where the psychologist says "there's no need to consider suitable placements... As she does not have the coping ability to attend school...." "...will need to consider alternative provision....."

What does this actualy mean? I've been thinking about this. As she is legally entitled to an education, does this mean she would have a private tutor? The EIS had previously been asked to provide one, although there is no sign of one yet.

Sorry if this is a bit muddled, can elaborate if needed.

They may have a pupil referral unit in your area for children with medical needs which prevent them from attending school. Could that be what he is trying to indicate?

thanks, Al1son. I wasn't aware that these existed.

In conversation with a parent partnership officer, she had indicated wouldn't be suitable for dd to go to a study centre as they were usually for children who had been excluded for behavioural reasons.

I hope someone else can come along and shed more light.

In my area the provision for excluded pupils is kept entirely seperate from the provision for children with medical needs. Perhaps that's not the case in your area - that would be a shame.

If parent partnership can't explain it I would ring your LEA and ask to speak to SEN services or whatever they call the dept who write statements and arrange assessments. They should be able to give you a run down of what provision is available for you.

You could also look into whether there are specialist autism teachers in your county who could help and also the educational psychologists could possibly explain things too.

I think it's easy for professionals to forget how much parents worry about unanswered questions like this. If you don't know how your child will get an education you don't want to wait a few weeks til somebody get's round to telling you. You have a right to get some answers now.

You also have a right to be involved in the decisions about her provision so arranging to look round places as you find out about them is a good idea too.

Thanks again, that's wise advice, it's clear you know what you're talking about.

At the moment we're in limbo awaiting the EIS and school to hold an education planning meeting. DD has not been to school since Easter and everything's going so slowly.

I will ring parent partnership again (there was a 3 week waiting period to even speak to one!) and ask her to outline different provisions. I am also looking at an independent school that specializes in slds and some asd's.

Alternative provision is any education outside of a school - it can mean a PRU, 1:1 tuition or projects in the private sector. They will not be regulated in the same way as schools are and may not offer the national curriculum.

It's worth looking at some of the official guidance on these.

PRUs generally take children who have been excluded so it may not be suitable for those with SEN.

This is what it says in the Education Act regarding alternative provision:

"(1) Where a local education authority are satisfied that it would be inappropriate for?

(a) the special educational provision which a learning difficulty of a child in their area calls for, or

(b) any part of any such provision,

to be made in a school, they may arrange for the provision (or, as the case may be, for that part of it) to be made otherwise than in a school.

(2) Before making an arrangement under this section, a local education authority shall consult the child?s parent. "

i.e. it has to be the last resort after all possible school placements have been considered and you should be consulted as a parent.

If you feel that there is a school that is more likely to meet your child's needs and that school has offered her a place, you therefore have a strong argument against the alternative provision. LAs sometimes name alternative provision because they want to avoid paying for independent special schools.

Sugarcandymountain - thank you for your detailed response. That clarifies matters greatly.

I was putting off visiting private special schools, but you seem to be recommending I get an offer of a place?

You are very knowledgeable, am I being nosy to ask if you are a professional or an experienced parent?

My LA has named an alternative provision for my Asperger DS - I have appealed and asked them to name an independent special school. So I've had to look at the rules surrounding AP in detail.

I don't know your DD's needs but I would be concerned by a professional making blanket statements of 'she does not have the coping ability to attend school'. That is basically saying that she could not attend ANY school. But many AS children who find mainstream schools overwhelming can thrive at special schools, particularly those which are geared to AS. But they tend to be in the private sector so LAs will not be encouraging parents to consider them.

Do you think your DD could manage in an appropriate school? Would you prefer her to be in a school than in the provision they are proposing?

I would certainly recommend you to visit as many special schools as you can. There is a search facility on the NAS website here. Don't limit yourself to your own LA - you can get apply to other areas and have transport provided.

Thank you. I'm sure my dd could manage in an understanding school. I have spoken to her about one nearby and she is open to it.

However she gets extremely travel sick and can only cope with journeys of up to 30 mins so realistically I can only consider one nearby.

My la has not named an alternative provision as we do not have a statement. I'm pushing for one and I'm being directed by parent partnership to go for an inclusion partnership, as the timeframe for this is shorter.

I'm not hopeful of getting anything sorted for the next academic year.

Sugarcandymountain, sorry - meant to wish you luck with your appeal (my ds came down and distracted me).

Thank you Peaceflower - it's a stressful process.

I misunderstood your situation - I thought you had alternative provision named on a statement. At the stage you are at, your options are much more open.

I would be very careful about the advice from parent partnership - they are funded by the LA so they're not completely impartial. I don't know what an inclusion partnership is, but only a statement is legally binding in terms of getting support.

You can apply for a statement yourself. It takes at least 6 months from the request to a final statement.

I'd suggest you post on the Special Needs (Children) section for more advice on statementing/AS, as this part of the boards is fairly quiet. Lots of parents of ASD over there and it's very supportive!

Taken your advice and been trawling through Special Needs.

I noticed you had posted about recommended schools and mentioned Stanbridge Earls. Have you visited this/what did you think of it?

I didn't visit Stanbridge Earls as they felt DS' AS was too severe (he has quite difficult meltdowns). They deal with the milder end of AS and specific learning difficulties, I think. It does have a good reputation but I don't think they have as much support for ASDs as schools which are ASD-specific.

An inclusion partnership agreement is not legally binding. With all the cuts proposed by the Government, I wouldn't be touching one with a barge pole.

The test for needing a statement is that a school probably couldn't make the necessary provision on their own. Not quite those words.

Given that the Ed Psych is saying that no school could meet your daughter's needs, I would say that's a slam-dunk on the criteria.

thanks Lou, your bullet has worked. First thing Monday I will write the letter myself requesting a statement.

No one else seems in a hurry to do anything, they seem to be giving all sorts of reasons to wait for the wheels to turn...

Well done! There is a template letter on the www.ipsea.org.uk website. Remember you are asking for a Statutory Assessment of your daughter's needs. A Statement is something that is either given or withheld once they've completed the statutory assessment.

Feel free to pop over to the Special Needs section on MN. There are lots of us going through the SA process, and lots of parents of children with an ASD.

I'd ring the psychologist and ask her to clarify as well Peaceflower. If she didnt invite you to contact her with any queries at the end of report, she should have.

It would be good to get more details on:

What kind of alternative provision she considers would suit your daughters needs

What aspects of your daughters presentation lead her to this reccomendation.

Once youve got the information on what exactly she's basing her decision on, it would be easier for you to decide whether/ how much you agree. And gives you extra details in pursuing options for your daughter.

Best of luck