Another 'hand holding' thread!

[ReasonableDoubt]

I am likely to hear back today (or latest, tomorrow) on the LEA panel's decision to name a school with a specialist ASD unit on my DS's statement.

I am bricking it.

I am shitting myself that they won't name it and we will have to do the whole tribunal malarkey and DS will have to spend yet more time at his current school (nice school, unable to cope with him even with full time 1:1).

I am equally shitting myself that we will get what we want and I will have to break the news to DS that he isn't going back to his current school next term.

Stomach in knots.

Me too.

I step away from my phone for five minutes (have had it surgically glued to me for days) and the case officer leaves an indecipherable message. What does 'have agreed a consultation' mean?

Bricking it. Does this mean MORE fucking waiting around for them to decide our fate.

Thanks tribunalgoer - am on phone trying to get through to him now!

Got hold of him! He said the panel felt our 'request was appropriate' but must now, as laid out in the SEN COP, consult with the school.

The school have 15 working days to respond with a yay or nay.

He said in some cases they will say 'yes' within a few days, usually when they feel they have a good understanding of the child;s needs and have met the parents (yes to that! We spent a while morning there and the Head had tears in her eyes hearing about DS).

In other cases, they will request the full 15 days to 'gather all the information they need to make a decision'. If this happens, we won't get a decision until September, as terms ends this week .

To be fair (and you know I am a cynic!) the case officer is a decent guy for an LEA bod. He said he could issue the final statement today and we could go to tribunal but no dates until November and 'we are not in dispute, the LEA agree with you' (his words). He also said sent over the panel minutes and statement/appendices to the school on Monday, and left a message on the Head's phone today asking her to ring him a.s.a.p.

PLEASE PLEASE let her say a simple 'yes'.

Everything crossed for you that the simple yes happens.

Thanks both!

tribunal, I was going to do just that but was wondering whether that would be stalker behaviour? . In for a penny, in for a pound, though - I've been acting like a crazy woman for months over this

I'm going to phone now.

She isn't available this afternoon because she's doing parent's open day. But get this: she is very busy this week...integrating two of their ASD kids into full-time mainstream for next year. Which means there are two places . I am invited to call her on her mobile tomorrow lunchtime

Please, please, please....

This is more exciting (for me , anyway) than updating constantly on MN on election night

Case officer just emailed to say he has just had an email with Head of school we want, and she will phone him with a decision tomorrow. PLEASE GOD (I am an atheist, so I have a real cheek! Nothing new there, then ).

Thank you muchly!

Am going to cook dinner now, but will be back to hear how sugar got on. REALLY hope it is good news and that they aren't going to drag it out for another day.

wow I missed all this! Sounds like you've been fighting hard...I think I need to start upping my stalker side for the future! Although I have already started slightly

It was a gradual thing, hanaka88. I wasn't always this mad persistent.

aww it's necessary these days though! I got my sons paed appt reduced from 1 month away with the wrong paed to a week away with a specialist one just with one moaning phonecall

it's the way forward

keeping my fingers crossed for you RD.

Fingers crossed for you Rd, We had same wait after panle but was informed that once panel have agreed and discussed it bit of formality to approach the school as they would have been asked already seen statement in draft form etc .