DX

[wasuup3000]

Got DX for DS ASD and ADHD traits to go with his dyspraxia. We get to meet with consultant before he writes his report.
I will need some suggestions to fight the LEA with who recently gave my son a note in lieu without so much as a phone call to CAMHs as asked of them in our parental advice.
We have a small amount of enhanced funding via the LEA for his dyspraxia but his communication difficulties are 24/7 surely?
CAMHs are concerned about his lack of self awareness and how when he starts to become self aware that this may affect him.

bump

bump again - I've never even heard of a note in lieu?

Thanks SC13 have just asked the Parent partnership for advice. Will see what they come up with! If anything...

Note in lieu - we have them where we live too, maybe we are in the same area! How many hours was it for? If you are in same area it is something to do with devolved funding and the number of hours they expect the school to fund.

Our statutory assessment details go to panel next week and I am dreading one of these ...

Problem is they are not legally binding, and don't move with the child if you change schools. You can appeal, but may have to go to tribunal?? I have a friend who did that after a note in lieu and the LEA pulled out and gave a statement before it actually got to the tribunal date.

Post if you don't get anything helpful from Parent Partnership and I will try and find out a bit more if that would help.

A note in lieu is a national thing, it's what the LA issues after a stat assessment if they decide that 'a statement is not needed'. It's often written in the same style as a statement, but holds no legal weight at all, as Ampersand says. You have the right to appeal to SEND when the LA issues a NIL (ha! Appropriate acronym), you have 2 months to appeal from when it's issued.

Would definitely always appeal such a decision - why would they have carried out SA and written up all the needs if a statement wasn't necessary? I think they just do it as another delay tactic or hoping that parents don't understand the system.

At the meeting, if the consultant is supportive, ask him to put in explicitly what kind of support your DS needs. The report will be really useful evidence and hopefully your LA may agree to statement before you reach a tribunal.

Thanks Ampers. I will appeal because when funding is devolved and based on free school meals our school although it has quite a number of SEN children do not have many on free school meals. Don't fancy having to go through this malarkey again in 2 years time to get a statement! We are in Lancs.

Thanks sugar, hopefully the consultant will be supportive as he is a bit cross too that the LEA did not contact them about this. He is well respected and I don't think the LEA will ignore what he says. The main problem is the school being useless with recognising SEN (they need to have it spelt out for them in black and white by professionals so to speak) otherwise the ESAP funding may have sufficed for the time being.

Wasuup - we are a bit further east . No ESAP funding here - thought with that they would not use notes in lieu and go to statement if ESAP not sufficient but obviously not.

It is so illogical how they work out the devolved funding - same here and we are in a small school. Good luck with appealing.

Thanks Ampers I am hoping that the diagnosis will make the difference with the LEA and me quoting a few choice quotes from their EP's report about how my son needs in class support to access the curriculam.