Whos responsibility is it to gather eveidence for a statement

[wasuup3000]

Our paed thinks the LEA doesn't do statements anymore and his evidence was really weak and wishy washy for the assessment and incorrect. We asked the LEA to contact the ASD team at CAMHS in our parental advice and they did not. Now they are saying that the its the paeds responsibility to provide them with all medical evidence including that from CAMHS. Is this right?

"7:16 Before deciding whether to make an assessment the LEA must issue a notice under
section 323(1) or 329A(3) of the Education Act 1996. The LEA:

viii. should ask the parents whether they would like the LEA to consult anyone in addition
to those whom the LEA must approach for educational, medical, psychological and
social services advice, if the LEA decides to proceed with the statutory assessment" SEN Code of Practice.

If you specifically listed CAMHS as someone you would like them to consult, then they should have done that. It isn't a must though. Perhaps contact IPSEA or SOS SEN.

Thanks Lougle! Yes CAMHS were top of my list of who to contact. I am taking the LEA to tribunal (again) for issuing a note in lieu and as they did not contact CAMHS at the time not taking his ASD and ADHD needs into account. His main difficulty educationally is echolalia and the school don't understand that my son is not understanding iyswim.

How frustrating for you. We did get separate advice from CAMHS and paed so it's definitely not always the case that CAMHS advice has to come through paed.

Do you have a report from CAMHS to help you with tribunal? If they are supportive, you could ask them yourself to write the advice that the LA would/should have asked them for, as it would be useful evidence for tribunal.

Thanks Sugar - we are waiting for the report from CAMHS to come through. They say he needs a statement and support us fully. Just fed up with the LEAs constant game playing am also having to goto appeal for transport for another child. I think I'd be quite upset by now if I wasn't used to their "tactics" and couldn't see right through them.