Im confused about SA deadlines

[Claw3]

LA agreed to assess in writing, letter dated 2nd June, i was expecting draft Statement (or not) on 25th August.

Just phoned LA and have been told deadline is 5th October and i will receive it then.

Is this right?

10 weeks from agreement to assess and then 2 weeks to decide if they will make a statement or issue a note in lieu then 6 weeks to produce a proposed statement and then you have 2 weeks to say if you agree with it or want any ammendments

That is what i thought Wassup, 10 weeks from agreeing to assess, then a further 2 to draft statement would equal 25th August. (then a further 8 weeks to finalise)

LA officer is telling me 18 weeks from when they agreed to assess.

Do you think they are adding the 6 weeks summer hols to that?

LA have also arranged for EP to go into school and assess ds, first week back (something the school knew nothing about when i spoke to SENCO before they broke up for school hols)

Do i need to supply EP with all relevant reports/info as well?

oh, bugger Claw.

yes, looks like they have just taken time out for the summer.

I'd get on the phone (this is what happened to us this time last year, kind of)

I kicked up a huge fuss, got it in writing that we were out of timeline due to LA delays, not ours.

Got them to admit they had delayed things (our LA ed psych had been going to base his report on an observation he had done of dd1 in passing, 6 months earlier! when I stated I wanted her actually assessed, that's when the summer delay kicked in...)

every time I had cause to speak to the LA after that, i brought it up - "are you sure everythign is in hand this time? (case officer hadn't known that EP wasn't going to do an assessment)", "is everything submitted ok?" "are you sure this won't mean a delay for SA?" etc

I'm sure they got really fed up with me!

I also found, that LA then tried to delay everything - once you are out of timeline (for whatever reason), the timescales no longer apply, apparently.

so i had to chase each further deadline, as La always said "oh but you're out of timeline now", to which I replied "only through your fault, please don't increase the delay", and of course followed up with email confirming etc etc.

EP should have had reports as part of SA bundle background. you cuold phone up to check, I suppose

My LEAs fav line for delay was that they hadn't received the professionals report yet...
So when I called their bluff and found that the said professionals had sent the report 4 weeks previously after ringing the said professional (who also said that they would ring the LEA to check they had the said report) they were kind of stuffed and didn't try that line on me again.

Hi Silver, same EP is part of the ASD who assessed ds, she has already observed ds for an hour, during dx process and was part of the meeting afterwards to discuss what help he needed in school (although recommendations of ASD team were quite vague, they submitted a letter to the LA setting out what his needs are)

Summary of relevant needs

Dx/problems

1. Autism
2. Difficulties interacting with others.
3. Difficulties with understanding.
4. Sensory difficulties
5. Feeding difficulties
6. Difficulties with sleeping.
7. Continence issues/soiling.

Recommendations

1. Social skills training programme at school to develop social skills.

1. Ancillary assistance with dressing and toileting if required.

1. Adult support to help him understand and complete tasks.

1. He should do as much PE as he is comfortable with, rest if he gets breathless and use medication as prescribed.

1. Changes in routine should be introduced gradually and explained.

1. Quiet place to retire to and a familiar adult he can speak to.

1. Ongoing support from CAMHS to support anxieties.

1. Advice from ASD outreach.

1. Review by SALT.

10. Ds has been prescribed Melatonin.

11. Ds is undergoing SA of his needs.

SALT report for ASD assessment service

IEP should target

Play - support staff should work to extend ds's sequencing of materials and creative thinking.

Inferential comprehension

Social interaction with peers

Social communication with adults and peers

Ability to explain events clearly, to give coherent narratives.

SALT will further assess ds in school during Autumn term. Programme of input and advice to staff will be provided.

Are EP's recommendations usually more specific, than the above, which she was part of?

hmm, it's one of those "every area is different" things, again, isn't it?

do you want me to send you across dd1's EP reports? happy to if you think it owuld help. (have a whole string of them - 2 x different LA EP and private EP too!)

ours wrote a full report , with observations on her behaviour and interaction, background history, etc. although, reading through your list of recommendations, it's pretty much what I'd expect in an LA EP report - just ore joined up, iyswim?

Silver, im worrying now! (yes if you wouldnt mind, i think reports could be very helpful)

I had private EP done in December 2009, she carried out the following assessments

BAS II) Psychometric test (reading and spelling attainment) Ds scored very highly, with an advanced reading and spelling age.

Verbal - a dip in this area, when compared to other areas, but still way above average (this was single word definition)

Non verbal reasoning - finding the link in patterns - scored very highly

Spatial - Recalls of design and patterns - Scored very highly

Despite the dip in verbal, General Cognitive Ability (IQ) was still very high, and she adds potentially putting him in the bracket of gifted learning.

Ds is obsessed with patterns.

She did conclude that ds would need a high level of 1:1 support in order for him to achieve his full potentional and to avoid his current emotional and behavioural difficulties getting in the way of effective learning. Also various other recommendations along the lines of social stories, visual timetables, good planning etc, etc.

Im now wondering if they will use this against me, hence another EP report?

Would also add that he doesnt achieve nor is he regarded as 'gifted' in school. He achieves averages, apart from his reading and spelling which is above average (although im not quite sure how much of what he reads, he actually understands if you see what i mean) He is just good at reading words.

will send reports later - have managed ot get dd1 to agree to a bath, so have to go dunk th esmelly child

if you have private EP report and have submited it, then LA will want a report of their own counteracting that, and saying none of it necessary, etc (usual LA tactics!)

LA EP didn't do any formal testing with dd1 - havng seen her at school, where she was silent and unresponsive, I expect he thought she wasn't capable of it!

Also ASD SALT report states that they feel the EP report did not create a true picture of ds's 'functioning' ability and they were very critical of it.

Perhaps im being paranoid and they need another EP report to establish his 'functioning' ability and its actually a good thing.

Thank you very much Silver, much appreciated. Good luck with the bath! Ds usually enjoys it once he is in, its the getting him to take a bath in the first place thats the problem!

Wassup, Im disappointed, i was expecting their response on the 25th. I dont think there is much i can do, if they have included the 6 weeks hols, but i will keep on the ball and chase up where i can. Thanks.

Hi Claw - long time no see . Can i just ask a question about the ASD report you had. Do all ASD teams complete a report making recommendations folowing dx? My ds has Ados test next week and SA also starts next week so am interested in getting recommendations asap.

Hi ya Fighting, i think it depends on who is part of the ASD team. If EP is not part of the team, i dont think they can or should make educational recommendations, as they are not qualified to do so.

Our team was made up of Paed, Associate Specialist, SALT and EP. All other professionals involved in ds care and the school SENCO were also invited to attend dx meeting and observation(not all turned up)

Sorry fighting, i should have added im sure that they will make recommendations based on their findings. For example SALT will make SALT recommendations etc, etc.

Who is administering the ADOS assessment?

Thanx Claw. Seeing a multi-disciplinary team and senior paed but not sure who's on the team. Awaiting a sensory assessment too but told this can't be done until after Ados test.

I would find out who is on the multi-disciplinary team. Why cant it be done until after ados?

You might find after ados test, if they dx ASD, you will be told sensory assessment is not necessary, as sensory difficulties are part of ASD.

I'll enquire next week about the panel then. Ds is suspected As so will hopefully find out next week.

Good luck for next week fighting

have just sent EP reports, Claw.

there are 3, 2x LA, 1 private. hope they help you

Brilliant Silver, will check my emails. Thanks again

Cheers Claw. I will no doubt start a new thread next week to update on it.

Claw, if they are tagging the Summer Holidays on, then that means that they must have requested the information from the school on week 7 of 10.

In other words, they KNEW they would need school advice, and they KNEW that schools close at the end of July.

The SEN COP Annexe A provides for the timescale to be breached only when they request school advice in the week prior to the Summer Holidays.

I would phone them and ask them to break down the 18 weeks, then kick up a MAJOR fuss that they have waited 7 weeks to ask for advice from an establishment that they KNEW would not be able to answer in the prescribed time frame.