A few education questions

[rebl]

I posted over on primary education here. It started off as me maybe being ignorant that my ds could be like any other child in school and might, just possibly, learn like the teacher is teaching all the other reception starters. But it all escalated at school and the thread has certainly turned on to SEN stuff so figured that it might be better to post here now.

So in a nutshell. DS has hearing aids, radio aid, has ToD monitoring in school. His behaviour problems have manifested themselves within the 1st week (he destroyed the classroom and then hit another child and repeatedly pushed them although I think ds was provoked).

Lougle has been very helpful posting some stuff about the SEN code of practice. She said that ds should be on School Action Plus. But the HT told me today he's on School Action. I asked the HT about school action plus and she said he would only go on school action plus if he had a statement. So the HT was trying to pull the wool over our eyes?

Lougle has also helpfully said that we could apply for a statory assessment. Should we wait for the school to do it or should we do it ourselves?

SA plus is for when outside agencies are involved. It's the level below a statement. So HT is talking bollocks. Definitely apply for it yourselves, as doesn't sound like Ht is very erm helpful or clued up.

The HT is wrong. My children are on SA+ and do not have statements.

I would apply for statementing/assessment yourself.

And before anyone else gets in with this, take a look at the ipsea web site which is a mine of helpful information for parents applying for statutory assessment.

It really is worth you getting on with it as soon as possible. Statements are legally enforceable, nothing else is. And you shouldn't believe any bollocks nonsense anyone tells you about your child's needs not being serious enough to get a statement. That's almost always a sign that they don't know what they are talking about.

Hi rebl, glad you found us

Applying for a Statutory Assessment is as simple as a single letter, and IPSEA even have model letters that you can just 'fill the blanks with'.

You literally write a letter, using the IPSEA model, giving your reasons for requesting SA. The fact that your poor DS has destroyed the classroom is fantastic evidence.

The LA will then have 6 weeks to decide whether to proceed with Statutory Assessment.

The great thing is that even if at this stage, they decide not to proceed, the school will have had to provide all the strategies they are using, and details of how he is at school. If the LA don't feel they are doing enough, they will tell them what they should be doing, and they will write to you telling you that stuff too.

But in all honesty, if you read page 103 of the SEN COP, I think your DS will fall into statementing territory.

Dagnammit, niminypiminy got in there first with the IPSEA website

Hah! I knew the race was on...

In your shoes I would definitely go for statement - only way you can get specialist support (e.g. ToD so many times per week/term) enforced.

I am surprised (I know I possibly should not be), that the school/EYFS did not put anything in motion.

"asked the HT about school action plus and she said he would only go on school action plus if he had a statement. So the HT was trying to pull the wool over our eyes?"

In a word YES. What you've been told here by the HT is a load of old bunkum.

Do use IPSEA's website and personally write that LEA to your LEA asap (FGS don't let school go anywhere near such an application). You will need to write to the Chief Education Officer at your LEA and give them six weeks to reply.

Thank you all very much. I'll have a look at the IPSEA website. I'm going to call our family support officer from NDCS as well, hopefully get a chance today although depends on DS when he gets home from school.

We're desperate. His behaviour at home is horrific. He won't settle in bed, hitting himself against the wall, hitting us. I can't cope with it all. No sleep on top of these school problems and seeing my ds so upset is really getting to me.