Got the statement, now what?

[EvelynTent]

We've received the SSEN, saying DS needs 15 hours support on top of 5 hours on school action plus. We've not heard from the school or SENCO about any specific plans on how they're going to use this.

I need to set up a meeting with the SENCO. Does anyone have any advice on what I should be asking?

The Statement itself should be quite clear on

a) how many hours are to be delivered

b) by whom

c) when

d) for what purpose.

It's no something that you need to discuss with the SENCO - your first port of call should be the LEA that wrote the Statement and who should have quantified and specified the use of the extra hours.

It's important that this is all written into the actual statement - the SENCO cannot do that.

Thanks for your advice.

The statement is quite detailed. It says things along the lines of 'differentiated lesson plans and teaching' delivered by 'suitably qualified staff with experience of ASD'. The thing is, I'm not sure what they're planning to do, what this differentiated teaching will be like and who, if anyone is qualified. I'm a bit concerned that the funding has come through, but nothing's actually changed for my son in the classroom so I feel I need to be a bit pushier!

OK - ask the SENCO about the experience and qualifications of the staff who will be providing the additional help.

the help should be focused towards the targets identified in the IEP as well as any defined in the Statement.

If they've sent you a Final Statement then your DS should be getting the addtional help now. If it's a Propsed Statement it's not yet legally binding.

But please remember that getting the Statement itself 'right' is a matter bewteen you and the LA - the school just delivers that support.

Best wishes

Hi Evelyn,

re your comment:-

"It says things along the lines of 'differentiated lesson plans and teaching' delivered by 'suitably qualified staff with experience of ASD'"

Sorry to write this but that sounds very vague on the part of the LEA. Support on such a document needs to be both specified and quantified. If it is not then it needs to be rejected.

Parts 2 and 3 need to be bang on accurate. If you are still unsure you are better off talking to someone like IPSEA or SOS;SEN as they can be helpful as well.

Thanks for your advice - I'll go over all the details again before meeting with the school.

I,v had problem,s with my son's statement which is also a little non specific. I,m facing a annual review and trying to change the details so any teacher in any school could pick up the statement and read it and know specifically how to teach/and know about your childs needs. A bit like a care plan really. Parent partnership are helping me...do be careful tho if it says its up to the school on how to organise rescouces they then could look after their own needs rather than provide sufficiently for your child.

That's exactly the situation I can see developing. Both the LEA and the school are saying that the statement unlocks the resource then the school decides how to deploy it - but without being in the school watching them, it's very difficult to see what they are actually doing and they certainly aren't rushing to tell me. The school was very proactive up until the point we got the funding but don't seem to be in a rush to show exactly how it's benefitting my son individually. Good luck with your annual review, I hope you get the result you need.