Probably a stupid question about sa/statements

[BialystockandBloom]

But would be grateful for any answers!

If I apply for a SA (in view of statement) now and am unsuccessful, does that mean I can never apply again, or that ds will never get a statement?

He's 3.5 and due to start primary school next Sep, so a tricky time to apply as we can't really say exactly what his needs are at school, as he isn't at school yet.

Just worried that, as our application will only be based on his dx (asd) and report from nursery, how can we/they judge what he needs at school and whether he's entitled to a statement?

Soooo... we're planning on going ahead and applying but am I burning my bridges too early? Would we be more successful in getting a statement if he starts school, and it become obvious (as I anctipicate) that he is struggling, and then apply? Or can I re-apply anyway?

(Although it's highly unlikely he'll get a statement by the time he starts school anyway, let alone by the time of application deadline in January!)

God this is a headf**k! Sorry for the ramble.

I believe it's 2 years before you can reapply.

But does your ds receive support and or extra funding at nursery? Has an educational psychologist visited and assessed him?

If he'll need support at school, chances are he should be receiving it now at nursery too - then you'll be able to get your educational psychologist to advise you about statementing.

FWIW though, my ds has full funding now at nursey (he's 3.4) and we are starting the statementing process in December to be in place for school next year

hi definitely apply. are there any extras being provided by his nursery?
my ds is 3.2 and suspected asd and adhd.
his pre school cant cope with him and are holding an emergency multi agency meeting next week. i am sick with worry and as soon as meetings held will be applying for a statutory statement.
get every professional involved to write supporting letters and anything already written to add to your request to support it.
has your ds seen an ed psych yet that will help too.
im not very experienced yet and am always on here for advice-these ladies are fab and know everything about the sen system.
just want to let you know you're not alone . im going through the worry of what school to apply to for ds before the dreaded january deadline without a statement. good luck.

Thanks for replying.

He is supposedly on School Action at the moment - which in reality means 6 months ago (pre-dx) they made an action plan of 3 'targets'. None of which has been followed up. They talked about applying for funding for School Action Plus but I haven't heard anything more (need to chase this up).

No, he hasn't been seen by an Ed Psychologist. Should I be pushing for this?

We've started ABA ourselves, and our tutor is now shadowing him there, which I expect will make a huge difference. But of course that's totally down to us.

Interesting to see your ds has full funding - is this without a statement? From School Action Plus?

Thanks tiredmummy. I will certainly be asking the nursery for support in our application. We haven't had a written report from the paed yet (he was diagnosed less than a month ago) but will chase this tomorrow.

It's a nightmare isn't it! Good luck to you too.

yes definitely push for ed psych. ask nursery tomorrow if they dont agree which im sure they will im sure theres another way you can request and someone more experienced than me will point you in correct direction no doubt.
thats fab about your ds's funding gooddaysbaddays- im also interested to hear how you secured it. i've been trying for a year and am now fingers crossed getting somewhere.

your welcome. my ds hasnt officially been diagnosed but his paed wrote to lea and pre school to say ds should be treated as if he has been. he is also writing another letter to support this for multi agency meeting next week.
does your son have a salt? mine does and i also have her on board to support this too.
also contact your local education department to speak to parent partnership as they can help.
yes its a nightmare, as much as i adore ds i never imagined having to go through this. it's a nightmare the way we have to fight to get our children the education they deserve.

Ds doesn't have a statement and EP (and others) have told me they don't statement until school here, hence it being started in December.

When we saw the developmental paediatrician for our Multi disciplinary assessment (referred by the medical paed), she sent a notification to the Local Authority about ds's possible SEN and it went from there. LA contacted me, sent EP to pre school, EP assessment lead staright to funding for one to one support and access to specialist teacher at home and pre school plus a key worker to support us at home once a week. It was very straightforward for me (lucky, I know)

Ds didn't have a diagnosis until this August (global developmental delay)but notification sent at first meeting with paed in January.

As your ds has a ASD dx I'm wondering if this should have been done some time ago? Different LA's work differently though.

tiredmummy sorry you're having such a tough time, I think the notification to the LA is the key staring point, do you have a paediatrician atm?

thanks glad to hear your ds is getting the support needed. what is your lea if you dont mind me asking? no probs if you dont want to say. mines gloucestershire. yes have a paediatrition. not due to see him again until march although i've pushed to be seen sooner but not heard yet.

We're in Essex

Have you had any contact with your LA at all?

BialystockandBloom - We've had IEP's since EP has been involved but never been on SA or SA+, not sure if this is usual though.

Am aware of the SA system though, ds1 been on it for 8 years! Not sure what the norm is for pre school.

you should apply my ds is also starting school next september we have just had diagnosis in july for asd, its a very lengthy process as you would know! i am pulling my hair out waiting for proposed statement!

Bialy

Bialy,

Apply personally for the Statutory Assessment anyway and asap; if the LEA refuse to assess you can and should appeal their crass decision. You will need to write to the Chief Education Officer ar your LEA and give them 6 weeks to reply.

If your DS has any contact with outside agencies like the developmental paed, SALT etc then he should already be on SA plus.

Do NOT leave any such application for a Statement till he starts school!.

You can and should appeal straight away and you can also reapply (its certainly not two years before you can reapply for such a thing).

GoodDaysBadDays - I don't know what part of Essex you are in (I also reside in Essex) but I would certainly apply for the SA before December - these things can take six months to set up if agreed. Again if there is any involvement at all with outside agencies then child should already be on SA plus.

And Essex can and do statement children before they start school. P.S my DS also was dx'd with developmental delay.

Couldnt agree more with applying straight away, it takes so long.

I applied for a SA in Feb 2010, they didnt agree to SA, i appealed. They backed down and agreed to SA, but then refused to issue a statement, im appealing again. Potentially will be another 6-8 months. By which time it would have taken 18 months.

It is all just a big time wasting game to save money for the LA.

Oh if you apply for a SA and dont appeal, it is 6 months before you can re-apply.

I was told that dd2 couldn't be statemented as she was too young (aged 3) at the time. I knew this was crap and applied. Turned down first time so wrote again with a sterner edge to letter. She was then assessed and had a statement in place a year before she started school. Don't wait. It is in their interests to fob you off as long as possible. You will need good support and a very detailed precise statement in place before your dc attends the school. Good luck

"Oh if you apply for a SA and dont appeal, it is 6 months before you can re-apply"

I used to think this was the case but actually it's only if the LA has already made an assessment and you're seeking a re-assessment. See here. So if you get turned down, there's nothing to stop you making another application immediately, although you may be more successful going straight to appeal as many LAs back down after that anyway.

Sugar, oh right, i didnt realise. Another thing LA's make about as clear as mud to put parents off. Handy to know, thanks.

Thank you all for such helpful advice.

Can I ask those who mentioned being turned down for even the SA - on what grounds can they do this? How on earth can they know whether a child needs assessing or not before they've assessed them?! Is it based on reports from other agencies etc?

Attila that's interesting that he should be on SA+ if he's already had contact with paed etc. His nursery did mention applying for SA+ some months ago but nothing has been mentioned since (tbh I've been so busy getting the ABA programme sorted I haven't chased this up but will do so now). We had one visit from the Early Intervention Team in June, and filled in a CAF form but have heard nothing from anyone since then. No actual support has been offered at all.

Interesting about not having to wait 2 years as we were told for ds1 in 2008.

wrt statement and support for ds3, he has full funding, one to one, IEp's; does SA+ need to be implemented too? I don't see what else he would gain from this, itsounds to me like everything SA+ would achieve is already in place EP wanted to start in February but have asked for December the school we're aiming for thought it would be better to get started sooner. Ds1's went through to proposal in 3 months and his is more complicated. Ds3's (should) be very straightforward as everyone working together atm [hopeful emoticon]

We're in South Essex so Basildon SENCAN office deals with us, I've had no problems with them so far and found them all to be very helpful, am I just lucky?!

Sorry Bialy for the hijak!

I know of Basildon's SENCAN office and they've been okay of late.

2 years? NO

If you apply for SA and get turned down you can apply THE NEXT DAY!

Although without additional evidence you'll likely get turned down again.

If you go through the whole process and have a SA but get turned down for a statement, you can appeal, but if not, you'll have to wait 6 months before you apply again.

Oh I wish I'd found MN a few years ago!

I say that to myself so often

good days- i do too! can't believe what an amazing resource it is (and free!).

we are in the odd position of having a statement for DD1 (3.8), but it making things worse because she is in an independent school who say they cannot fund the additional support required and LEA not obliged to fund it because it is an independent school. she may now have to leave her lovely little pre-school and go somewhere else that does have funding. poor little sausage.

that said- we have no problem getting a statement in nursery and it was actually all very quick, especially when it was all over the summer holidays.

Stark "If you go through the whole process and have a SA but get turned down for a statement, you can appeal, but if not, you'll have to wait 6 months before you apply again."

Sorry not sure I understand this, could you explain - do you mean if you get turned down for a statement and don't appeal it, you can re-apply? What happens if you do appeal it, and lose? Can you still re-apply even then?

(Hope you're still with me)

gooddays hijack away, all useful information!