Thought we were making progress with Statementing, but now this....

[chinchi]

Hello everyone :)

First of all a huge thankyou to all of you who helped me word the letter to request an assessment for my DS. The inclusion manager today commented that 'it was the most comprehensive report' that she had ever seen from a parent . She didn't feel the need to change any of the content either, so I can't thank you all enough

passes huge box of chocs around for all

However, she told me that she had spoken to a lady from the local education authority who has been involved with DS, and had been told something that could affect the outcome of the Statement. Apparently, it is now the case that I have to prove why DS would be of benefit attending the school that I want marked down in his Statement. It isn't enough for me to just want him to go there, but I have to make clear why I want that school over any other.

I mentioned using the approach of DS having difficulty adjusting to new surroundings and that it would be too emotional for him to be put in a different primary school. We live too far away from the nursery he is in now for it to be based on distance. DS even had a staggered entry into nursery because he found it too distressing to leave me at the start of each session having never been in childcare before, and so went from attending 1 morning a week for a fotnight, to three mornings over a week, and is now attending his 15 hours entitlement, spread over 5 mornings a week.

She said although we could use that approach, he has shown he can settle in a new environment, as it was one of the targets that he has met on his CAF, and the EA would say that he would be able to settle elsewhere once again.

I realise I have waffled, but I really can't get my head around this whole process. I love the school for a number of reasons. The staff- SENCO, Inclusion Manager, Headmistress etc have all gone beyond the call of duty in trying to get DS into nursery without waiting for the outcome of his funding application. They have been so kind, caring and reassuring. DS is happy there. He has shown a whole new independence that I have never seen in him before.

The reception class and nursery are side by side, so I feel from that point of view, the transition from the two classes will provide the least amount of distress for DS. They even share the same playground, so for DS, it will be the most minimal of changes.

18 of the families who applied for places last year ended up appealing as the school is oversubscribed. It is a school that has a fantastic reputation for it's inclusion policies, and I want DS to be a part of that, but how can I prove it?

She's talking absolute rubbish!

The admissions criteria does not include statemented children, because above each and every category, they HAVE to take any child whose final Statement of SEN names the school.

The grounds for rejecting your preference of school are minimal, and the main one is that it is unsuitable for your DS's needs.

Naming the school comes at the very end of the process, anyway.

Don't even think about this part yet. Wait for their decision to assess, then to issue a statement first.

'Apparently, it is now the case that I have to prove why DS would be of benefit attending the school that I want marked down in his Statement. It isn't enough for me to just want him to go there, but I have to make clear why I want that school over any other.'

Bollocks. Will write more in a minute but keep a broken record stance about the school your want ds to attend. You have the law on your side.

agree with lougle and star. all that rigmarole as to why that school is suitable doesn't apply with statementing, it applies I think if you don't have a statement but are saying there are compelling medical/social reasons for your child needing a particular school.

What a huge relief. The Inclusion Manager said neither her or the Head had heard of anything like that before. I can't believe how much I am stressing about this already and we havn't even submitted the request yet! Im presuming I will be asked at some point why I have chosen that school?

Well, yes, technically, although I had one line to write my school choice, and around 4 lines to state why. No big deal.

I also think that the Parental Advice document that you will write if they decide to assess your DS will give you ample opportunity to tailor it to the school of choice.

Brilliant. Thanks Lougle, you certainly know your stuff and thankyou for sharing your knowledge. I used to feel overwhelmed when it was just hospital appointments we had to attend, but it's a whole different story now education is involved.

Okay. There is something that will help your case. Will you get to name the school you want, before or after the application process for reception is over?

The reason I ask is because the law that governs this states that 'all things being equal' the parent's choice should be granted. That means that it won't be more expensive to educate your child in this particular school more than anywhere else.

Normally, this is true. However, for reception the staff-child ratios are very strict and if the places have already been allocated then they would only be able to accomodate your child if they hire another member of staff. This will make the placement more expensive than your child attending an undersubscribed school.

Now, in all likeliness you'd still win that school if you took them to tribunal but that is messy.

Alternatively you could send an email to the case officer stating the school you will be requesting so that your back is covered and you can show that they knew in advance and should have kept a place. BUT, it depends on whether you want them to know that in case they use it as a bargaining strategy 'i.e. well your ds can go to that school, but they don't have any spare TA's etc.'

Another way is to apply through the normal process stating that your are in the SA process as the social reason for wanting to be considered above others.

I suppose it all really depends on when your statement is likely to be due.

It is tricky. Chinchi hasn't actually submitted request yet, I think? So statement wouldn't be due until MAY.

I agree with Star. They should be anticipating statemented children, tbh.

It is a bit different, but my DD's special school have already been given a list of children who will be coming to them from the SN nursery, and know they have more than usual. They may need to jiggle classes, or even add one. But the point is they are already starting to plan.

We are just waiting for a report from SALT and then the application can be submitted.

I spoke to somebody from the LEA and he told me to apply for a primary school place as normal, but to include a note that a statement has been requested and that the process is underway.

I am going to get onto that tonight as I have my two choices ready, and then like you said Stark, at least I will have made it known which school I prefer.

When I had submitted parents view we were asked if we already had a choice of school.We did and statement was agreed 'as secondary proposed'.
Have visited Senco at the school who is lovely and looking forward to having him there. I appreciate that I may have not got statement agreed so quickly if SS was named. As we all know it's ultimately down to cost which is so wrong.

In the 'reason notes' section of why I have chosen the school as my first preference I have written:

It is with great hope that X receives a place at X Primary. X currently attends the nursery there and has settled in amazingly considering he has no experience of a previous childcare setting. The SENCO and inclusion manager at X are currently applying for funding for X and are making arrangements for a Statement of SEN to be processed for him. He has become familiar with the school and surroundings, and I believe that because of X's cerebral palsy, it would be of great benefit if he would be able to continue his schooling at X. The school is ideally built for X's mobility problems as it is all level, and the staff there have got to know X very well already, somthing which gives him an added confidence.

Im not entirely sure about how much I should be disclosing at this stage. I havn't been able to word it as 'professionally' as I normally would. Think I am worrying too much.

Content is fine but take out everything vague, replace with stuff like 'he needs x', 'must have a single level environment' (step free?), 'managed his severe settling problems with an effective graded exposure program' 'starting to make some progress due to the familiar surroundings and staff' Etc. I expect someone more experienced will be along with better wording than mine shortly that you can hopefully just steal!

Thanks Mariagoretti! I wonder how I would have managed any of this without the help of MNers! I only get one shot, so I need to make sure I do it right, and with how impressed they were with the request letter for a statement, I know you all have so much help and knowledge to share!

Bump :)

Just one last bump for a last ditch attempt that someone may help me with the wording for my reason of why I have chosen that school as my first preference. I realise I must appear that I can't do anything without the help of Mumsnet, but this is so important to DS and I.