What possible use is 3 hours a term?

[Twowillbefine]

Hello, I'm a serial lurker and occasional poster. Just received our proposed statement for DS1 - non-verbal ASD. He's 4 and will start reception next year. They have said L1 support but not provided any definition and 3 hours a term. Feel like they are just taking the piss really. He needs one-to-one support to engage, learn, focus etc. And specifically he needs direct SLT interaction. He's really trying at the moment, this time is crucial.

Anyway just letting off steam really. Will go back and say not accepting this statement and will take offer of meeting. Ho hum - what a fun way to start Xmas.

Oh yuck! Poor you.

It's just a silly 'process' though. Stick with it.

Good luck!
Why do they do this?? Why make it all such a battle. Such a futile waste of everyone's time...
I'm currently going through "the process" of them refusing a SA for DD and me appealing...could really do without another fight on my hands...but...HoHum as you say!
Good luck...hope you get what you need.

Glad you're contesting it. I'm a Statement virgin but that does sound bloody awful.

I know what you mean about Christmas too, my son's DLA appeal letter will be coming any day now with a couple of weeks to reply while all the professionals are off work until the New Year!

Good to know that your DS1 is doing well though

Yes, my partner thinks we should get our MP involved. And I totally agree, it seems that they must be anticipating an appeal surely? Also, given that these are meant to be so individual, it reads like a cut and paste job and is in no way SMART like they say it should be.

youy do not have to go to appeal immediately, sometimes they just try it on hoping you will just accept it.
I wrote stating that i believed the hours to be too few to allow ds to access the curriculum & safeguard him.
I wrote a long list of how he will not be able to access the curriculum equal to his nt peers without the 1 to 1 support & also wrote how many hours i felt would be an appropriate amount.
I ahd a letter back agreeing to everything i suggested within a couple of weeks.

Sometimes trying the less formal approach first can pay off!

Just an update. Turns out that the advice we got before Xmas from school that the support wasn't sufficient (3 hours a term) wasn't correct (I think SENCO may have skim read and advised us a bit precipitately) and in fact he has been awarded low incidence support at L1 which apparently equates to 3 hours a day 1-1. Given that he is in nursery at the moment this seems a reasonable place to start and will be reviewed in six months. Hopefully we'll be able to see the impact and ensure that when he starts Reception in September he'll be well supported.

So a bit more optimistic there, although a wee bit peeved with SENCO. But a bit upset since he was sent home from school today for scratching other children and we just don't know what to do about it.

Good news! I think that maybe your SENco needs some 1-1 to help with 'processing information'
I bet there's relief in your house today. 3 hours in nursery sounds fine - but just keep an eye on the hours when full time reception starts that breaks are covered too. Its often these unsupervised times that incidents such as scratching occur. If they keep sending him home for these types of situations, it will impact on his education - which is the last thing you want as he is trying so hard.

Much better provision but at the SENCO misreading something as important as that