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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

Is it true???

16 replies

sahs1969 · 15/12/2010 19:13

Hi,
Have been in with Senco and Head today-and got talking about dd's tribunal which is in Jan-they say they very much doubt she will get it now-but may very well once she starts secondary school-then they went on to say that Statements don't exsist any longer in Kent and other counties and they suspect this will be the case in our county too soon-then they also said her having a statement would make no difference...............this little girl of mine is so emotionally low and is already trying to refuse school now-Yr 5.....and an in depth assessment recently done at GOSH say the same things....and that she is not going to cope when it comes to changing schools......why, why why do we have to fight for our poor children that just deserve the help and support they need???
Thanks,
S
x

OP posts:

kittyfu · 15/12/2010 19:26

Hi sahs

sorry your having such a hard time with schooling, it's crazy to me that its so hard to get our little ones an education. just wanted to say that my ds is in kent and is statemented and it was only done recently.

bigcar · 15/12/2010 19:30

sounds like they are spinning you a line to put you off. They still have to provide statements however much they try to tell parents otherwise. Keep fighting!

Original poster

sahs1969 · 15/12/2010 19:30

So they are lying...........ummmmmmm I guessed so-they think I am stupid!!!!
I have been having on going battles for the past 3 years....
Now with her being in Yr 5 I just feel if we don't get something in place for her now I am going to have battles on my hands when she goes to high school.
Grrrrrrrrr-I will fight till the end......it's really getting me down now though and I feel so emotional about it all-I don't know how much longer I can go on without cracking up.........I just want to cry!!!!
Thanks for your reply
x

OP posts:

bigcar · 15/12/2010 19:32

what stage are you at, have you applied for statutory assessment?

Original poster

sahs1969 · 15/12/2010 19:34

Yes-we go to Trinunal early Jan.
Our dd is adopted-so lots of similar issues with all other siblings (not placed with us)-she is the youngest of them all.
x

OP posts:

pinkorkid · 15/12/2010 19:41

Can't believe the garbage some professionals come out with! Well, I can, as I've heard similar.

Really either you have to think they are incredibly ignorant and don't understand how the laws of this country work (last I heard, neither Kent nor any other English county has declared UDI and all LEAs are subject to the same laws) or what they really mean is: this is going to cause us extra work, we don't anyone to look too closely at the bad job we're doing here, insert perverse bad excuse of your choice..

You could shame them by quoting their garbage back to them in writing and copying it to the LEA and to tribunal if necessary.

Of course, the real shame is having to waste time with arguing against this nonsense instead of being able to focus on what will help your dc.

Sympathies, just remember the more unreasonable their excuses, the more reasonable you will sound.

Original poster

sahs1969 · 15/12/2010 19:47

Thanks so much for your advice-yes I feel they are trying to lead me along the garden path...........and I'm clearly not falling for it!!!!
They know I am serious in what I am doing....and I will not give in to anything...I've been fighting for 3yrs so will carry on till dd gets the support she needs!!!
xx

OP posts:

bigcar · 15/12/2010 20:05

best of luck for january, sounds like you have a good case.

Agnesdipesto · 15/12/2010 21:44

Are you getting any advice eg IPSEA, ACE, SOSSEN?

You have every chance of getting a statement the crucial thing is whether support short of a statement is meeting need.

I would argue a statement now is essential to ensure a properly organised transition into secondary - tribunals are keen to ensure this is smooth. Waiting until your child is in secondary is pointless you need to be in a position to know what is needed and make informed choices before that stage. You don't want to be back at tribunal in 2 years time in a crisis situation

Don't be surprised if LA do offer you a statement with poor provision before tribunal even at the last minute.

colditz · 15/12/2010 21:46

It's complete bullshit. They don't want your daughter to have a statmemnt because the statement will say that she needs something that will cost them money, and they are legally obliged to provide it./

wendihouse22 · 15/12/2010 22:17

Yep, that's what they told me......you don't need a Statement, it doesn't provide any more than the assistance payments system- so called "banded funding" (in Hereford, at the time).

Well, we kept at it. My son got his Statement and it has been a godsend.

It gives instant credence to his diagnosis. It means the legal document is adhered to and if not, why not. It travelled with us from Hereford to Cheshire when we relocated last year. One of the first questions asked repeatedly is "does he have a Statement".

My son is Yr 5 and we're making the decision about mainstream or sen provision for Sept 2012, after Xmas. Our choice of school will be named on that Statement and if there are fewer places available, he is more likely to be awarded a place than if he did not have a Statement.

They're a bunch of gits. The Statement gives you more power and they don't want that.

finefatmama · 30/12/2010 00:03

I think the Head may be right about Kent not issuing statements unless you fight for it. However do not let that deter you from getting what's best for your child but you would do better to focus on the LEA first and then the school.

One LEA recently told me that although they are statements, there are no individually assigned resources for statemented children so schools will have to meet the provision from their existing budget. That explains the vagueness we sometimes see in statements and the reluctance of schools to support them. I would advise that you get as much support with the process as possible.

WetAugust · 30/12/2010 01:42

Every county in England has to abide by English education law - which means that they must issue Statements where the evidence proves that a Statement is required.

There are no exceptions - so Kent will be issuing Statements.

Forget all about 'individually assigned resources' and 'existing budgets'. That's not your concern.

What should be your concern is getting a Statement which will state the provision that Kent or any other county must find the funding for.

Any support delivered outside a Statement can be removed at any time. Provision stated in a Statement must be delivered by law and cannot be easily removed. That's the difference and that's why Statements are so fought for.

Any school that is 'reluctant' to support the provision stated in a Statement can be taken to court to force them to provide it - and probably also sued for educational negligence. So finefatmama - your LA is yet another that spouts total crap!

brandy77 · 30/12/2010 09:48

oh dear im in Kent and have to go to tribunal to fight to even get my son assessed

too be honest ive been goggled home ed for months but dont want to give the LA the satisfaction of me taking my son out of school.

Although my son would be more than happy to be at home, he likes absolutely nothing about school and hes only 6

KATTT · 30/12/2010 15:57

I had all of that too eg 'you don't meet Essex's criteria. Essex only issues statements to children five years behind and my child's not that far behind' or 'We will be bound by the statement and we might not want her to be sent away' and 'it will be a great stigma to her'.

Can you believe what so-called professionals say!

finefatmama · 30/12/2010 18:17

@wetAugust, I know the LA spouts crap but I also recently had a 'statemented' yr 7 kid who was in nappies, in a wheelchair etc and there was no funding following that statement.

The provision in the statement was vague enough - put a TA in all his classes to provide 'opportunities for specific interaction' (specifically avoided stating 1-1 which is where the lack of individually assigned resources might become apparent), make sure he has opportunities to interact and be happy (ie let him go out early for break and lunch and make sure he hangs out with his friends), make sure you write out a good IEP that will help him progress (he can't wave or feed himself so if you focus on that for the whole year, who says that isn't progress?). Poor parents would have been hard pressed to prove that the statement wasn't being honoured.

I meant that schools in such areas would be reluctant to support you in through the process if they feel that it would drain already limited resources.

@KATTT, we may have had the same Ed Psych because that's what he told me. I started the complaints procedure immediately.

Some women are strong trailblazers while people like me are the yellow-bellied who follow the path of least resistance.

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