LEA have just informed us they are going ahead!!!!

[sahs1969]

Hi all,
Well just had a call from our mediator to say she has just heard from our LEA and they ARE going ahead with our case for refusing to assess next Wed-eeeekkkk now I am officially very anxious!!!
Can anyone who has been there give me some kind words and tell me it's actually not that bad-I have watched the video on the Sendist website but can anyone who's been there tell me exactly what to expect.

Thanks

Bastards.

You know the odds are still in your favour though don't you? That they will both give in before the hearing and if not lose the case!

My tribunal was about content of statement and of course it is very stressful. However, I came out of the experience happy enough to do it again if I had to.

Rehearse a few lines from the code of practice, and particular terms that you can ensure you 'drop' into any evidence you give.

Whenever I go into any meeting, either about my autistic boy or in my previous career life, I write a list of 5 or 10 key points I want to get across (otherwise my mind just goes blank). And actually it doesn't matter if you have to say "do you mind if I look at my list, I am nervous, so I wrote everything down". Anything that makes you seem human/vulnerable can go in your favour (people are more inclined to help if you are vulnerable rather than angry, in my experience). Good luck!

The video on the Sendist website is quite realistic - it was filmed at the venue where I had my hearing and all the procedures were similar.

Like Star, my tribunal was also about the contents of the statement - I'd appealed against refusal to assess as well but my LA backed down for that one.

I thought that the panel did their best not to be intimidating and they did seem genuinely interested in my son. They had clearly read all the paperwork.

I'd been advised by other parents to bring a photo of my son as the panel ask you at the start if you have one. It helps them to see your child as a person rather than as a case.
Also, bring snacks, water and anything like Rescue Remedy if you use that kind of thing.

I've heard of LAs backing down as late as the morning of a tribunal, so it may happen yet. But you have to prepare your case regardless.

Hi there,
Thanks so much for your reply-I have just had an hour on the phone with the mediator and she really has put my mind at ease-she has talked me through all the different parts of the reports that are in our favour-she tells me that the tribunal will be kinder to us than the LEA-we can only hope.
I have written 7 pages of things we have discussed about different things in her reports and I am going to put it all in order and email it to her to read.
I just want it all to be over.
xx

It was fine the Panel were nice and actually did not want to hear from us much as we had put it all in writing it was much more the LEA having to justify why what they were providing was enough and then we just rebutted bits when they started lying.

Having 5 key points is good
As is having a short prepared speech (just a paragraph) at the end which brings it back to your key points - LAs have a habit of going off track to waste time / confuse.
Also having the key docs separate or flagged so if the LA lie - and you can probably predict which bits they will lie about - you can rebut

In our case it was about how much provision / visits there had been from outreach and nothing gave me greater pleasure than for our advocate to read back at the lying advisory teacher her own notes which proved that she had turned up but not to see my son, only to collect info for tribunal.

Thanks so much-I have sat through all the paperwork and marked areas I can refer to.

I will make sure I have the key points-like the mediator has said today-that we know our daughter and we know the reports inside out....they don't!!!
The other bonus is that the LEA lady who is leading this is very new and has only done 2 tribunals before....and our senco who is going along but on their side not ours-is also useless.....so she will be C*ing herself as she thinks she's made such a difference to DD's life-and she can't see the behaviour that unfolds the minute she leaves the school gates.......
xx

Sounds like they're not planning to win, but give this woman work experience instead!

LOL u reckon :)
Will keep u posted
x