What do you think is the likelihood of me winning this at tribunal?

[nappyaddict]

The LA have proposed "DS should have access to groups, that are run by the Speech and Language Therapist, in line with his clinical needs, as determined by the Speech and Language Therapy Service."

I am proposing "DS will attend all language group sessions run by the speech and language therapist each term. Currently this is a 6 week programme, followed by a consolidation period. Speech and language therapy programmes provided in the school setting may be subject to change, either in pattern or frequency and DS will attend all Language Group sessions that the speech and language therapist provides. However, regardless of such changes, DS will receive a minimum of 6 hours direct speech and language therapy from a qualified and registered speech and language therapist each term, whether in the form of Language groups or individual speech and language therapy sessions.

Any preparation, assessments, reporting, consultation, reviews or liason with parents and teaching staff will be additional to the 6 hours direct therapy by a Qualified and Registered speech and language therapist. Consolidation speech and language therapy work carried out by non-SALT Qualified and Registered teaching staff (ie. Teachers or Teaching Assistants) will be additional to the 6 hours direct therapy from a Qualified and Registered speech and language therapist.

I'm not actually asking for much. The SALT has said he will be attending language group this term for 6 sessions and then there will be a review to see what input he should receive next but she suspects he will be the type of child who really thrives in language group. So basically all I'm wanting to do is ensure that if they decide language group won't run for whatever reason he gets the equivalent time in an individual session.

I think a shorter version might stand more chance, and maybe pinch some of their words. "DS will have at least 6h/term of direct instruction from a qualified /registered SLT. This may be in group or individual sessions, and will be additional to any preparation, assessments, reporting, consultation, reviews or liason. The minimum 6h/term of direct SLT input may be supplemented by additional work with a SLT or other appropriate worker in line with his evolving clinical needs as determined by the Speech and Language Therapy Service.".

I don't think you can get them to commit them to including him in all groups, they might for example arrange a very specialised future intervention for 2-3 other dc with very different needs.

actually, don't say clinical needs (ie medical) stick to communication needs (ie educational)

You can't say 'all groups' because it isn't clear what that means. You have to specify.

If he needs to attend 6 sessions per term of group slt then say that. You could mention that where this is not possible, he will recieve the equivelant therapy delivered in 1:1 contact sessions.

I don't know whether you'll win this, but the LA's wording sure is rubbish and the tribunal 'should' know this.

therapy 'time' I mean.

Yes I guess my wording isn't that clear either. He has been put down to attend the Sound Awareness Language groups and I meant that he will attend all of those groups IYSWIM.

OK I have tried to make it a bit shorter and not as wordy. Is this OK now?

X will attend at least 6 language group sessions run by the speech and language therapist each term. Should the frequency of the langauge group be subject to changed X will receive a minimum of 6 hours direct speech and language therapy from a qualified and registered speech and language therapist each term, whether in the form of language groups or individual speech and language therapy sessions.

Any preparation, assessments, reporting, consultation, reviews, liason with parents and teaching staff and consolidation speech and language therapy work carried out by non-SALT Qualified and Registered teaching staff (ie. Teachers or Teaching Assistants) will be additional to the 6 hours direct therapy by a Qualified and Registered speech and language therapist.

Sorry, changed it slightly again. I think this will be better as I have tried to reuse the LA's wording.

X will have access to at least 6 language group sessions, that are run by a qualified and registered speech and language therapist each term. Should the frequency of the langauge group be subject to change X will receive a minimum of 6 hours instruction from a qualified and registered speech and language therapist each term, whether in the form of language groups or individual sessions. The minimum 6 hours per term of direct speech and language therapy may be supplemented by additional work with a qualified and registered speech and language therapist or other appropriate worker in line with his evolving communication and educational needs as determined by the Speech and Language Therapy Service.

Any preparation, assessments, reporting, consultation, reviews, liason with parents and teaching staff and consolidation speech and language therapy work carried out by non-SALT Qualified and Registered teaching staff (ie. Teachers or Teaching Assistants) will be additional to the 6 hours direct therapy by a Qualified and Registered speech and language therapist.

The LA have told the tribunal that I have requested further SLT provision which is not clincially necessary.

I haven't requested further provision I have requested the provision he is getting at the moment (which is 6 language group sessions a term) be written into his statement. And if it wasn't necessary then why has the SALT suggested he attend this language group?

And also the reason I want the bit written in about an equal amount of therapy being delivered if DS does not attend a language group session is because they told me they aim the language group at different pupils each term so even though the one this term is relevant so DS will attend, the one next term might not be relevant so would be point for DS to attend.

pointless

New thread - this one is getting a bit complicated!