Finally decided to move ds2 to a speech and language unit, can anyone help as to how to get statement amended please?

[slightlycrumpled]

Morning,

Right so after much deliberating, tears etc dh and I feel that he would do so much better in the speech and language unit about 20 miles away. We went to look last week and loved it, it seemed fabulous and the children are totally integrated with the mainstream part of the school. Great.

Now his statement currently gives him 32.5 hours 1:1 and for SALT to visit twice every half term. To get a place at the new school it needs to be weekly SALT on part 3. Now his annual review is in early April, does anyone have any experience of getting the wheels turning before the annual review.

Also does anyone know how transport works as it will be virtually impossible for me' to take him every day.

Thanks for reading and please excuse any typo's on phone. Thanks again.

As a aprent you ahve the right to call an emergency review and that's what you need to do here, to the LEA in writing.

As for transport, different LEAs vary. here it's automatic after a distance (in fact even then they prefer it s it helps get kids in and out of usually-MS based resources) but I know some palces are cutting: raise it at the review and ask for that to be included in statement.

Thanks peachy, (love the new name btw) would it be wise to speak to speech therapist beforehand as I'm guessing it will be based on her recommendation? If we want to bring the review forward are they under any obligation with regards to time frame do you know?

I so hope we are able to do this for him. They are able to have 30 children but only have 20 at the moment so availability isn't the issue.

Am going to have to dust off my boxing gloves I think. They've been a little redundant over the last year.

Thanks again.

There is a timeframe but can;t remember it sorry.

WRT to speech therapist once you get a go ahead they usually (at least thats what happened ehre- but ds3 was rejected as too severe) send in their own SLT to do an assessment.

Thanks again. Dd2's salt is also the salt for the unit (hate that word, makes it sound like a prison or asylum) so am hoping that will be a help. Particularly as it was her that suggested looking around it.

I feel really emotional about the whole thing tbh, the thought of moving him away from his friends is not good but I keep telling myself I rarely read of people regretting the decision to leave mainstream.

I moved ds from ms to speech unit .ideally you need the salt on your side as she is the main support you need .

Go and look round the unit first as well as ds was not suitable for one unit as his speech problems are to severe and they intergrated into the ms to much and was pretty clear ds would not cope .he is now in a speech unit but they don't intergrate with the ms side if the unit there's 10 dc in there teacher ,lsa plus salt who does 3 full days 2 half days

Transport wise as It us more than 3 miles it's provided as was the only suitable place for ds luckily the other unit refused ds and panel agreed

Yes it was hard choice but he is doing so well now

Have you got qa copy of the entry criteria SC?

Our SLT unitnwas unusual in that it never takes a child with any asd traits at all so ds3 having triggered an assessment (and now dx) wasn;t ablt to attend, but entry criterion helps with letter writing.

SLT etc would report back at the review.

when we asked for an emergency review I think it was done in about 10 days, first available slot everyone was free. As peachy said, put it in writing and list the people you want to attend. It would also help if the school will say they are struggling to meet his needs.

Ours will not take anyone who has any issues other that speech and language. As he is suspected of having overlapping developmental disorders they won't take him. As others have suggested, find the criteria out before you apply. Havbing the salt onside will be key in getting a place.

slightly crumpled we have met over the years on here and now I am about to start the same processm exactly the same distance too, spooky! Anyway I will be keeping an eye on here to see how you get on as haven't even applied for the stat assessment bit yet so am behind you.

hmm

willmum did you try challenging them on it.I was told that ds would not get speech unit .He is a bit of a first for them as he has Gdd and Pd which affect his learning .He is just about to write a very wobbly anme and takes ages and needs talking through

I had to proove that ds primary need was speech.

Though think ther emore unsure if theres possiablity of asd dx.But everyone agree ds really did want to communicate and would use everything and anythinng to facillate it

Not saying its perfect but its the best fit for ds for now

Hi, thanks for replies.

Sorry, should have been clearer, we went to look around the school last week and met the head and the s&l unit head. They both felt that he did meet their criteria (statement dependent obv). The s&l teacher said that some of the children have asd, some have aspergers others include severe oral dyspraxia, cleft palates (ds2 has both of those) and children that have had strokes etc. They also allow the children to go into the mainstream for the lessons they are able to (with support)

I do worry about the journey though, it will make for a very long day as it is an around the houses journey.

I really think this is the setting for him. Trouble is I know we will be very disappointed if it now doesn't happen, despite being really upset that it has to iyswim !

used2bethin - hello! I will be sure to keep you updated and good luck with assessment.

yes the journey is hard ds leaves at 7.30 and not to home till 4.20 but the differnace is worth it feel he is learning now just not being patted on the head .

Infact when asked what he found hard at school he indicated the s&l therapist and signed everything .As they really do work him hard there.Intergratting in Ms was not something that ds is ready for if ever .

Ds has severe vrbal and oral dyspraxia as the reason for speech unit but good luck with it

goingroundthebend that's good to know about it being worth it.

I do feel he is being patted on the head at the moment, and whilst mainstream worked well on reception, the gap between him and his peers is widening massively. The school have more or less admitted they don't know how to teach him, and all the while his confidence is crumbling.

I'm glad that the move has worked well fir your son.

yes i spoke to the ta in ds old class recentley and she admitted they did not have a clue howto teach him or to encourage him as for treaching him to read no chance .

One term in and ds is now reading basic words ok he has to sign them or point them out if you say wheres mum and he can pick it out .So far he can read .mum ,dad , here, I , am , me , the ,home and lol nick junior

he is y1 btw .But still no speech othe rthan noun sounds

Ds is the same although he does have m, n and a very weak p sound. The rest are vowel sounds. He signs and has a communication aid which is great but again separates him from his peers.

Reading is a nightmare as he cannot learn to read phonetically (surely not a surprise to the school) but the teacher at s&l unit seemed confident that they have other strategies in place.

He also has a few medical needs, but he'll have those wherever he is.

I went for a look around with a huge chip on my shoulder wanting to hate it, but I just loved it!

Thanks for taking the time to chat with me.

yes ds not learning phonetics teacher was like erm if he cant say them theres no point.he does enjoy using clicker 5 at school a lot and yes ds has extra need sbut always will have