school not provided info for SEN panel - what now?

[meagle]

Just learned that the school has missed the deadline for submitting info to the LEA so they can decide whether to assess DS or not. LEA has chased school, I have chased school, and panel now postponed to next Thurs. What can I do to make sure the school get the info in on time? Will it prejudice my request for assessment if they don't make the deadline? How can I make sure crap school act??

Anything on the IPSEA website?

No - they haven't covered such an occurence. I can try to ring SOSSEN in the morning, but just so cross I have to chase up the school on everything, and that their lack of effort could impact on whether DS gets an assessment or not.

id urgently contact parent partnership eplaining everything asking them to contact them, the LEA as you say should chase them its strange that they are even igoring them and id litterally ask to speak to the HT ond or inclussion teacher in front of people or a friend as witness and when you do id quote SCOP to them and let them know you will seek legal advice if they dont comply, its disgusting how they treat us all im for you

I agree with bettyboop - the only legally acceptable delay is if the school receive the request during school holidays in which case extra time can be allowed see quote from sencop below. I would write to them pointing out they are not complying with legal guidelines and copy in lea and pwp. It's not fair that your child's needs are put on hold because they can't get their act together.

7:89 The LEA should receive all the necessary advice within six weeks of the issue of the notice under section 323(4) or 329A(7), although the guidance sets out a maximum time span of ten weeks. The LEA must therefore decide whether to make a statement by the end of the ten weeks; and send parents a proposed statement or the written reasons why it will not make a statement, preferably in the form of a note in lieu, within a further two weeks. Further guidance on writing a note in lieu is to be found at paragraph 8.15.

Hi Betty and pink - just phoned this morning and told it was emailed this morning (the final deadline). Then told by Senco who read the report (a junior compiled it) that on the evidence gathered he thought it was unlikely Ds would be considered for assessment. This made me so angry - all I get from the school is a totally negative rsponse of what they can't do - arrggh! What makes me doubly cross is this is a school that everyone thinks is fab and parents are desperate to get their kids in.
Sorry for the rant - just feeling rather let down.

If its any consolation the panels tend to be a bit of a smokescreen, the SEN officer makes the decision usually on the basis of whatever council policy is. Our panel made 2 bizarre decisions which went against all the evidence plumping for a much cheaper option than everyone was recommending which meant I have no faith in the panels at all. If it gets turned down, appeal. It is standard to turn requests down to delay and save money.

Thanks for that Agnes. I wasn't expecting a lot from a statement anyway - but son is nearly 14 and it would of least given him a legal doc confirming his needs going fwd into Gcses and hopefully college.

As it is I have to email the school and individual teachers every year reminding them of his needs. At parents eve last month his maths tutor wasn't even aware Ds was on SAplus - that's how slack Sen dept are!