Advice please re getting support at school (bit long)

[farming4]

Hi, as some of you may know I have a ds 4 who has epilepsy and is non-verbal (poss verbal dyspraxia). He is due to start school in Sept and I have asked for him to be assessed to determine what level of support he should have. He is on pre-school action + and has had IEPs since he started pre-school at 2.5. We have a wonderful SENCO and SALT who work together to improve his communication and have taught him Makaton and how to use symbols to get his needs and wants across. The LEA early years inclusion officer is also involved and has seen ds twice in the last 12mths for about 10 mins each time.

At last meeting with her I asked for SA and she said she would talk to the ed psyc and get them to come to a meeting on May 17th at pre-school with me, SALT, SENCOs (pre-school and school), reception teacher, HT, Inclusion officer and HV so that we all knew what was going on and where we went next. Really chuffed with this and though things were gonna get sorted easily....

Then today pre-school SENCO shows me an email shes got which states..
I have spoken to the Educational psycologist for her involvement with C. * Primary is classed as a big school and therefore has enough in its budget to give as much as 15 hours support. In this case the EP does not need to be involved as C does not need this much.........Can I change May meeting to 9am as I have another meeting that morning. After that meeting we can arrange to have a joint meeting with primary staff if it is felt is would be useful.

What I want to know is:-

Is the inclusion officer qualified to make this decision based on 20 mins with ds?

If I have requested a SA then the EP needs to be involved?

Should I ask that the meeting in May goes ahead as planned regardless of meeting clashes?

AIBU to be annoyed that she didn't tell me directly but asked SENCO to pass it on?

What do I do now (apart from jump up and down and shout loads

Any advice welcome and thanks if you've got this far

In my view if you do not have one to one support quantified in part 3 of a statement, then the school can do whatever they want. They may give 15 hours, they may give any amount they like. They may class your ds as having support by sharing a TA with six other dc who have SEN. I think you need to request statutory assessment yourself formally. If you look at IPSEA's website they have good advice and letter templates to do this. They may refuse to assess but you can challenge this of course. Start putting everything in writing. It is quite common to be cut out of the loop by the professionals at the LA.

I'd say cansu is right. You need to request SA yourself. It sounds as if the preschool will be supportive. Will the SALT? If you believe your DS needs more than 15 hours or at least a guaranteed 15 hours or more you need a statement. If you request it you're more likely to bd kept in the loop. Bloody inclusion officer! You can request this before May.

Thanks, thats the conclusion I had come to - I shall sort out the SA request over the weekend and get the ball rolling. SALT, Pre-school and the school he will go to in Sept are all really supportive so no worries there. (Pre-school is attached to school so they all know ds and are aware of his problems) Do I need to tell the inclusion officer? Or just let her find out in time.

Treat her as she has treated you! Oh, I don't know? Do you need to be charming and nice? Be a velvet bulldozer. (Good book on how to be an assertive parent in SEN world)

Thanks EllenJane1 - book ordered! Not very good at standing up for myself - guess I'm gonna have to learn very quickly

Book ordered here too, it looks excellent.

Thanks

Oops, haven't actually read it myself, but someone else on here recommended it. I really like the title, as it describes exactly what you have to be like to get things done.