funding and statementing-please help!

[pippapod]

My daughter has ASD and is in mainstream schooling.We feel that she is not fittting in because of lack of support.We have level 2 funding which I'm told is the highest funding available, but I do not think that the school are providing for her as much as what they should be, due to staff shortages and sickness etc. we wondered whether applying for a statement of special needs would increase the funding and therefore the support, but it seems that this is not so. Should we go ahead with requesting a statement anyway because we feel that she may have to transfer to a austism specific unit if she continues to be so distressed in mainstream. Does anyone have any information on the legal side of schooling? for instance how many hours a child has to be in school for? my dd is 5 at the end of February.
Any help please would be much appreciated.
Anyone know any good websites to tell me about home schooling?

And they can't do this without support.

That is what they have just applied for, EPF.

Level 2 funding, earmarked pupil funding - its all much of a muchness. It still means little support, certainly not as much as what a statement would give (and this is also legally binding).

Anything for these LEA's to dodge responsibility.

I am very annoyed on your behalf as they are failing your daughter.

Meerkats advice/info is spot on as usual! Totally illegal!!!! For info on Home Education look at Education Otherwise. As well as IPSEA contact the NAS Advocacy Helpline, it is supposed to be very good.

Many thanks for all your replies, it really is hard finding things out for yourself when you have a child that takes up practically all of your time. My dd cannot really entertain herself on her own for more than a minute and at the moment is not in school due to a horrible rash all over her body(GP thinks this is an allergic reaction to a virus - me thinks it is an allergic reaction to school!!) Therefore the only time I have to myself to find things out about statementing is when she is in bed.

Hi amynnixmum, thanks for your advice. we are definitely going to apply for a statement on our own. Inclusion service SENCO told us that we have level 2 funding from them, which amounts to 15 hours,(how the heck do we know we are even getting this when my dd can't talk?) but nothing was mentioned about school SEN budget.School SENCO never said anything about schools being required to give any support from their SEN budget either.I wonder whether it is down to the area and the type of school?
So glad things are working out for your ds now.

Hi Meerkatsunite
thankyou also for your advice. I have looked up IPSEA'S website, which is excellent, but as yet have not been able to phone them because dd is around at all times, but as soon as she is better and back at school then I will give them a call.Really feel that dd's 'personality' is not being regarded in mainstream, because obviously the teachers have had no training in ASD.I feel she is really suffering, therefore I am really suffering. This inclusion business is just like your worst nightmare.And I do feel that I've been put off applying for a statement by people from the funding dept.but I'm going for it great guns now!!Thank you so much

Dd cannot hardly talk, though she signs but she refuses to comment on school full stop. She just clams up when I ask her anything.How the heck can I find out whether she is getting this 15 hours support when she won't discuss anything about her school day? Obviously need to talk to the school's ed physc(till I came on this I didn't even know that schools have one)

Does anyone know whether you can have say 50%mainstream and 50% special unit schooling? I know I'd have to get her statemented for this, but is it at all possible?
thanks, pippapod

I think you will find Pippapod that most sen primary units are attached to a mainstream school. The unit children are integrated with their year group but will also spend time in the unit which has specialist staff.

I think a lot of kids won't talk about their school day and even if she did, she wouldn't have any concept of if she's getting 15 hours or not. Couldn't you arrange a meeting with the SENCO and ask exactly what they are doing to support your daughter. She should also have an IEP (Individual Education Plan) which sets out targets for the next term/few months. They should meet with you to go through this with you.

Despite closures, there are still a lot of dedicated special schools and, in my borough, they are trying to open more ASD provision. From what you say though a unit, as sylvm describes, might be the best option and more easy to access. Can you find out what is in your borough or nearby boroughs?