Statementing question again sorry!

[hanaka88]

got the proposed statemet through

It says 'the LA will provide 25 hours aboe and beyond for a worker who will work either 1:1 or in small groups. This has already been allocated untill the end of summer. Before the summer term endstere should be a review.

Does this mean he is statemented for 25 hours 1:1?

Also they are asking me to name a school. DSs school has just come out of special measures an we have many issues atlhough they are mainly resolved and he is attached to his 1:1. But he will be moving to y1 in September wwyd?
His statement says he is able to attend mainstream schools

Are there any state schools that would better suit his needs? This is probably not the posh one at the top of the league tables. If there is somewhere you'd prefer then name it on his statement. Personally I don't hold much truck with ofstead - many "outstanding" schools simply ship the sen kids off the premises the day they inspect, also a paper trail isn't evidence of empathy - just cos an intervention has been written down, doesn't mean it's been carried out in practice. A really busy, dedicated teacher may be too busy DOING to keep perfect records iykwim. Go see the school a few times at different times of day (including lunch time so you can see how proactive the lunch time supervision is).

Good idea, only problem is I work in a school so I'm not available during school hours :(

My sons pre-school is outstanding according to ofsted, but it's bloody terrible at dealing with sen problems. Defo go and see other schools. Might be difficult if you work at school but could you at least go at the end of the day? Talk to the senco's etc and see how you feel, maybe ask if there are other parents you can talk to (this was really helpful for me).

The school my son is starting in Septemember is not the 'best' in the area. Nor would it necessarily be where I would have sent my daughter, nor is it our catchment school. But it is when I feel they will best meet his needs and they have a gret reputation with sen kids.

Also you say he is able to attend mainstream. Is this what you want? It's not clear whether you were thinking of a special school or not but if he has a statement you can request any school that meets his needs and they are obliged to take him if they have places and it is not to the detriment of other pupils etc etc. Just thought I'd point this out in case you are reading it as 'he can only attend mainstream' rather then, thats where you want him to go iyswim.

Regarding the 25 hours. That wording means he will get 25 of support but I would be very wary of the wording. 25 hours support by a 'worker' could mean the cleaner! Unlikely but are there any specific qualities the TA should have, e'g by experienced in dealing with SAL difficulties for example/ do any of you reports mention qualifications ta's should have? etc. If so I would want these putting in.

Also the small goup thing should be clarified in terms of size of group and I would probably want the proportion of time clarifiing in terms of minimum amount of 1:1. As it stands they could argue that a small group could contain 15 or more pupils and have 1 ta with your son in a group of 15 for 99% of the time and still be meeting what is written on the statement. I would ask for this to be specified (they wont want to do it).

Finally try contacting ipsea or sossen if you need advice with the wording. You can ring them and they will give you advice about the wording in a statement and what is good/bad etc.

HTH

I sent my DS2 to the "worst" school in the area because it had the best "value added". They were used to bringing SEN and E2L kids up to standard and they were fabulous. I think so much depends on the head.

Thankyou for your advice! I definately need to take this statement to our senco or head for help with the wording!

DSs head is rubbish, noone really likes him even parents of the NT children. He constantly gives me the impression that he wants DS out of the school. He makes comments like 'other settings may gave the facilitiies to x' I'm not really sure what to do though as DS is settled there now, has a fab CM and the man who is his 1:1 (although untrained but is having training now after a good hard push from me) is lovely and calm and DS seems to like him.

If I name a school can I change my mind or will that school always remain on his statement? There is one school near me that is better equipt to deal with SEN but has no breakfast or afterschool club so I would either have to find a new CM or send him to a holiday club (that he is used to) that would take him to school by bus.

Also I would like him to attend mainsteam as his EP said it is good for him to have peers that can model appropriate behaviour (although I know many NT kids do model poor behaviour too.. Which is why my son now uses the phrase I'll cry if you don't) I don't have much experience of special schools and there is only one in our area which provides outreach to DSs school.

I also know that outstanding schools are regularly outstanding just for NT children. I had a placement in a fantastic school that I loved but would never send DS to as noone really knows about SEN children there.

Are you in touch with your local "parent partnership" people? If not, ask your DS's key worker at the SEN dept of the LEA to give you the number.

I think your DS's statement means that he has 25 hours 1:1 but I have always found that my DS's hours got shared out in small groups to other kids with SEN who don't have statements.

I am probably morally wrong here but it pisses me off that if I bother to get my kid statemented other SEN kids whose parents aren't doing the same are sharing my kid's LSA.

That probably sounds mean - but my DS has moaned that he gets very little of HIS LSA's attention because she is also helping everyone else on the bottom table. I know the other kids on the bottom table and have for years, and have seen their work displayed on walls etc - in my opinion, they need LSAs too.