What happens next?

[mummyplum]

Hi! I have been lurking I am new, and was wondering if anyone here has been through a CAF?
My DD (3yrs & 9m) has numerous medical problems and probable HFA or Aspergers.
My local surestart outreach worker set up a CAF after I begged her for help! After nearly a year of waiting, she called me to say that the CAF had been completed and the team had their first meeting. The team will be focusing on DD's transistion to primary school, especially as the youngest in her year, and arranging medical support. They are going to make some suggestions surrounding DD's possible ASD & the official diagnosis of this.
I have now been invited to attend a Team Around the Child meeting in 2 weeks. As a parent, what am I expected to do at this? I was involved in some similar meetings in my old role working with looked after children, but this is new and i'm nervous. [cconfused]

Yup - 3 years ago. Result = zilch to this day (rolls her eyes at the MANY pointless meetings leading to nothing she's had to attend). No, tell a lie - they concluded DS had "complex needs", a term I learned to loathe with a passion.

We have been there and still have TAC meetings about DD with the school every so often. The first meeting will have been by a small team to discuss the info in the form and decide who needs to be at the meeting and what the priorities seem to be - it is standard for this not to include the parents at that point. The TAC meetings are then to get everyone around the table, discuss the concerns that people have and make plans about who is going to be responsible for ensuring that information is obtained/processes followed/anything related that needs actioning is done. This mean that some of the things may fall to you to do (eg ensure a medical appointment is made for something else to be looked at if necessary) or may fall to people like the key worker at nursery (eg to put together a list of things they feel the school will need to be aware of) etc etc. The professionals are able to bounce ideas off each other and it is also a good opportunity for the school to discuss directly with these people about the needs of your child - the school are more likely to take these things seriously if directly told by a professional too! It would definately be a good idea to get the new school involved at the very first TAC meeting even though your child will not start until next school year.

I would go armed with your concerns and have some idea what you would like to get out of the meeting for your DD but don't go expecting all the answers first time around either. Future meetings should be scheduled at that meeting so you can feedback with updates and make new plans as time goes on.

Thanks everyone :).
bochead- i have to agree, i'm more worried that it will be a waste of time!
I am wondering if the result will be forcing the NHS to do something more about DD's medical problems. Or am i being niave to think that the TAC team would have this much power

You will become more confident in these meetings the more you attend. I hated the first one and felt very initimidated, as the school hadnt been supported. The doc prescribed me some anxiety pills for the 2nd meeting, as id got in such a state BUT it was only because i was sat next to the ogre of a reception teacher who was very very blunt and offish with the psychologists thoughts! Too be honest i didnt find them helpful at all, until the EP attended the last one and then the ball got rolling with diagnosis, strategies, understanding, support etc. Make sure when you get the minutes of the meeting that you check whats in them, and if anything really relevant is missing get it added in (i learnt that off here). Some of the minutes ive received back have not included really important information and comments that were made. You will need these for evidence if you go for a Statement

As for medical problems, my son also has medical problems, so the school nurse attended (check she/he is attending)

Thank you Brandy, I was thinking of taking my own notes and comparing them to the minutes. The nursery keyworker will be probably be attending the 1st meeting and there was talk of getting the school involved asap, but this may not happen until the 2nd meeting. I requested that they contact the school nurse as DD will require physio during the day, supervision due to fits & toileting assistance - the team agree with her involvement but as admissions are only just underway here they will do that later on if that makes sense?

We never had CAF or TAC but that may be because we got in first by starting statementing process. Will she go to school this sept? Then the school should be involved. Our statement of sen has already been changed to detail support in school and school attended the annual review of statement. We have set up several extra visits this half term leading up to the day all the new children visit. DS (asd) has an ABA programme partly at home and partly at school and although he is going to be one of the oldest he will be going only 3 half days. Each school should have Ed Psych, Salt and OT attached to it.
You need to know how often all will come in. Can the autism team also come in without a diagnosis? Will your DD have 1:1? How much. Will that person be epilepsy trained? Asd trained etc. I slightly worry about the focus on transition as that can often mean once she's in school we can dump the responsibility on them. If you haven't had a EP report ask for one. Also consider applying for a statement yourself now. Even without obsticals being thrown in your path that will take 6 months. Also legally she does not have to go to school full-time if you don't want. But note there is a big difference between education otherwise than in school where LA pays for our home tuition and homeschooling where the financial responsibilty passes to you. Flexi schooling - part in school, part at home is also possible. I would speak to school if they are good they will probably want to be involved may agree a statement is needed.

Getting a statement is the best way for all professionals to set out what is needed and for you to have a legal framework to make sure it happens.

Yes she does start in September. I am hoping that the school will be involved by the 2nd meeting. If the outreach worker can arrange it sooner then she will. I agree with the thought of them dumping us after transition - I hope this is not the case.
I would like DD to at least have involvement with a TA not necessarily 1:1, but the likelihood is that she will need it with the complexity of her needs. She does not have 1:1 at nursery, she has a keyworker...they see her as bright so don't think she needs extra support I think the school will see it differently. I considered applying for a statement but I was informed that at the moment - without ASD diagnosis- she would only qualify for medical needs, which does not require a statementing process.

They are trying to put you off requesting Statutory Assessment. A DX certainly helps but if your DD needs support she needs a statement. A DX won't actually change her or her needs. A statement is supposed to be based upon need, not DX. So many LAs are coming out with this crap. Ask them to put it in writing that you must have a DX to get a statement! You, also, can request statutory assessment yourself, you don't have to wait for the nursery or school. It takes 6 months, whatever, for the statement to be issued, you may have your DX by then.

Have a look at the SEN code of practice, link here click on the link on the right to the large print for the web pdf. It is still current law as the coalition's green paper won't come into effect for about 2 years.

Don't let them mess you about!