Statutory assessment - 6 weeks is up tomorrow

[nickminiink]

Hi, I applied for Statutory assessment 5 weeks and 6 days ago for my 10 year old son. I have been told they have to reply within 6 weeks as it is a legal requirement, is this true as the 6 weeks is up tomorrow. I will be very surprised if a letter hits my door mat tomorrow as every appointment / meeting I have made has always been a result of my continous persistence. So what can I do after tomorrow if I don't hear anything, your advice would be very much appreciated

Thanks

They will probably give you some excuse about the school holidays not being included in the 6 weeks.

Give them a ring and follow the conversation up in writing.

i rang to chase up after 6weeks and had a call back to tell me a NO over the phone, immediately went the tribunal route as their excuses for not assessing were pathetic! Didnt go to tribunal as EP got it stopped and im now in the 12 week SA wait. Fingers crossed for you they say yes. xx

Wot Claw said.

Thanks for your messages, I phoned them today and I was told NO over the phone and this will be followed up in writing with a full explanation. Basically they feel my son isn't below the acceptable criteria for SA regarding his progression, what ever that means. The independant SALT report I sent in with my SA letter showing results of the CELF 4 assessment, showed my son in some areas is 5 years behind his peers, he averaged around 3 years. He has been on SA+ since he started school and has been seeing an SLT since 31/2 years. Clearly what provisions they are providing (2 x 10mins 1:1 sessions a week with a T.A, that's if she is there or too busy with other commitments) are not working as this gap has always been the same and in some areas worse (esp word finding) as he gets older. I had a lengthy conversation with his EP today who is going to assess my soon in 6 weeks time (As we still have no DX and now Dyslexia is being mentioned). Do I hold off until after her report as she is keen to get my son more 1:1 despite my SA refusal (however I am sure school will say they can not committ due to lack of resouces and no Statement in place to ensure they do provide this extra support, so screwed) or just go down the tribunal route now. It is so difficult knowing what to do as they are saying that his needs are being provided for and the LEA obviously has agreed without seeing my son, I have no offical DX other than he has SLD and now possible dyslexia. I am guessing (however like I said no DX) also APD (he has reported auditory memory disorder) so trying through our community Paed to get referal to GOSH. It seems I am doing everything yet I am not the professional in this area, yet I am the one guessing the DX, fighting for extra help etc when clearly my son isn't progressing.

Dear SEN Case Officer,

Thank you for speaking to me on the phone this morning. I am writing to you to clarify the details of our conversation to ensure that I have not misunderstood and to ask some questions following on from this.

You informed me that you have decided that you will not be conducting a SA for ds and that you will write to me with a full explanation. Please can you let me know when I am to expect this.

You mention that you feel that my son is not below the acceptable criteria for SA regarding his progression. Please can you include in your response, the criteria that you used to make this decision as it is currently unclear to me why being 3-5 years behind his peers in his speech and language is not something that merit further investigation.

Love ya lots......

If you haven't already done it, keep a log of evidence, contacts, conversations etc etc. You'll be thanking me for that advice if/when you need to go to tribunal.

Good luck with it all.

put in for the tribunal now, i did mine immediately and i didnt get a date for the tribunal until 6months after i requested it, by then you would have seen the EP