Who would you call to Tribunal?

[bigbobble]

We got a very well-known respected S&LT to do a report for DS for Stat ass.

We are now facing Tribunal largely on the S&LT issue and the report will need to be updated.

In the meantime, we have instructed a local S&LT to work with DS in view of the inadequacy of provision in the statement. She has been helping to train staff and will work with DS directly.

Who would you call for Tribunal?

Any thoughts?

If you have to update the report, I would call the SALT who did the report for the stat ass. She should be able to contact the local S&LT to discuss your ds's programme etc. I assume the local S&LT has been working to her recommendations and if so, she would be able to measure how your ds has improved etc.

I am calling the S&LT who did my ds's assessment to Tribunal, not the LA S&LT who has been seeing ds once every 6 weeks.

You'll have to get your independent SLT, -sorry. It is the only one who's job won't be on the line if they go against the party line.

Sorry, I'm confusing things. They are both independent S&LTs.

We instructed a local S&LT to work with DS on the advice of the S&LT who did the report for SA as his programme had not started and the NHS S&LT had not even been in to school.

So there is an NHS S&LT whose met him once. Our S&LT for SA and a local S&LT who is helping pick up the slack in school and working with DS paid for by us.

Ask them both to write an 'update' for the tribunal and go with the one that is makes the strongest case for what you feel your ds needs?

Ask them both their availability should you wish to call them, - as you might actually have no choice if one is abroad etc etc.?

LOL!

Thanks I will do!

Can you have both???
If you've submitted a report you need the person who wrote it to back it up
But having someone who can give specific anecdotes and examples of day to day issues is also very convincing evidence

Would they allow two S&LTs?

My LA brought two autism outreach teachers!
If you are within the three you can have whoever you want
If it tips you over three you have to ask for permission and unlikely but if its the key issue you might be in with a chance

We had two private EPs at our tribunal - one who'd written our report and the other who'd had other input. It meant we had four witnesses, we did have to ask for permission but they allowed it.

The main downside is that you'll have to pay for two witnesses instead of one, and generally the more witnesses, the longer the hearing - there's a risk that it could last two days, with all the extra costs involved with that. But it sounds like you're going over S< so it might not be too bad - is it just parts 2&3 you're appealing, are you looking at part 4 as well?