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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

Well today was the day!

47 replies

coff33pot · 20/10/2011 21:19

DS is getting his Statement of SEN I got to put another

I have received the proposed statement in the post today and burst into tears of both upset and joy. What a confused feeling!

However on reading it I am now bemused as this is the first time I have ever looked at one of these.

It does not state anywhere about any funded 1 to 1 hours? I scoured it and its nowhere so I rang the casework officer and asked her to go through this with me and pointed out that I am lost and cant see the hours. Now her answer was......."The statements are now laid out differently. You will see we now list the objectives and provision in Part 3"

I advised her that I cannot see the hours there and she said the school will have funding and checked and advised me that they are to receive 25 hours funding and this is a very high amount. (school already had 15 hrs inclusion funding and fund the rest themselves)

I told her thank you that is good but surely it should be mentioned on the statement? I got a strange convo then about it is best to have a meeting with the school to discuss how they intend to use the funding and what proceedures they are going to put into place that ties in with this statement.

Now I am confused. Is there a new way of doing things? I thought it should be on the statement especially as he will be moving to juniors in Sept and whilst this school realise that he cant cope without 1 to 1 the next just may not see it that way?

Can anyone advise me please?

OP posts:

Original poster

coff33pot · 20/10/2011 21:25

Also the part 2 bit and the part 3 bit dont make sense either.

Part 2 states his summary of needs are

emotional & behavioural difficulties
limited engagement with learning difficulties
social communication skills
writing skills

5 receptive language and conversational skills (I thought this was also social skills?)

But nothing about his sensory issues even though there is a write up further back about his sensory issues and that he has limited awareness of danger.

He hasnt been seen by the OT yet properly. Can this be added in at another date?

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used2bthin · 20/10/2011 21:50

They said to me we can change it-for example we may up how many funded hours dd gets one to one. My dd's says fifteen hours support I think its in part two but could be wrong and can't check as its in the drawer in her room. I did have a meeting wiht school to see how they would use it, before the statement was back though and the psychologist came to give her advice.

Good that you've got it though, I felt really relieved too and of course still sad to read dd's difficulties.

beautifulgirls · 20/10/2011 22:18

I would suggest you call IPSEA or similar and go through this in detail with them. They should be able to advise you what is acceptable and what needs to be changed in there to ensure that your DS actually gets what he needs from this instead of there being loopholes for people to still opt out.

Well done though on getting a statement issued - another hurdle cleared.

WetAugust · 21/10/2011 00:50

You should not accept a Statement that does not specificallyquantify the number of hours.

apart from naything it's illegal for the LA to issue an unquantified Statement.

they should not expect you to come to an agreement with the school over hours as any agreement you reach is not legally binding,

you could have done this without a Statemnet - it's having the quantified hours in a Statement that means they must legally deliver that number of hours.

You have 15 days to go back to the LA and ask them to amend the Statement to include quantified hours. IPSEA will tell you that that's what you should now do.

Original poster

coff33pot · 21/10/2011 01:14

Thanks for replys :)

So I take it that I have been fobbed off with the "its a new layout" thing because I said this was new to me.......

I will do this as I cant meet with school anyhow as they are off now for half term. I just need to work out a phrase that I want put in as I also mentioned that the school and the TAs present have frequently said they have never come accross someone like DS and they have no experience and frequently get it wrong. They themselves admitted they needed training.

She said it was up to them (school) to organise training and they could always phone her for advice.

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Original poster

coff33pot · 21/10/2011 01:16

These Parent Partnership people. Are they good to go through a statement with? or would that be a bad idea.

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TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission · 21/10/2011 07:30

depends on what your parent partnership are like, you can try but if they tell you the same as the lea about the funding run a mile! You also want to avoid phrases like, would benefit from but want to see phrases like, must have etc. You need the 1:1 specified and quantified, as wetaugust said they are fobbing you off and not following the law. School could just get another class ta with the money and not benefit your child at all.

StarlightMcKenzie · 21/10/2011 10:04

Sorry coff, they are right in saying that this is the usual way of doing things. It pretty much has been for us all. However, it is also the 'illegal' way of doing things and I'm afraid this is where your fight now starts.

It's great that you got the first leg up, in that you have a statement, but all that does is define the starting place.

Congratulations with getting this far. I know it won't please you that your statement is a load of bollocks however!

wasuup3000 · 21/10/2011 10:11

We have the new layout are you in Lancs? No PP are not the best people to go through the statement with as they are employed by the LEA and could not support you in any battle you have with the LEA. IPSEA are definataely worth a call and have a look at their website too they have advice sheets for different types of problems.

StarlightMcKenzie · 21/10/2011 10:15

coff I don't always have the time, but when I do I LOVE statement re-writing (how sad I have become) and have done a few now.

If you wanna send me yours, PM me and I'll sort it. Bear in mind however, that 'some' of the changes you might want need to be taken from reports/advice from the experts.

So for example, you can't say that ds needs weekly OT, unless you have an OT that says that.

The very first thing I would do however, is write to the person you just spoke to (or email) to clarify the confusing things they have said. It will help your case to have evidence that they said that they are providing 25 hours of funding to the school and that they do not specify, and that it is a new format etc. These things are all illegal so forcing them to actually say it or deny it will help you, let them know that you know how it is supposed to be, and/or get them to change their mind.

wasuup3000 · 21/10/2011 10:16

[http://ipsea.org.uk/what-you-need-to-know/how-to-take-action/case22.aspx]

wasuup3000 · 21/10/2011 10:16

ipsea.org.uk/what-you-need-to-know/how-to-take-action/case22.aspx

wasuup3000 · 21/10/2011 10:20

If it is Lancs they have a new criteria which I think I have mentioned earlier, schools are expected to fund 20- 25 hours themselves now from the money the LA gives them, not ask for a statement at all and the LA will only provide a statement if its though a child will need a special school.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 21/10/2011 10:20

coff33pot,

re your comment:-
So I take it that I have been fobbed off with the "its a new layout" thing because I said this was new to me.......

Basically yes but fortunately you have not fallen for it. This is yet another LEA who are trying to circumvent the law here to their own ends.

If the statement is not either quantified or specified in terms of provision then it should be rejected. You may well be told that your LEA have acted illegally!. The hours should be stated on this document; do not accept anything less.

I would run Parts 2 and 3 past one of the charities out there like ACE, IPSEA, SOSSEN and they will tell you what it should be saying.

PP are not impartial enough (the one in my area work out of the same building as the LEA, how can they be at all impartial?). You really need to use the infomration from one of the above independent charities.

I sincerely hope you won't have to go to SENDIST as a result of the LEA not budging on such a poor statement (and it is a poor mealy mouthed and weasely worded document that you have received) but that possibility cannot now be discounted.

StarlightMcKenzie · 21/10/2011 10:23

And coff Absolutely don't take it personally. This is sadly a 'normal' part of the process now. It isn't about you being treated as an idiot or anything. The teachers and lawyers on here have been through the same shit.

wasuup3000 · 21/10/2011 10:25

All the objectives and provision are in part 3 and the objectives really carp ie"to understand the rules of social communication" ect

wasuup3000 · 21/10/2011 10:26

and the provision is to have a social communication teacher assess his needs in class.......

wasuup3000 · 21/10/2011 10:28

Really poor in Lancs and not your fault at all, its the SEN dept higher up the chain who are crap not you x

tryingtokeepintune · 21/10/2011 10:54

Hi coff,

Can't do links but if you go to Ambitious about Autism website and search for 'What does a statement look like' there is a link to a 'Statement template'. They have a 14 page example which might help you see what you are aiming for.

Good luck.

EllenJaneisnotmyname · 21/10/2011 11:11

Have to just agree with all above. You are in Cornwall, aren't you? They don't have a great reputation. Look on the IPSEA website for their guide on how to check through a statement. We had to get a few things sorted out on ours and our LA caved on almost everything almost straight away. You may be lucky. Get rid of weasel words like 'should have access to' etc and let them know that the SEN COP says that all statements should be have provision specified and quantified. This should be a portable document that a new school could pick up and run with, it should state everything clearly and explicitly.

Original poster

coff33pot · 21/10/2011 12:25

Good morning and thank you all for this advice :)

Yes I am in Cornwall and it is a struggle to get anything down here, everything is either so far away or non existent.

I will avoid PP I think as Cornwall is very much in peoples pockets anyway. I have been to help my eldest on benefits and education and saw one person and then a few weeks later gone to a different appt for something else in a totally different building and saw the exact same person. A lot of people relief work or part time work for various departments, so I will forget them I think.

wassup The school keep telling me if he cant conform to normal schooling then he wont last in a MS school. Its not a matter of conforming its a matter of helping him to be comfortable in his own skin to want to be there and help him. SS schools down here are 20 miles plus away, more near Devon that down here and I am WAY down! Maybe thats why they got 25 hours funded because the LA dont want to fund a SS who knows. The statement needs to be right or they will carry on saying they are doing everything when they are not. What is in the statement now I have been requesting for the last 2 years and its just basic stuff. But they are ignoring it saying he will conform or some excuse that they cant provide a quiet area as there is no room or dont have facilities for a sensory bounce about in between learning. (didnt realise a few star jumps actually needed equipment )

Starlight I have left a message with the SALT woman to contact me, it would be good if I could have her report soon as but I think she cant complete till she assesses him in class and unfortunately it is half term now. She was contacting OT to see whats going on so maybe I can have an update on that. Most of the statement provision side just says "at least 3 times a week" or "at least 2 times a week. Another one is " A programme of language activities delivered at least 3 times per week as advised by the relevant Therapist both individually and in groups" So Therapist is mentioned but dont know who and its a bit thinnish to say its actually going to happen.

It does say this statement will be reviewed annually. so I suppose I could add SALT or OT then? It would mean I could request a reassess I presume and that would be just as he starts Juniors. Oh god I am rabbiting

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GoodAndBluts · 21/10/2011 12:30

By chance I have Ds2s statement with me as using it for something else.

His reads for part 3B:

Staff working with X should be trained and experienced in working with young children with autism or if he has some mainstream contact, should have the support of those with this training and experience.

X should have access to 30 hours LSA support in mainstream provision.

Hope that helps, and well done on getting the statement. I can remember when Ds2s came in, was such a strange feeling say, relief but sadness.

GoodAndBluts · 21/10/2011 12:32

H actually gets 32.5 hours but the LA here say the max they will put on a statement is 30.

Original poster

coff33pot · 21/10/2011 12:51

Thanks for that GoodAndButs. That at least gives me an idea of what I should see written.

Part 2 just lists Background information. Then each section of Educational, Communication, Social & Emotional and Physical & Sensory then lists his areas they consider without the sensory one which to me is paramount to calming the sensory problems to give his body chance to cope with everything else.

It just then goes on the Part 3 and Objectives in one column and Provision in another column But its all basic what to do stuff but nothing to say who will be doing it. AND nowhere does it state about specified hours or training.

Then just part 4 where the school will be named.

Its crap isnt it :(

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StarlightMcKenzie · 21/10/2011 13:56

'The school keep telling me if he cant conform to normal schooling then he wont last in a MS school.'

WTF?

This has to be the most ridiculous line. WHAT if anything are they doing to ensure that he meets this arbritrary target of theirs. How is he progressing with regards to this and how are they measuring it. What exactly is the criteria that needs to be met for them to be able to decide with accuracy whether or not he has 'conformed' enough?

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