Statement...

[badkitty]

Just received draft statement for DS who is nearly 3, has CP, completely non verbal, extensive support needs. I am completely shocked - I know people have battles re statements but naively thought that given the extent of his physical needs as well as everything else it would at least go some way towards what we need. It doesn't even mention one to one assistance AT ALL. I thought we might have to fight to increase number of one to one hours but never occurred to me that it wouldn't be included at all! He can't do anything by himself FFS! I made it quite clear in parent's report that without one to one he might as well not be there. I am a bit shaky at the moment. I didn't think we'd need to fight over the most basic need. :(

oh that's rubbish badkitty! Unfortunately ime they don't pay much attention to what the parent says, does it say in the reports that were done that ds needs 1:1? Have you been through all the reports to make sure everything has been written into the statement, it could be they've 'missed' other things as well.

oh BadKitty I can understand the shaky feeling :(

Phone/email the LA and ask what 1 to 1 provision is being provided as nothing appears to be showing on this proposed statement.

Reason I said this is when I contacted mine (because nothing shows) Is that the school will be funded approx 25 hours. So there is funding in place but not specified and quantified on the statement iyswim.

You need to know if it is in the pipeline or that he definately is not being given it before you decide the next course of action.

IPSEA has great info on there x

Infact I would email everything.

You can request a meeting to delay the 15 day rule :)

Dont use PP they lie, as do a couple others I saw.

My LA is saying plainly that they just dont put hours details on the statement anymore. That is still against the law, the Code of Practice.

And I got this info from the mumsnetters here

haha, yes, could be an idea to check out coffee's thread, plenty of useful info there!

here

Thanks will check out other thread. Yep the reports also stated need for 1-1, we had some good reports actually with specific recommendations and there is loads of stuff which has been ignored. Eg equipment needs - seating, standing frame etc - nothing in statement except general statement that he will need environment adapted to his needs. General statement that there will need to be physio / OT programmed developed by professionals and implemented by staff but no specifics re how many hours of physio, OT etc. It is just all totally vague. Although as DH pointed out they recognise in s.2 the severity of his needs so how can they justify ignoring the professional recommendations? I don't really know what the statement 'should' look like, only that it is completely unspecific and lacking in detail at the moment.

Its hard to explain here in how it should look but I will have a go.

everything in part 2 should be accounted for in part 3 in the objectives and provison. I have columns in part 3 objectives one side and provision on the other. EVERYTHING has to be specified and quantified ie I had written on mine........."at least 2 x a week by a relevant therapist" It should really read......"will be given 30 minutes x therapy 2 x a week given by trained OT or SALT" needs to be spelled out iyswim. Also strike out things like "should", "could", "may" and alter them to WILL BE, do you see?

Also I would alter the equipment bit to say something like:

"The school will adapt their enviornment to cater for DS needs by way of supplying the following: and then list everything that is required in the report word for word.

are you looking at ms or ss, usually ss statements are slightly more vague to allow flexibility but a ms statement should be specified and quantified for everything. There's some links on the other thread which will be useful, this one is quite good.

also when it comes to equipment you need a phrase along the lines of providing for future need as it arises by Ot/physio or whoever it is that you would like to inform on that.

badkitty I suspect there is a simple explanation. It sounds, from the few lines you have shared, that the LA intend that your son will go to a special school. They can't explicitly state that, because you have the choice to send your DS to MS, but they often indicate it in the text.

For example:

'environment adapted to his needs' - special school, generally. Although MS schools can have hoists/grab rails/ramps installed.

'developed by professionals and implemented by staff' - again, something that is done quite effectively at special schools.

Generally speaking, special school statements tend to be quite vague and wooly because the stuff that would be specified in a MS statement is the 'bread and butter' of special school life.

That is NOT to say that you can't insist that it is specified and quantified. Of course you can. But, for example, in a special school 1:1 is very rarely necessary, because the staff:pupil ratio is so high and the facilities are so well equipped for the children's needs.

Also, in many special schools, the physio/OT tends to do constant monitoring and ad-hoc intervention, rather than set sessions, so that the children get what they need when they need it.

V helpful thank you! God, it is going to take me AGES to go through and list all the stuff that is missing...

X-posted Lougle. Yes, we are looking at a special school at this stage. I am still worried by the lack of specifics in the statement although if you are right on their reasoning then perhaps it is less bad than I thought, however I still think he needs 1-1!

you can also ask them to email you a copy of the statement as a word doc, easier to amend that way.

Special schools are set up to deal with children with incredibly complex needs. Honestly, their setup means that children there thrive without 1:1. The staffing is such that 1:1 can be given to children as and when they need it. My DD goes to a school which ranges from PMLD to MLD, and only 1 or two of the children have 1:1 for safety reasons (ie. behaviour).

I guess I will have to speak to the school and see how it would work...