fed up with being told "she wont get a statement" "your struggle to get her statemented"!!

[lisad123]

Had this from 3 seperate proffessionals!
Do they think im stupid? Do they think I dont know we are going in for afight?

I have also been asked why im going for statements and i do understand it doesnt come with funding anymore

Thank you both, the secondary school transfer is something that is bothering me greatly. He is only in Yr 3 at the moment, but I definitely want a statement in place by the start of Yr 6, or sooner if needs be, just not sure how I would justify my application at the moment. His school is quite a small one (single form) so the leap to secondary is big. I also fear the gulf widening as he gets older, and the other children becoming less tolerant. I guess there's nothing to lose by applying anyway. I think I need to go and talk to the school about this. I too have heard of children managing through primary and then having it all go wrong at secondary. Also, he has a good teacher and class TA at the moment, but you never know when that's going to change.

We were told very early by the HT that our DS wasn't 'bad enough' for a Statement. We had already bypassed school at the end of reception and got a Paediatric asessment via the GP as school were pussyfooting around with behaviour plans and would have continued to do so ad infinitum I reckon. Half way through the TAC process in School, DS got an official diagnosis of Aspergers from CAMHS, aged 7. I asked at the next TAC mtg if we should get a statement (he already had 10 hrs additional funding from the LEA). Ed Psych said 'he won't need one until secondary school', SENCO said LEA was only awarding those who were excluded statements. I spoke with Parent Partnership who said 'go for it, they will all say that as it's extra paperwork and the sooner it's legal support the better'. We went for it, and he got it. They even changed all our suggested changes at the draft for us. My advice: go for it, you can always apply again if unsuccessful first time and things get worse. It provides us with a legal document which we can refer to when school don't do what they are meant to - which is at the start of every school year!

Fwiw, we were told all the same lies about ds not being bad enough for a statement etc BUT since we started the process, the inclusion leader has told me that they have seen more and more successful requests for children with ASD coming from through LEA.

Historically, statements primarily for social and communication rather than academic issue were like hens teeth, but apparently this has changed over the past couple of years and more and more are now getting statements.

On the other hand, it seems from what I've seen online etc that the majority of statements our LEA produces aren't properly quantified and therefore not really worth the paper they're written on. So perhaps they don't mind giving them out, because they're so wooly that there effectively unenforceable anyway.

Getting a Statement of Special Educational Needs as others have said most times is not easy to get. I got my childs statement through keeping a daily diary of events/situations/behaviour episodes that took place daily at the school which affected/or was caused by my child. It wasn't until I handed-in' this diary to the SEN council office that I finally recieved a Statement for my child. This was after challenging two primary schools that my child attended who consistently refused to apply for a 'statement' on behalf of my child. Later at High School with the statement put in place. The High School never implemented it no matter how many Annual Reviews I attended to challenge their position. It would take me 3 years and a Tribunal which I won to put the statement back into proper usage by way of winning a place for my child to attend a Special Needs School. I never realised during those 3 years that if the SEN office do not fund the Statement that it then is up to the High School to fund the statement but added to this, if the school does not fund it either in the end they do not have to tell you nor does the SEN department have to tell you that they nor the school are going to fund the statement. That's Educational Law for you and there are many more Educational Law traps like this that parents do not/or will not know about, believe me.

In the midst of the proposed statement saga myself

Off paper ds school to be funded to provide 25 hours. Its not on paper and yes its turning into a saga.

We are also chasing second opinion re dx. Was told by school that should a child get a dx of autism then funding usually gets reduced to 15 hours?????

How can a child who needs 25 hours 1 to 1 suddenly NOT need 25 hrs just because they decide its Autism. me thinks...........someone was trying to get me to accept the 25 hours quickly without it quantified

Wtf coff?

Yet in our LEA autism dx is a favourable dx to get extra support. Social communication disorder and even Aspergers aren't considered with the same weight. I asked the paed to write autism on all dd's correspondence as I knew it was better to have that than ASD. He acknowledged it shouldn't make a difference but agreed it did.

We had the same discussion with the Clinical Psych that did ds1's ADOS and signd his dx report.

She put just Aspergers initially, but I called her and asked her to add ASD in as well, so she put 'dx of Autism Spectrum Disorder/Aspergers' in the end, after agreeing that it shouldn't, but does, help to access support.

I am in the middle of negotiating the wording on DS's Statement. He has AS and is in yr6. I was also repeatedly told I wouldn't get it.
I had reports from as many people as I could and cherry picked sentences and phrases to highlight and cross reference to highlight areas that were problems.

Apparently the buzzwords now are " what barriers remain to his education" - you need to draw up stuff with that in mind.

You can apply yourself. It helps if school are on board too.

Good luck,

Similar situation here, DD1 is 9 and got a dx of AS when she was 4 just prior to starting school. After a nightmare start to her formal education i moved her to a small school 4 miles away from home which has an IR unit, and are very caring and switched on most of the time.

Socially DD is extremely immature :( DD2 is just 7 and is miles ahead of her. Academically she is ahead, and is gifted in both maths and literacy.

She totally has her own agenda, will wonder off out of the classroom whenever she pleases, she has no awareness of how she appears to others (orcares). In her class of 30 (mixed Y3/Y4 class) there is to my knowledge 7 other children with SNs (mainly ASD and LD) plus there will be others with SEN on SA+ that i (rightly so) dont know about. DD without question is the pupil in this class that demands/requires more time than any other child, but yet several of the children mentioned above have statements and IR places (again rightly so) as they are also behind with there academic learning.

One of the other Mums routinely helps out in class and on trips ect, she also has a daughter in my DDs year group that has SNs. Just in passing a few weeks ago she asked me how many hours DD had on her statement (her DD was due a review), she almost dropped through the floor when i told her she didnt have one

I have mentioned to the SENCO several times about applying but she almost laughs at me like i am insane for even thinking DD might get one :(. I am scared shitless of what will happen to my DD when she starts senior school, im pretty sure that the whole thing will make her life a living hell.

3cutedarlings

I bet your friend did indeed feel like dropping through the floor when you advised her that your DD did not have a statement. I tell you now secondary school for her will be indeed a nightmare if her additional needs there are not met; you must apply for the statement asap.

The only criteria for a statement is need of one. Your DD certainly has need.

My counsel to you - ignore any naysayers or potential naysayers like the SENCO and apply for it yourself. You do not need anyone's permission to do this. Use IPSEA's website www.ipsea.org.uk

Also 3, you are your daughter's best - and ONLY advocate. No-one is better placed than you to fight her corner for her. This is also because no-one else will actually do so.

I was originally told by another EP back in preschool that DS attended that if I was to put a statement request across her desk, she would refuse it. I approached Infants before he started school and told them that DS would not be able to manage very well in a classroom as was proven. I spoke to IPSEA some time later and they knew about her from various tribunal hearings.

Two months after he started reception, I made the application to the LEA. A new EP was assigned to school and this person saw DS. The first words she uttered to me after seeing him was "he needs statementing!".

After being refused twice at panel (and school losing some paperwork for which they got a polite but firm bollocking from me!) I received a phone call from the LEA to say that DS was going to be assessed.

DS's statement started in Y1 and has been consistently applied ever since with a few minor changes to structure. I have NO doubt at all that his overall life at school (as well as mine) has been a lot bloody easier for him as a result of having this document in place because it also gives him legal protection. We have been very fortunate; some of his other peers have fallen foul of the "well he/she won't get a statement" trap and their children have remained unsupported as a result and without having their needs fully met. Too many of these children too have languished on IEPs that are not worth anything or have stayed on School Action Plus for many years.

I feel a bit bruised even today by the whole experience and would not wish his early time in Reception on anybody. It was only some months after DS received his statement that another mother came up to me and stated that she thought I had been treated abysmally. That acknowledgement meant a lot, still does actually.

Thanks Attila,

So when i apply, what should my response be when they say that her needs are being met on SA+?.

I may well be wrong but does the school not have to basically admit that they have failed to meet the needs of the child?. Her school at the moment have the experience/and staff to meet her needs purely because they have lots of children with SNs and an IR unit. What i think is actually happening is that my DD is being supported because she is included into the groups with lots of other children with statements are in, basically using their funding IYSWIM. There is no question that my DDs needs are above and beyond that of an NT child, but how do even start and prove that they are not being met on SA+. We currently dont even have IEP review meetings tho i know my DD will have had several IEPs. I realise that this is far from the norm and i have until recently been happy with school, my daughter is happy therefore i am.

I can just see whats going to happen they (school LEA, whoever) will basically say lets see how she goes on at the start of senior school :(. I know for a fact that the only reason she copes atm is because the extra support is there already in place, tho there has been times in the past where she has spent several hours each week included in the IR unit because she hasnt been coping. Again i know that its not normal procedure for a child to have access to this sort of facility without it being stated on a statement, but non the less this is the level of support that has been needed at times.

Grrrr!! life is already bloody hard enough as is at times!

sorry this has all turned into abit of a rant hasnt it. Thanks ever so much for taking the time to read it, any advice/experience would be most appreciated :).

That's what I'm worried about too 3CDs, that they will refuse to either assess or statement because DS's needs are being met at the moment. But it could all change at a moments notice, if say particular members of staff left, or more SN children joined the school. I am going to be having a very good think about this over the weekend. This thread is very interesting, thanks to everyone who has joined in.

Hi 3,

re your comments:-

"Her school at the moment have the experience/and staff to meet her needs purely because they have lots of children with SNs and an IR unit. What i think is actually happening is that my DD is being supported because she is included into the groups with lots of other children with statements are in, basically using their funding IYSWIM. There is no question that my DDs needs are above and beyond that of an NT child, but how do even start and prove that they are not being met on SA+. We currently dont even have IEP review"

The above should be the initial basis of your argument for a statement, the school are already going above and beyond the aims of SA plus here so on SA plus alone they cannot meet her needs. Her current level of support as juniors is by no means guaranteed at secondary school; levels of support on SA plus vary wildly and it is not legally binding. You also have a firm diagnosis of AS re your DD. Also you do not have any IEP reviews (IEPs should be reviewed termly by school and with you present).

Whatever you do, don't let your DD go into secondary school without a statement. If her life becomes a living nightmare there, it will affect your family life at home to its detriment. Statements as well take around 6 months to set up (it can take longer as well so just use the 6 months as a minimum) so it is not a quick process by any means.

Do use IPSEA's website; they have model letters on there you can use as well in case you are wondering what to write. Your initial letter to them can be actually quite brief and to the point. Seriously consider writing to the LEA asap; you will need to write to the Chief Education Officer at your LEA and give them six weeks to reply. You won't know how the land lies re the LEA until you write to them, they only make the decision as to whether they will assess or otherwise.

Thanks again Attila, I now have a starting point :) watch this space mind, ive a feeling im gonna need you lot to get me through this