Urgent advice needed - statement review

[Fightingagain]

Long story but ds (suspected Aspergers) has sm with 22 hours support. We revently had to relocate to another county and it took ages to get support at the new school in place and he couldn't start there until 1st November. 3 weeks in and I have had call saying that he hasn't settled as well as expected and they will be calling a review meeting next week. I spoke to Senco yesterday and she said that she would be getting things ready for review meeting which would probably be held Feb/March as it takes a while to get everyone together at same time so I am surprised it can suddenly get called for next week! They have implied it will go ahead whether I can attend or not. Am thinking this is an emergency review meeting but surely they should give it longer than 3 weeks to see how things go. Senco had said that complex communication outreach team and behaviour support would go into school before the next review so they can get to know about him so how the hell can they all discuss him when no-one has met him? Am now concerned that school will refuse to have him - any advice appreciated.

it does sound like an emergency review where they have to make themselves available, have they told you on what grounds they have called it and who has been invited? Check that everyone who needs to be there will be and anyone who's been missed get's an invite. And get as much of the communication in writing, I think they'd have a hard job pulling him out of ms if it's worked well up to now, it could be that they want the 22 hours upped or further support from outside and need the meeting to acheive that. What's parent partnership like there, have you had any dealings yet?

Google SOSSEN! -sorry not on the ball enough to put a link on! They were really helpful and Ace website have a long checklist of the things they either won't tell you - or would rather you didn't know - with regard to your childs legal rights with their SSEN.
It just seems like a constant 'them and us battle' dosen't it? More than anything, make sure you take someone with you.
The SOSSEN helpline is very busy, but if you call early you are most likely to get someone.

School have called every day this week about an 'issue' with ds. We even had a phone call because he said 'damn' but another boy who was effing and blinding at ds had no phone call home . He also said something which was not meant in the context it was taken and this has resulted in them lodging it as a racist incident yet ds has been called 'spas' by a child twice without any further action other than the child allegedly being spoken to. Have spoken to Senco who has confirmed it is an urgent review meeting. Said it is because he hasn't settled as well as they expected - not sure what they were expecting tbh as he always takes a while to settle. The fact that he had 3 months off before starting school in another part of the country is bound to leave him unsettled imo. Said that they are not used to the number of incidents with their other children who have more severe difficulties than him and want advice on what support to offer to help him further. This does sound positive but I am feeling wary and uncomfortable due to previous problems at other schools. They haven't confirmed the date just yet but as I am in a new job and have this week off it's highly unlikely they will agree to any more time off next week. Senco said she will write full notes of what is said but I am still worried about this.

This sounds very stressful and very disappointing that they should think to proceed without you. A few points come to mind:

1. If at all possible, you should go. Is there any day/time which would make it easier for you to attend? If there is, ask them to schedule on that day/time. Yes, they're all busy but no one is as important as the child's advocate - you. If you can't attend at all, can you send a rep? Is there a parental advocate you could use for the day? They might charge but it might be worth it to have your interests protected. What are your parent partnership like?

1. School should be making their concerns very clear. If you cannot attend, ask them to write to you setting out why they are calling the emergency review and what if any provision needs amending. This should be made absolutely clear to you.

1. Who is being asked to attend? How do you get on with the 'experts'? What are their views? Have you got anyone on your side?

1. Call SOS-SEN or ACE immediately.

I will do all I can to be able to attend but as I say have not been given day/time yet so cannot sort time off as yet. I believe the professionals that have been asked to attend are behaviour support, EP and complex communication adviser. Having just moved to the area have had no dealings with any of them yet and none of them know anything about ds. I did find it odd that when I contacted LA initially to say what our preferred school was it took them ages to confirm this. Was told that school had to let LA know if they had a place for him but when I pointed out that it should be LA telling the school to admit him not the other way round he eventually got a place. School said they wanted to make sure that they had correct support in place (new TA) to ensure that he had the best start possible!

The school have to agree to accept a child before they are named on the statement but there are very limited grounds for refusal -basically they have to argue that the school is not an appropriate setting and that it would adversely effect the efficient education of the other children.

It is a horrible position for you to be in because you don't know anyone but because of this you are also the key player as you know your child better than anyone and if they can fix a time for you to be there, they should.

Could you identify what times you could attend and write to them at school, saying it is imperative that you be included for your child's sake as they will be missing essential information without you?

I'd definitely want to be there, I'd be wary too, all those people who didn't know my child. You would be the only one that would know what works and what, more importantly would make things worse for him. Are you keeping a log of all the calls, has any of it been put in writing?

Well I managed to attend, EP was also there. They are concerned that they are struggling to manage his difficulties at the moment and do not want to have to exclude (had a couple at previous school). EP is going in to do an observation shortly as well as the complex communication team which is something I wanted at previous school and it never happened. Apparently most new SN children there start on a reduced timetable and they regret not doing this with ds. A pastoral support plan is to be set-up and he is to go on reduced time table from Monday for 6 weeks - 22 hours which is same as the statement. The statement will not be amended until the professionals have seen him which is fair enough. I have mixed feelings really - am glad that they seem to be a lot more on the ball than previous school and are getting experts in quickly. Am concerned how the reduced hours will go and ds is quite upset about it. He will miss lunchtime on 4 days which is when most incidents occur but will have support in every lesson he attends. I'm guessing school may be trying to increase the statement hours and any thoughts on this would be welcomed.