have arranged a meeting with school tomorrow, please can you help with what I should be saying to them? v.long sorry!

[redhappy]

Ds is in reception, has dx of asd, no statement.

I just feel totally out of the loop. I spoke to the teacer after school last week and he casually mentioned a speech therapist had been in, but no feedback at all from that. He has no extra support, the class TA has told me she doesn't do any 1-1 with him. Lots of work in small groups, which I can appreciate the benefit in, I have seen improvements in him socially since he started school.

The teacher is telling me that we are waiting for the ed psych team to see him, and they are the ones who can start the statementing process. Apparently they only take on 20 children at a time, and they have said he is no longer a priority to them (we are new to this lea so he has not been 'in the system' throughout assessment etc) but he is still on the list of children they consider when the panel meets.

Now, I think the teacher is very well intentioned, I do rate him. But thanks to everyone on here I am aware that I am able to request assessment for a statement myself. The school do not know that I know this (not sure whether or not they are aware that I can do this!).

His speech is still very delayed for his age, but otherwise I really feel like I don't know where his strengths and weaknesses lie as there has been so little communication from the school.

I really want the school to start the 10hours of support regardless of statement. Can anyone tell me what is the legal standpoint on this?

Also, if they say well he's doing fine he doesn't need it what do I say to that? He seems to be happy there, I don't think he is particularly disruptive, but I know in cases like this the school just often don't bother if he's not causing them any fuss.

At this age, what interventions will he really benefit from? I intend to be charming from the start, and then of course a bit more forceful if need be.

Would really appreciate any advice or suggestions. I've held back since September to allow him to settle in and the staff to get to know him etc, but it feels like I'm gearing up for the next (inevitable?) fight and feeling massively out of my depth!

Oh, and last week the TA told me he had finally stopped ignoring her. She is lovely and seems committed and interested. We have got a place on an early bird plus course and she will be coming to that. Hopefully a good sign.

Am on my way to bed so this is brief, but if I was you, I would go ahead right now and apply for a statement.

You could also commission your own independent EP assessment (if you can afford it - it's not cheap). This would certainly be quicker than waiting for the school to do it.

But you know, I bet if you apply for a statement, the EP assessment (which will be part of the statutory assessment process) will suddenly materialise quicker.

I sympathise - it is so hard, if not impossible, to know how our dc are doing in school when we're not there to see it. All we can go on is the reports from teachers, but with 25+ other children in the classroom, how can they really know - especially if (like your ds, and mine) they are not disruptive or demanding.

You can also, in the meantime, demand a meeting to set an IEP. If he has a dx he should at least be on School Action or School Action Plus - both of which specify an IEP.

Sorry, this is rambling and probably not helpful. Hopefully someone with more knowledge will come along and help.

I'm falling asleep now, will come back tomorrow to read properly. Thankyou for you responses.

We did the IEP about 2weeks ago. Targets are something like, working in groups, and sharing

I want to move him ultimately to another local school, with asd base attached. My brain has switched off and said good night now though! so I'll come back to this in the morning. Thanks again

Hi

Now, I think the teacher is very well intentioned, I do rate him

Why? When you know he's already lied to you when he said that only Ed Pyschs can initiate an assessment that may lead to a Statement? He's just following instructions from school / LA to prevent you from seeking an appropraite level of support for your child.

Definitely apply for a Statement yourself.

You can also ring the Ed Pysch and arrange your own appointment to see him - although school will probably lie to you that you can't do that either.

The legal standpoint on the 10 hours you mentioned is that school could stop it at any time without notice. It only becomes legally binding when it's explicitly stated in a Statement - that's why your child needs the protection of a Statement.

Why 10 hours? Why not 5 hours or 20 hours? At the momment you're just guessing what support he actually needs. It's only the assessment that may lead to a Statement that will uncover all your child's difficulties and work out exactly how many hours are needed to adequately support them.

School's already let you down by failing to share the SALT information with you - as they are required to do. They've already lied to you about who can apply for Statements.

They are stringing you along.

Finally, he has absolutely no chance of securing a place in an autistic base without a Statement. So if that's your aim for him you need to get the ball rolling by making your own application directly to the LA for an assessment for a Statement.

I hope you have a useful meeting tomorrow.

Best wishes

Thanks wetaugust..that was the kick up the bum I needed!

Bialstock very useful thankyou. I will find a way if I need to do things privately. Will an independant assessment be accepted?

lenin tell them you are going to apply for an assessment and you hope it brings some additional resource for them I probably will tell them tonight- no point hanging around!

I do really need to crack on with it. My dd starts reception next year, I have the forms to apply for her school place staring at me. Can't bring myself to fill them in yet. Should I apply for the place I want ds to go to with the base? Oh, and I'm viewing a house to rent this afternoon too, a mile in the opposite direction and I don't drive!

Wow, just had a call from the school to cancel the meeting!

Actually this is probably a good thing, gives me more time to prepare, and calm down a bit, I'm getting a little stressed by it!

Hi. Yes a cancellation is probably good timing and you can now calm down and make a plan of action :)

Go on IPSEA website and you will find a template copy of a statement request letter to give you an idea :) EP and Pead reports will happen if the LA agree to assess :)

Ask tomorrow for a photocopy of the SALT report. You are entitled to ask for it as it is to do with your sons welfare.

I too think school are stringing you along. Another thing to remember is that reception is mostly play, it gets tougher in Y1. This is where my DS showed his true colours in not coping where as before they managed to keep him reasonably in check.

Thanks wetaugust..that was the kick up the bum I needed!

Sorry - I didn't mean to cause offence

No not at all! You told me what I needed to hear. The thankyou is a genuine one x

redhappy

Am late to this but can only echo the counsel to apply for the statement yourself using IPSEA's template letter.

You are being strung along by the school I am sorry to say and Y1 too is far more demanding both educationally and socially.