Sorry! Statementing again!

[Dingle]

The school/nursery are starting the statementing proceedure for Amelia. She is due to start school in September!!!They seem really helpful, willing and I am sure they will do what they can, but already they are coming up with negative responses from a new EP. The EP seems to think that Amelia won't need a statement as the nursery are coping well with her. Hopefully Year R won't be that different but surely Y1 is a completely different ball game.

The schools attitude is that it won't make any real difference to them and unlike other mainstream schools, that have refused a child with DS unless they have a statement, can't see any problems.

The school have said I don't need to do anything, but am I right in thinking;

If the school apply for a statement and get refused-it's tough.
If I apply for a statement and get refuse- I can appeal.

I can imagine I have got another fight on my hands!

Sorry for the waffle.

Hi Dingle - yes, if you apply for the statement and get turned down you can definitely appeal. I think you are right that the school can't (I'm sure Prof Davrois has mentioned this at some point!).

Good Luck!

It must be reassuring to hear that your dd's new school are confident with supporting your dd without the need of a statement, but what happens when she moves up to her next school. Will they be able to manage so well. Shell be older too and a far as I'm aware it's meant to be a whole lot harder to get a statement when the child is older.

What I mean is that they're still confident to support your dd if their claim is unsuccesful, but that won't be any help to your dd when she moves up to next school.

How well do you fel she is doing? Did the EP do formal testing of what level she is actually act?

Nursery are coping but she is going to school to get an education, how well do you, the EP and the nursery feel she could access the National curriculum?

Sorry lots of questions, I am supposed to be getting ready for work and can't post more.

Dingle,

Am not really surprised that the nursery have applied for a statement now because statements can take six months to set up (and that is if the LEA agree and there are no disagreements between parents and LEA over level of support offered).

Methinks the EP is under pressure from the LEA in question not to encourage you to go for a statement (such people are employed by the LEA). LEAs are in themselves under pressure re statements of special needs. They cannot outright tell you that she does not need a statement, as you rightly say reception and Y1 in infants is a different ball game.

My advice to you therefore is to write to the LEA yourselves asking for Amelia to be assessed asap. If school has written then all well and good but I would strongly suggest writing to the LEA yourselves - you'll know its been done then!.

You can appeal the decision if the LEA refuse to assess - the school cannot.

Unfortunately the onus is very much on the parents when it comes to the whole statementing process.

You should also be aware that a statement document is legally binding, reviewed yearly and importantly as well the school will have to abide by it. No statement to mind mind equals no support (school will doubtless tell you that there is no extra money available for support if a statement is not forthcoming).

IPSEA are very good in this regard and would suggest you look at their website also:-

www.ipsea.org.uk

Best of luck

If EP still continues to be awkward I would poiont this out:-

The SEN and Disability Division of the DfES have now stepped in to advise all Chief Education Officers and Directors of Children's Services that they:

must not operate blanket policies of refusing to assess particular groups of children who have special educational needs, but must consider children's needs individually and on their merits;

must, in their Statements, specify the special educational provision necessary to meet the needs of the child concerned, detail appropriate provision to meet each need identified and normally quantify the provision.

Dingle

We are in a similarish situation. My son is starting school in Easter. He will need 15hrs additional support a week and the school are happy to fund this out of their budget and feel they can support him inhouse. The local autism outreach team can now be involved with children who don't have a statement which makes life easier

Our EYIS preschool teacher though has still raised the issue of a statement more so for the future than for now. I don't think the EP will go for it. She didn't want to diagnose DS with ASD but was overruled by the paed so don't think she'll be keen. Since the changes in funding our LEA has cut down the numbers of statements they issue dramatically but DS is on the cusp of needing enough additional hours to qualify.

I can't decide how much to push for a statement at this moment. I would feel more secure really for the future when he changes school (or if we moved) though I think statements can be withdrawn if the child is perceived to be managing well. On the otherhand a statement may make no difference to how much support he is getting at the moment, things should be reviewed regularly at his IEP meeting and the school have said they will bring it up if or when it became an issue

Good luck

Liz x

Thank you for your replies ladies. I just can't seem to get me head around it all- I think it's a bit like burying my head in the sand and hoping it will go away!

Come on!! I must be positive and not let it wear me down. It's been fight, fight, fight since Amelia was born, but hopefully this will be the last big fight until her DLA is due again in 2008!!

LizLocket,

Am glad to read that the school will be able to fund 15 hours of support per week out of their budget. The problem is though that such budgets are decided yearly, you may find yourself in a situation in a year's time where the support is curtailed due to a lack of funds.

A statement is a legally binding document and it has to be abided by.

If you personally apply for a statement also and the LEA refuse you can appeal the decision (something the school cannot do).

You also have an awkward EP (don't forget these people are employed by the LEA as well) who is under pressure from the authority to reduce the number of statements. LEA's cannot deny a statement on grounds of cost (this is illegal for them to do so).

I would personally consider asking the LEA in question for your son to be assessed. IPSEA are very good in this regard and would suggest you look at their website and/or call them too. They have model letters you can use.

www.ipsea.org.uk

Good luck

P.S I had a terrible EP in preschool who refused point blank for DS to be assessed. We worked with another LEA EP in Infants and the first thing she said on assessing my son was that he should be statemented!!!.

Dingle

Indeed you must be positive!!. This is your DD Amelia we are speaking of here. Not that you would seriously do this but doing an ostrich and hoping it will go away will do no-one any favours at all.

IPSEA are very good and I've read that the Downs Syndrome Association work with them as well. Talk with them.

I know, I know! It's just all so draining ATM. Don't feel I have the energy for another fight yet. So soon after Christmas and my mum being in hospital again.

I like knowing what I am doing, and I simply don't. I feel completely out of my depth and being pulled in so many directions.

Still, the school are very positive. The SENCO actually worked in the nursery last term so she knows Amelia well and at least I think they will do what they posbily can to make sure Amelia gets what she needs.

I have an appointment with the SENCO on Tuesday, and at the beginning of February we have a team around the child meeting. So hopefully the ball will be well and truely rolling by then.

...must get on...got to go and dig a few more holes!

At least I know I am never alone with MN around, you are a wealth of inspiration,information and support- Thank you.

i would definetly reccomend requesting a statement as like others have said it might all be fine and dandy now but in 6 months time you never know what could happen in the school, chance of head?vandalism in school?...all things like that could change the priorities in their budget?
or even another child with s/n in reception class that has needs that haven't been recognised yet....
your dd is your priority and imho (my dd is now in yr1 and the differences between her peers is becoming more apparent) please request the statement....good luck xx

Dingle, you won't know how to go about this until after you've done it! Sod's law. Its all been said really. Is there anyone who can support you? Another local parent? Each authority has to fund an independent advocacy service and, although IPSEA is definitely worth contacting, your local service may be worth talking to as well. They vary, ours was very good and saved a lot on solicitors' fees. They prob won't tell you about this organisation/service until you request statement and then I think they have to.

We are just at the end of the statementing process. We applied ourselves but we had a lot of support from the school. The only time consuming bit was near the end when we had to negotiate for the exact wording and upping the funding etc. We have been more successful than we could have hoped for! GO FOR IT!!!

Ours took a year in total and most of that time was waiting and inactivity...... then bursts of activity every few months!

Have no other mums that have been through it to talk to really. The one mum whose little boy also has DS, got his statement in place for last September.Spoke to her this morning and the one thing that struck me was that she seemed certain it would be only a matter of time before her DS's school told her her could no longer cope at mainstream! Another little boy with SN (autism) has already been told and his parents are trying to get him into the only SN school in the area.( where we are all told ther are no places until at least 2007!)
Sorry, this post is a bit disjointed! Amelia has come down from her bath and is sitting on my knee, helping me type!
Will try to get back later.

i don't think you have anything to lose by getting a statement, but you could lose out if you don't get a statement, it is easier to get one earlier rather than later, think of it as an insurance policy, its a back up,if ever you need to think about SN school if you already have the statement in place then you can transfer quickly, my three all have statements and we didn't have too much of a battle, my two girls are in SN school and my DS is at mainstream in year four, but we know at some point mainstream will not be able to meet his needs, i know lots of parents who haven't got statements early and then been refused later, i do not know anyone who has had a statement revoked.

Just got back from a very positive meeting with Head teacher & SENCO. They are going to request assessment after the next IN school review meeting which is some time in late Feb.

They have contacted the local SN school, who has an Outreach Support Worker ( a new position apparently) who was coming to observe Amelia on 26thJan...but I have Amelia's Paediatric check that morning, so the school will re-schedule with her.

They put a lot of concerns at rest and really can't see any problems in year R. To be honest the setting is very similar to that of the nursery, which is why I put her there in the first place.

They have copied of various therapy reports I have given to them and are currently giving her additional support on SALT, OT and physio. They are keen to get the sensorty input we were promised last August as they have a room ready and waiting to be adapted into a small sensory room and need the equipment.

I have even asked if I could take in some of my hand crafted cards and give commision to helpraise funds...which they have agreed to. Not saying I will sell any but it would be a good solution if it worked. I could be indirectly helping the school to help Amelia, without actually being a part of the school system IYSWIM.

On a much more negative note, my mum has been rushed back up to KIng's in London, after her dialysis line failed yet again!!
Still waiting to hear some news.

Dingle

Glad to see that the school is going to request an assessment - at the end of next month. I am somewhat at this as I think they're sitting on it. If the meeting is held in late February the request won't be sent off till the beginning of March. That's a potential delay of two months.

You may want to consider writing to the LEA yourself - at least you'll know its been done then. I would personally not rely on the school in this regard to do this for you - a request for assessment with a view to getting a statement is too important to leave this solely in the school's hands.

Amelia will probably find reception to be fine - its the longer term that you need to think about here and this is where the extra support given in a Statement will come into its own.

I sincerely hope she will get a Statement issued.

Am very sorry to hear about your Mum being taken back into hospital again. I wish her a speedy recovery.

My best wishes to you and your family xxx

I don't have any experience of statementing but definitely agree that the real challenge comes in Yr1 and beyond. Reception is very much an extension of pre-school/nursery with a lot of emphasis on learning through play. I know that a lot of ds1's classmates found the move into Yr1 very difficult. More is expected of them in terms of work and behaviour. Ds1 actually found the move to be a really good thing as he likes the stricter boundaries and routine but I know that his (NT) classmates found it hard-going at first.

Sorry to hear about your mum.