annual review/interim review - help needed please

[wwbd]

A message has been left on my answer phone inviting me to a review meeting for my ds. I phoned the school office (special school) who weren't very clear about the purpose of the meeting but from what I can make ouut it's an annual review. Shouldn't school be writing to me about this? I have had nothing in writing - shouldn't I be asked to give my opinions? Is there a form that I can use? What if it's an interim review (have been looking on IPSEA). What then?

They should have written to invite you and to explain the purpose of the review and also solicit your views on progress, what you want for the future etc.

I suggest you go along but take with you your own prepared offering on what's improved / declined and state that you want the level of support maintained / increased.

If you don't supply your own views in your own document you may find yourself misquoted by school following the review.

That's why it's important to get your views unequivocably stated and submitted to the LA as part of the overall documentation that is sent to them following the AR.

what if it's an interim review? can school ask for him to be moved or his statement to be changed?

It's the LA who would attempt to amend the Statement following an interim or Annual Review. They would use the advice / evidence from school and from you (and possibly Ed Pysch if they are involved in the review) to help them make their decision.

I wouldn't be worried. The Statement is legally binding and if the LA propose to amend it they either have to get your agreement or go ahead and attempt to change it without your consent, in which case you can appeal to a Tribunal to try to prevent this.

Whats the date on the statement? Is a review due? There can be a change after any review but only if evidence to support it or if needs changed substantially. However lots of LAs are re-assessing more expensive placements at the moment and forcing changes evidence or no evidence. Of course if they change the statement you have a right of appeal. If your school has not raised any concerns about placement / progress before now there should not be anything of a surprise from school. But that doesn't mean the LA doesnt have something up their sleeve. Look at code of practice and make sure they stick to timescales eg that you have all reports 2 weeks before. You also get to write your views and can say why you are happy with school / progress.

Statements are reviewed annually, so it may just be the opportunity to celebrate progress and look at continuing difficulties. There should be a form for you to fill giving your input and to record what you want to ask at the review. Information needs to be circulated to all attending two weeks before the review. This is how it's done in our county, apologies if it's not the same in yours.

how old is your ds? If he's under 5 then you have the annual review and also an interim review 6 months before/after, same rules apply to interim as annual review. You should be given all reports at least 2 weeks in advance of the meeting and be asked for you views. If it's an emergency review called at short notice then it's slightly different as usually you'd expect that to happen with 2 weeks so there'd be no time for reports to go out, usually though you'd have known there were issues that needed dealing with rather than it just come out of the blue. Do you have a home school book, you may have more luck sending a note to the teacher or try to speak to him/her directly? You can also ask who else has been invited, it may give you more of an idea of what's going on. You can of course, if it's an annual review and less than 2 weeks away, ask that the date be put pack and the paperwork completed. The sen cop is always worth a read if you haven't already.

thanks for the replies - he's 13
I will try to get some more info today

Ask for copies of ALL documents and reports to be discussed / used at the review including all specialist reports and a copy of the summary reports competed by school. Read them carefully and particularly with the summary make sure you are happy everything is in the correct boxes.

With regard to reviews, under 5 the standard reviews are an annual and a 6mthly interim. BUT anyone - including you can request a review at any time.