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Original poster

statements!!!

17 replies

devientenigma · 14/12/2011 19:18

What do you do if IPSEA are telling you the statements rubbish and what else needs to go in, yet the LA won't add??

OP posts:
roundcornsilkvirgin · 14/12/2011 19:22

meeting with LA?
tribunal?

silverfrog · 14/12/2011 19:22

well, ultimately you end up at tribunal.

what kind of things?

whereabouts are you in the statementing timeline? this must be amending a statement for your ds?

you can hold out and go to mediation, but if your LA are serious this just puts off the eventual tribunal. there are cases of LAs settling before tribunal though (we are one) - sometimes the LA like to play silly buggers to see if you have the balls (and stamina) to push for what your child needs.

TheLightPassenger · 14/12/2011 19:23

if the LEA won't budge, I would tell the LEA you'll see them at Tribunal?

AgnesDiPesto · 14/12/2011 19:25

You either appeal or let it go depending how big a deal it is.
Even if you appeal it doesn't mean you have to go to tribunal, you can pull out anytime. Sometimes you just have to show you will take it further and they cave in.
Not sure many LAs will go to tribunal unless what you want in the statement is worth a lot more money. If its just specifying they would be foolish to waste their time and money defending it.
An appeal doesn't have to be fancy it can just be page saying what you / IPSEA think is wrong and your amended version of the statement.
Even a very simple appeal will require the LA to prepare a defence.

Original poster
devientenigma · 14/12/2011 19:27

we are going to tribunal anyway to get him the right sort of school, however unless some of the statment changes to say what we are going for is suitable we haven't got a chance. iyswim.

We have a proposed and tbh it's his 8th year of having one and I'm still not great with getting it right.

We have done mediation etc and up until now all nearing out of borough special schools have the proposed statement to see if they would accept him and no one has come forward so this will help towards asking for what he needs.

Thanks for the quick replies.

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roundcornsilkvirgin · 14/12/2011 19:29

have you got professional reports that aren't mentioned on the proposed that could help your case?

Original poster
devientenigma · 14/12/2011 19:30

just thought I would add he needs very specific provision which most LA can't provide. However independant can, obviously you get what you pay for. Plus he's been out of school for 2 year so can't just sit back any more. The SW and health side are backing what he needs if that helps.

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silverfrog · 14/12/2011 19:30

so, the LA agrees (by sending his paperwork) that your ds needs a particular type of school. are you happy with the schools they have sent the paperwork to? or would you prefer a different one?

have you spoken to the schools yourself, to see what they would want written into the statement in order to be able to accept your ds? that might work, since the LA are (in principle) agreeing that they think these schools are ok for your ds.

Original poster
devientenigma · 14/12/2011 19:31

maybe just the one extra but doesn't really help with education, maybe just highlighting his extra needs in a roundabout way.

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Original poster
devientenigma · 14/12/2011 19:34

yes all schools have met with DS and have stated they can't help, with the exception of the 2 independant ones who have said what he needs based on the proposed statement, which is more than what most LA schools can give. If that makes sense.

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silverfrog · 14/12/2011 19:34

so, you have SW, health professionals backing what you want for your ds.

do you have SALT/OT input? is it specified so far on his statement?

do they (if they exist) agree with you too?

obviously his old school was hopeless for him - have you found the school you want him to go to (which does not have to be the schools the LA have sent papers to).

my dd is at a very specific, private SN school - she too would not be able to go to an LA SN school, and needs very specific provision. it can be won, but it can also be quite a fight (but what do you have to lose? the LA has a duty to provide a suitable school place for your ds, and if you have found that place then they are obliged to name it - their last suggestion (ie his old school) didnt work out, did it?)

Original poster
devientenigma · 14/12/2011 19:34

as for my preference, i'm struggling to see him in any school.

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silverfrog · 14/12/2011 19:35

x-posts.

so you are in a position where the LA SN schools are saying they cannot meet your ds' needs?

that is good (in a way!), especially as you have option who are saying they can meet his needs.

what is the LA argument for refusing those places that say they can meet his needs? (aside form cost)

Original poster
devientenigma · 14/12/2011 19:40

sorry silver, some of your post made me laugh RE the LA getting it wrong. I have seen a school I think may work, I'm just struggling with it all and think Iv'e had him at home too long. The ed psyc and SALT have made some good contributions to his needs but nothing that a LA SN school can't address. Plus most of the recommendations in the proposed statement have already been tried and tested before he refused school altoghether.

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Original poster
devientenigma · 14/12/2011 19:41

obviously the mentioned cost and that there is a suitable special school in the borough!! his old one lol

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roundcornsilkvirgin · 14/12/2011 19:43

so his current statement describes his needs before he was out of school?
we had to go to see the LA SS as well. I described ds to them and they went a bit pale ... he got the independent SS very shortly after that.

Original poster
devientenigma · 14/12/2011 19:47

it's a bit of a mix (dying to call you by another name round) before and the best bits of now.

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