Statement of SEN for Pre schooler. Your tips please??

[Catsdontcare]

I didn't want to hijack the other thread going on at the moment especially as my son is a pre schooler so I'm not sure if the advice differs.

DS has just been diagnosed with ASD, he will be starting school in September and I would like to get the statementing ball rolling now rather than waiting for school.

He is at a pre school and as yet they have not mentioned statementing but I feel like I would like to get the process started myself.

Do I need to speak to pre school first as a courtesy?

Anyone been successful in obtaining a statement for a pre schooler? DS will be going to mainstream primary if that makes any difference.

What evidence/reports am I likely to need?

Also I can write forever abouit ds's issues but I'm not sure how to express why I do not feel the school can meet his needs.

If we get turned down can we appeal or re apply at a later date?

I have the template letter so I know roughly how to model it. Spoke to parent partnership and she directed me to the website for now.

Thanks in advance, I have to say since ds's diagnosis this section has been an absolute god send!

Hi and welcome to the board.

I work in a pre school and yes you can do a statement at pre school, You need to speak to the SENCO because she will have all the information you need and should be able to make the process easier for you.

They will have observations of your DS which might show where he has needed additional support which you could include in your information.

When we helped with a statement for a LO, We were asked to detail his strengths and weaknesses.

You need to do it straight away as it takes 26 weeks to complete so if you want it ready for September now is the time to do it.

Good luck

Thanks Ineedalife, I'm hoping to get my request letter done and sent away by tomorrow.

I shall phone pre school this afternoon and chat about it with them.

I'm glad I've been reading this board or I probably wouldn't have realised I could go down the statementing process before primary!

It depends how well you get on with them TBH, I think it would be good to know if they will help with the evidence because it could save you quite a lot of work if they already have some stuff.

They should have been completing a development profile too which will show up any areas which he is struggling with.

You can do it without their help but part of their responsibilty to your DS is to provide information about his difficulties.

This board is great, it has really helped me, my Dd3 has ASD and it took us ages to get her DXed, the people on here have supported me more than anybody else.

Keep talking to us, there are loads of people with loads of experience.