Request for statement and speech/language problems

[Mumtoprem]

I was hoping for some advice as our child's nursery are putting through a request for statement for our daughter who is 3 years 7 months old. We have been asked to complete a section for parents asking what support the nursery have already provided, what we think our child's special needs are and why she needs a statutory assessment.

Our daughter was born 15 weeks early and had a range of delays. She now has a more specific speech and language problem and I'm told its specific language impairment and she is about 1-1.5 years behind her peer group.

We have had some difficulties with the educational psychologist saying she is borderline for statutory assessment and that she thinks she should just remain on Early Years Action Plus. However, I think speech and language dept think she should qualify for a statement.

Has anyone got any advice on how to answer the questions above in the "right way" so we get the best possible chance for securing a statement for our daughter?

Thanks!
Michelle

You would benefit from your dd having a cognitive assessment from the Ed Psych. Not all of them are willing to provide this, as there was a shift in their training at one point where they moved away from this and many are uncomfortable with it. I have met a great many Ed Psych's who have very limited understanding of SLI, sadly.

The diagnostic criteria for SLI are pretty clear - you want a significant discrepancy between verbal and nonverbal intelligence (verbal and performance IQ) of between 1.5 and 2 standard deviations from the mean and/or discrepancies of this level between different areas of language functioning e.g. understanding/spoken language. The 1.5/2 SD thing relates to the statistics involved in standardised assessment and anyone who has carried out a formal, standardised (psychometric) assessment should be able to give you this information if you ask.

You also need confirmation from a Speech and Language Therapist that there are features of SLI in your dd's presentation and evidence that it is affecting her day to day life educationall and socially - as a parent, you want to focus on this heavily in your contribution.

However, really, the statement isn't about these things. The statement is about what is needed to maximise your dd's potential, and if the Speech and Language Therapy team are saying that this is what is needed, they need to be really clear in their reports about WHY and very specific about exactly what is needed that is over and above what can be provided at Early Years Action Plus. Get on to them and ask them to be very, very precise about what exactly your dd needs in a statement e.g. an appropriate comprehensive programme to target [x] drawn up by a qualified Speech and Language Therapist to be delivered as follows: 2 x 50 minute sessions of specialist therapy weekly to be delivered by a qualified Speech and Language Therapist with a specialism in SLI, 2 X 50 minute sessions with a trained support assistant who has received explicit training from the SLT on how to deliver and monitor progress of the programme and in-class support as follows - access to a support assistant for small group and independent work to provide visual supports and simplify language in the classroom context". And it goes on. The more specific, the better.. although this is often where people start to get a bit wishy washy!

You might need to send it again bdaonion as it's not come in yet.

just to provide some more information about Specific Language Impairment (SLI)

Sorry I am an idiot! It's because I'm on another forum where people have a code where you say I have pm'd you OP if it's OP otherwise it's the person above, had a moment of confusion!

Oops and I know "idiot" isn't a good word to use either. I really am having a strange day today.

My DD (aged 3.5 yrs) is being seen by a ed pysch next week, arranged by preschool. She is very speech delayed but understands everything we say to her.
She doesn't fit a classic ASD profile as she is calm, happy,easygoing and has no routine or sensory issues.
Do we stand a hope in Hell of getting her a Statement?

aliceinboots

you could have a look at some of the research papers included in the CiteULike Group: Speech and Language Pathology - library to help idientify the problems your DD may have

Thanks dolfrog.

aliceinboots - sounds a bit like our daughter, her receptive language is good but it's the expressive language that is really behind. I'm assuming you will probably have a fight on your hands like us to get a statement.What other input has there been with your daughter?