Finally Got A Statement!! Need advice on how to check it!

[OverflowingMum]

So, after 3 years of battling with school, Ed pyschs, the LEA and the rest of the world(!) I have just received the LEA decision to issue dd a Statement!!
I am actually quite shocked, as every step so far has been a battle, and I finally got them to agree to an assessment (after refusing twice!) but was expecting them not to issue a statement so was all geared up to contest the note in lieu!
Now however I have the draft statement and I need to go through it asap - I'm quite shocked I only have 15 days to get back to them.
I have had brief contact with PP and did find the lady I dealt with quite helpful, so think I will contact her to go through it with me as a first step.
It does state in the statement that they consider DDs SEN to be "high incidence" needs and therefor there will not be any extra funding attached to the statment and the school are expected to meet the statement stipulations out of their own budget - not sure what to make of this really, but dont care how they fund it really as at least once it is on the statemnt I know that DD has a better chance of getting it.
The statement does specify quite a few specific interventions which are to be provided and does state frquency and duration for these which I am happy with.
Am feeling a bit lost though - anyone give me any tips of things to check for?
Anyone with a DC with Aspergers and/or dyslexia with a statement give me any tips on things that they have found helpful to have on the statement?
Any advice much appreciated!

'I only have 15 days to get back to them'

To tell them whether you agree or not. You can always say thank you, we'll be sending through some ammendments shortly.

Your statement should not say anything about her level of 'incidence' nor anything about where funding should come from. That has nothing to do with you and is irrelevant waffle in a statement you want to be concise. You need to imagine a class teacher or TA reading it. How will it help your dd for them to know all the details of their financial management?

In terms of the rest you can look at ACE or SOSSEN websites as they have information on what to look out for.

The first and most obvious is SALT. Is there any, and if so what does the statement say about it and where in the statement is it?

And well done for getting to base camp

this is quite a good guide as a starting point. It's worth ringing ipsea, ace or sossen and getting their opinion.

Glad for you!!

With regards to the "you only have 15 days" you can peter it out longer by requesting a meeting with them to go over matters? just leave it a week then go for it.

As for PP be careful will be all I will say as they do work hand in hand on a lot of things. Basic support and advice they are good but when it came down to the nitty grity of what I wanted the tune was changed and they came out with " we can go with you to meetings but cannot input anything or get involved"

IPSEA is an excellent site and great on advice :)

Well done though!!

I know, as coffee says, people's experiences with pwp have varied a lot. Our experience was that they were fair - if they thought either we or the la were suggesting something be in the statement which didn't reflect the facts they challenged it. When we were able to point to the evidence supporting what we wanted included they backed us up, they also pointed out where some recommendations from the salt were missing in the draft statement.

What they - and sossen - suggested we do to check the statement was go through it with different colour highlighters, and mark say each need in blue and each recommendation to meet a need in pink, also number them and add a footmark to say which report it is lifted from. Then go back to the original reports and see what has been left out or what you think has been misinterpreted and say so.

You can ask the la to send you their proposed final statement as an email attachment, just leaving out the first page with child's name and address so can't be identified if email goes astray. Then save it and edit as necessary.

Have a key at the beginning to say text in bold is additional text, in italics is for changes to wording and strikethrough is for text that should be removed. It also helps to use footnotes to refer to the evidence that supports your suggested change, addition or deletion, this could be to parental evidence or report form other professional or to point from the sen code of practice eg need to specify if you feel they are recommending something which can't be enforced because not quantified.

good luck and well done for getting this far.

From what I understand, everything flows from part two. So, part two has to accurately describe all the issues. Then, part three should address them in very concrete terms - stating exact provision of therapy, how much a week and by whom. Like pinkorkid says - it has to be quantified.
Good luck.