Help writing a letter to school please?

[angeLstillchasingDXpeacock]

Hi MNers...I wondered if any of you could help me out.

My DS is 8 in year 3 at school. He has a borderline motor coordination difficulty (dyspraxia they just dont want to say it) and an expressive language delay of 1 1/2 years. He has congenital Nystagmus which doesnt require glasses, but does drain his energy for concentrating, and the sensory services lady comes out to school several times a year to keep a check on him.
I am trying to get a DX of ASD for him, and he is emotionally, socially and all round delayed / behind, by about 2 - 2 1/2 years.

At school he is a level 1B for literacy, Writing and a 1A for numeracy. Had parents evening tonight, and they say he is making small progress, hence the 1A, he was a 1B at the last perents evening, but he hasnt changed for the other two.

He is on SA+ with an IEP, and gets 3 sessions a week in a small group 1x numeracy and 2x literacy (and visa versa alternating termly) and another group to try to help with the language delay.

BUT.....He is still not making "adequate progress" as far as i can see....

I talked to my DD's teacher briefly about this as she could see i was down, and said i need to write a letter to school telling them how i feel, and what i think my DS needs.

Basically, i want him statemented, but i know i will just get laughed at, as at school, he comes across as socially fine, they "have children at the same level as DS", and they are "doing everything we can for him".
I have NO good communication with the SENCO or even his teacher, and the head is not a good communicator either. Although good at his job.

So, what should i put in the letter? how do i put it? Is there anything i should be quoting from that (IPSEA??) thing? ARGH!!!! I dont know where to turn, what to do, my head is MASHED!!!

I think i should be saying that i know school are doing all they can, but its obviously not enough, and that i feel DS needs some 1:1 hours in order to progress, as the groups are obviously not enough for him.

His teacher says that if she constantly reminds him, pushes him, and basically does the 1:1 thing with him, he can work much better than he does.

He does get distracted easy, and he does play the "class clown" distracting others. And i know that there is one boy in particular who he has to be seperated from at all times, which makes life for his teacher that bit harder. but surely they must see that he needs more help!!
Why are they not helping me, pushing for more help for him? sugesting a statement from their side already?

Am i missing something? Does a child REALY have to be THAT bad before they get any help? Or is it the schools "books" that are need to be looking good? I honestly dont understand this world of SEN.....

Please can someone help me..im at my wits end...ive been trying to get help for him in education since reception (he moved schools half way through year one because of all this...)

:( :'(

Sadly it does sometimes "have to be that bad" before a school starts doing anything. :(

Why dont you apply for a statement yourself? Its easy to do. Take a look at the IPSEA website and you will find info and templates of letter to use.

It take a long time from assessment to statement so the earlier you start the better. Gather all the reports you have of your sons conditions.

If they do agree to assess they will send in and Educational Psychologist to observe your DS in his school for a start.

I really wouldnt pussyfoot around and wait for the school to make their minds up and trust your instincts and start the ball rolling :)

Thanks....I would just like to have someone on my side before attempting this alone....i know we will get knocked back otherwise...(i have attempted other things in life without support and got nowhere...many times ..)

I just dont feel we would get any support from any professional at the moment, it seems the only ones who take us seriously, are the mums, and workers at local charities we use/attend :(

im sorry....im having a down point.....i shall stop this post, go to bed, and reply again tomorrow...hopefully with a better outlook.... xxxxxx

awww no wonder you are down. Get a good rest and come back tomorrow one thing I do know is there are a lot of experienced statementeers here :) and I am sure they will advise/support you all the way. x

Thanks coff33pot.

I just came back back from the school run and got DS past reports out.
I dont seem to have a copy of his end of year 1 report, but that would have been the first one with his current school. but i do have his end of reception one from his previous school.

i had asked for DS levels at the spring of year 2 report though, so i can see the following

spring year 2
Writing - 1b
Numeracy - 1b
Reading - 1c

end year 2
Writing- 1b
Numeracy - 1b
Reading - 1b

spring year 3
Writing - 1b
Numeracy - 1a
Reading - 1b

so in one school year, he has moved 1 sub level in 2 areas and not at all in the third.....surely this is not right....the gap between him and his peers is only getting bigger isnt it????

According to the SENCOP that is not "making adequate progress"

Therefore you can apply for SA and quote that part of the SENCOP.

You can also photocopy those reports and send them as "proof"

Also, any info from the sensory service lady would be very helpful too.

good luck x

....you could also point out that in 3 year of being on SA+ he has not made any/inadequate progress and therefore he needs statementing on those grounds.

Do you have copies of his IEPs too? Are the targets SMART? Has he met any of the targets?

..and yes, the gap between him and his peers is getting bigger and will continue to do so

Is he a - pardon the expression! - "good boy" in class? I know that with my ds1 because he doesnt throw chairs/bit people etc his problems were not addressed for a LONG time.

Hi angel hope you are feeling better this morning :)

Agree with Becs that you have adequate proof to apply for a statement yourself. If he has been on SA+ so long has he been seen by an Educational Psychologist? If so what were her views?

Also becs is right if your son is placid the schools seem less inclined to do anything as even if he is not making progress he isnt exactly giving them a hard time. My own son was struggling but they were happy about him hiding in a cupboard or under a table for a while as it wasnt disturbing them. It wasnt until he barracaded himself in a cupboard with chairs and swung one in an aggressive manner did they suddenly wake up :(

Apparently a child should move 2 sub-levels each academic year to be making adequate progress, so if your DS hasn't then he is "not making adequate progress" which is what they consider for awarding a statement.

I agree with Becs and Coffee that you should apply yourself.
All you need to say in the first letter is that you want him to be assessed as he is not making adequate progress at school. There is a sample letter on the IPSEA website.
They will then write back to you and to the school asking why you think this and it goes on from here.
It takes about 6 months from start to finish.

Ask the school to get the Ed Psych in to see him.

An Ed psych cannot diagnose ASD. You will have to be referred to CAMHS via your GP for that. Have you made a list of your concerns and seen the GP? If not I would recommend doing that also.

Thanks for everyone for your replies, it has been a MANIC day today, so im only just getting chance to sit down here lol

becaroooo, The levels i have are not reports, they are written in pen/cil on the top of his school reports, so not really official.
regard the sensory services lady, i could phone her and ask for a report??.... but there is a written note on one of his IEP's saying that she found reduced visual acuity some time last year....although this was contradicted when i took him to the orthoptist??

Im not sure if his IEP's are SMART, but the senco likes to cover her own back, so i wouldnt be supprised if they JUST passed for it IYGWIM.

Unfortunately his is a "good boy", and since he has stopped biting, spitting, shouting, hitting, using whiteboards to attack classmates, i suppose they see him as "managable"

Coff33pot, Thankyou, i do feel a bit better today, and reading everyone supportive posts has definately helped! :D
DS has NOT been seen by an Ed Psych, the process here is that the outreach team have to see the child, then if they cant help, or if their strategies dont work THEN they will get the Ed Psych in.....There is more of a back story where DS is concerned regarding this.... and Alison222....CAMHS....hmmmm....heres the story...

I went to the HV because i was concerned about DS behaviour....they refered to Pead....was seen by stand in Pead nov 2009.....sent us away with nothing but a follow up app for 6 months....saw current Pead march 2010, nothing, oct 2010, nothing, spring 2011, nothing, july 2011, finally referal to SALT and OT,
SALT said only expressive delay not in line with ASD as abstract lang is fine, but expressive is age 5.3 - 5.6 (he was 7.8), OT gave 5th percentile, so will not say dyspraxia as not below 5th...visual perception fine, but "ligamentus laxity" in hands and digits....durr he is hypermobile!! gave a "motor coordination workshop, of 1 hour a day, every day for 1 week of half term, then discharged.

Pead Nov 2011, finally refered to a panel called BSCIP (Bolton social communication interaction panel), to decide if they thought he needed an ADOS...they decided they wanted the outreach team to see him....They went out begining of Feb this year. His case was discussed at BSCIP feb this year, and we have an appointment with Pead next wednesday regarding the outcome.....

sorry this is so long.,..

think i will research all this this weekend, then i know what to gather together. Look at sending a letter to school explaining my concerns, and send a letter to LEA requesting an assesment....flip, looks like my Uni work isnt going to be touched this weekend hahahaha

I have downloaded the template letter...and this is what i have put....am i missing anything?

I believe that DS special educational needs are as follows:

DS is 2 years behind in all three curriculum areas. Writing 1b ? Numeracy 1a ? Literacy 1b.
DS has an expressive language delay of approximately 2 ½ years.
DS has :
Congenital Nystagmus
Hypermobility and Borderline Dyspraxia
Probable ASD (currently being investigated)
Social and Emotional immaturity of approximately 2 years
Concentration problems

My reasons for believing that the school cannot on their own make the provision required to meet my child?s needs are:
Inadequate progress, despite being on SA+, and getting TA lead sessions, and Group work ? DS levels a full school year ago were: Writing 1b- Numeracy 1b- Literacy 1c.
School SENCO has told me ?We are doing everything we can. There is nothing more we can offer???

Honestly MNers....you are ALL superstars!! i dont know where i would turn if it wasnt for you!!! Thankyou!!!! xxxx

That letter sounds fine to me! :)

They will come back to you for more detail at a later date so you dont want to fill it with mountains of info as you will be repeating yourself anyway.

Well done! And good luck for a positive meet with the Pead next week as hopefully there will be another report for you to file to send :)

Thankyou :)

I have drafted a letter to send to school too

I am writing to express my concerns about DS educational needs.

I believe that DS special educational needs are as follows:

DS is 2 years behind in all three curriculum areas. Writing 1b ? Numeracy 1a ? Literacy 1b.
DS has not made adequate progress within the curriculum areas.
DS has an expressive language delay of approximately 2 ½ years.
DS has :
Congenital Nystagmus.
Hypermobility and Borderline Dyspraxia.
Probable ASD (currently being investigated).
Social and Emotional immaturity of approximately 2 years.
Concentration problems.

Despite intervention from school with the use of IEP on SA+, TA lead sessions, Group work, and encouragement, DS has still not made good progress, and is falling further behind his peers.

My belief is that DS needs more assistance than is available from yourselves, and for this, reason I have requested a statutory assessment from the LEA.

This is not a reflection of my view of the school, and I have been very happy with the level and amount of support DS has been getting.

how does that sound?

sorry, i promise i will be quiet after this :D

LOL shout all you like!

great letter but I would leave out the last sentence This is not a reflection of my view of the school, and I have been very happy with the level and amount of support DS has been getting.

Its too nice

Whilst I appreciate all the support DS has been receiving to date it is clear to myself from his lack of adequate progress that more intervention is needed for DS to meet his goals.

Try that

angel,

You have received some very good counsel today from others and am glad you have taken heed of it.

Would agree that the last sentence re letter to school needs to be deleted. Too nice!.

Re the letter to the LEA you will need to write to the Chief Education officer there and give them six weeks to reply (mark that date on your calendar).

Outreach team may not be able to do all that much ultimately in school; you must go for the statement and do not take no for an answer in the event the LEA deny your request. You can and should appeal their crass decision.

Keep us posted.

LMAO!! first i was chuckled by your name AttilaTheMeerkat hehehe made me smile :D :)
and at me being too nice hahaha....

Thankyou for re-wording it for me...i just want school to understand that its not a personal attack IYGWIM.

coff33pot...you have been so nice to me! thankyou again and again!

Attila, I will most certainly keep you posted.,.. First update will be after Pead app on wed, unless i get any response from school before then lol.

I will send the LEA letter (once i have found the right address) tomorrow, and will hand deliver the school letter first thing monday....i will send two...one to the SENCO and one to his class teacher.

Again, i cannot thankyou all enough...you have all been my ray of light, in a dark and strange woodland called SEN lol. xxxx

Well i have hand delivered the letter to the LEA....the office is in the town center, to we took a detour on our way to the supermarket this morning.

better than posting it and them not getting it till tuesday / wednesday....this way they will have it first thing monday morning.

now just to tweek the one for school, and take it with me monday morning...xxx