Statement annual review being called early what will it be like?

[used2bthin]

DD has 15 hours one to one support funded but school are building evidence to request full time support (though I am told this may not mean actual full support so already worried about lunch times.

they feel that this is especially important for year one as atm she is in a foundation unit and they actually are able to offer her extra support anyway and less structure to the day, children 3-5 etc etc.

Anyway I had been thinking it would be like other meetings we have had-teacher,TA, SALT, ed psych and all just saying how we feel she is doing.

But the SENCO has said that the statementing officers may want to be there since we have called the annual review early. Is this usually the case? And does this mean it will be quite formal?

I am feeling a bit sick at the thought tbh, hate public speaking (will do it of course and do, often in hospital appointments as have panel type things with different professionals at times but this is a bit different since they are making money decisions. I have a parent support worker I could invite so may do that. How have others found annual reviews to be? Suddenly it seems so serious!

If the school are requesting the hours then its up to them to set out this part of the meeting to the SEN officers who will be attending.

Ok thats good. I usually do have a bit where I say how things are going in these meetings but they seem to be on top of it in terms of evidence building and I have the home link book as evidence of her struggling in busy times of day without support so will take that.

No - it needn't be any more formal. The school will still chair it, and the LA officer will just be there to hear what everyone has to say.
I think it always helps to have a few notes jotted down if there are things you want to say, but there is no need to feel in anyway intimidated. It sounds as if the school are fully routing for your dd

Thanks yes they are I think, they did initially say they were ok without extra support (statementing officer had said to me on the phone DD's notes made her think she would need more than 15 hours so to get school to request it when they ahd evidence.)but now things have been harder with dd's behaviour and also there is so much more to do therapy wise so they feel they do.

Will get some notes down.

if you want the statement amended to add extra hours then it's probably best that the case worker is there as you can then deal with any questions from them on the spot rather than them just having to read through paperwork and make a decision on that. Dd3's case worker was nice enough but fairly clueless about dd3's needs and sen in general so it was really useful to have her at meetings to get our point across. Try not to think about the money, how it's funded is not your problem, you need the extra support in place so don't be distracted by who's going to fund what, the important thing is the extra hours. The case officer may make a decision on the day but there's also a good chance that they won't and you may have a wait.

if you are doing a report on her progress for the annual review then make sure you put specifically that you want extra hours and the statement amended so there is no misunderstanding later. You have the same right of appeals as you did when the statement went through originally after an annual review so if they refuse and you've put your request in writing then you can go to sendist if you want to.

As far as I am aware the school will have all the report stuff but I will check. The statementing officer we had before was great, very sympathetic to the issue we have in this area of inadequate provision for children with dd's issues. So am hoping for her again although she is semi retired so best to be ready with answers. Good to know about appeals.

I have learned always to expect a wait sadly! But have seen the SALT report and it is well written from the POV of getting the extra support we need so fingers crossed.