Thinking of applying for SA again, feeing rusty

[claw4]

Over a year ago went to Tribunal and lost. Since that time, school have used this as an excuse to give ds even less help.

School told Tribunal that ds had all this wonderful help in place, for example that his IEP is termly - he hasnt had an IEP since FEB 2011 (since Tribunal)

SALT/OT had termly planning meetings with SENCO and ds had programmes, when in fact there were none. The school dont ever have meetings with any OT and ds did not have a SALT programme.

That ds had a mentor programme, he didnt.

Anyhow, school would say again that they are meeting his needs from within their budget and he is making good progress.

Last Tribunal they produced no documents of progress and then after tribunal produced false documents ie they backdated IEP's to cover the lie they told during Tribunal. They even put into writing that they didnt have meetings with OT and ds did not have a mentor programme. I have evidence of this.

So how can i apply for SA on the grounds that ds isnt making progress?

Would the best way of showing this be to get private SALT, OT, EP assessments done again now, to compare to the private assessments i had done a year ago?

Sorry should have added or would school not monitoring his progress be enough to show that they obviously cant say he is making progress, if they are not monitoring it?

Claw. MOVE schools!!!! What a nightmare. Of course you must push for Statutory Assessment, as you feel it's necessary for dc. The school would, I suspect, take the funding money and still not do much with him. They sound very unscrupulous to me.

Claw, why are you considering this now?

I mean, of course your Ds needs a statement. I'm not arguing with that. I'm just asking what do you think will be different about things this time that will give you a better chance of winning?

You're not naive to the system, and must have thought about the resource implications both financial and emotional. I suppose I am just trying to make sure you have it all tied up.

One thing on your side is that they won't give you the same no good panel.

If you have to go to tribunal that is.

You know to put in data protection requests of SALT and OT ASAP right, so that if 'programmes' turn up from nowhere you can get them under the information commissioner.

Them knowing you know will deter them from making things up later.

Btw, if you get a statement, even a crap one, you can name a Different state ms school and even if full you have an excellent chance of them taking you. The law makes it quite hard for the school or LA to refuse you.

And Claw, pending my own tribunal, house move and baby arrival if I can help with the case management etc. at any stage don't be afraid to ask.

Star, im considering this now because i feel more prepared, i know what to expect, last time i was literally shell shocked by the lies. Ive had a much needed break from it all too.

During my break, I tried working with the school, took parent partnership with me, all i want is proper programmes in place and for progress to be monitored correctly. I was fobbed off.

For example social skill group, school cannot show me a programme, targets or how progress is monitored. Apparently they monitor progress by his teacher saying he is making progress socially in the class room. No one observes him, the teacher just notices.

Motor/sensory skills group, which is run by a TA. School cannot show me a programme, targets or how progress is monitored. Again its just noticed by members of staff. Although i did find a 'check list' on his school file, on the day i had a private OT go into school, they decided to do a check list of his skills, although they dont do this!! The things they had told my OT he could do, he couldnt do on their check list!

I want to get a statement and then change schools if i need to. I dont want to change schools now, as this is what i did last time and there was very much the feeling at Tribunal, lets wait and see how he gets on at the new school.

I did an information request and nothing from SALT. Although on school file i saw that he did have a SALT 'programme' ie SALT had given school a bundle of work sheets to complete with ds. At Tribunal they stated that ds had a wonderful SALT programme.

School have admitted to me in writing that they dont have an OT, just a general programme for all children with motor skills difficulties, which is implemented by a TA. Although at Tribunal they stated they had termly meetings with an OT regarding ds.

Hi Claw,You could ask to see your child's SALT casenotes. That might give you some evudence.

Leonie, even I was shocked at Claws treatment and I thought I'd seen it all!

Thanks Sallybear as i said above i already moved schools during last SA and it really didnt help matters. New school gave ds 20 hours of 1:1 and lots of other help, until they realised he was a quiet and passive boy and wouldnt cause a problem for anyone, if that helped was removed. I feel i need to get a statement to secure the help. I also expect i will be forever having to monitor school very closely, whichever school ds goes to, to ensure that help is still in place.

Leonie i dont feel devastated, i feel wiser, shit happens, at least i know what kind of shit im dealing with now

Thanks Summer, i did a information request and requested all information held by SALT and nothing.

I will do another when i apply for SA.

Oh and thank you so much Star for your offer, i missed that post earlier. By baby arrival, does that mean baby is here?

My LA demand that there are written reports for every professional visiting the school, and I am copied in. We see the Teacher for the Deaf, Specialist SLT and Specialist Teacher for ASD. Even though IEP's aren't a legally binding document, I ask to see them and the results that they've collected. We are moving schools from MS to SS not because it's a bad MS but because DS3 is not coping/progressing with MS environment.

Sally, i get copies of reports from SALT, but when i did an information request and requested all information held on ds from SALT and other professionals, i didnt even get a copy of the SALT reports i know exist, as i have copies!

Am really shocked Claw.

The main thing in your favour is that you have been in this school for quite awhile. Did you get any reports done last time to measure any that he might have made?

3rd baby due beginning if June. It's all drama though (isn't it ever) as we are moving LA's mid-tribunal and new area hospital is refusing to take me on due to being fully booked or something not helped by not being registered with GP there. DD has an operation booked in old PCT and I'm not changing GPs until she's had it as she is suffering until it happens. Currently living in a Premier Inn in neither LA.

Leonie thanks, youre right it shouldnt happen. But looking on the bright side, at least i will be prepared for anything, i think i am unshockable now

Tryingtokeep yes last time i had private SALT, OT and EP reports, over a year ago now. That is what i was thinking, getting the same ones back to reassess progress, although i wasnt sure, whether i would then need to get it done again before my year ran out. No doubt they will refuse SA, SA tribunal, agree to assess, then refuse statement, then another Tribunal!

Or whether the fact that they are not monitoring progress would be enough to show therefore they cant say whether he is making progress or not.

Knowing Tribunal, or at least the panel i had last time, it will take professional reports with neon lights!

Star wow and bloody hell, you sure dont do things by half

Really sorry to hear this claw

Dont have any advice I'm afraid as we just sort of "opted out" of the whole LA/school mess we were in but I can well imagine your feelings Its just so....devious and underhanded what they do isnt it? So awful The HT at my sons school was also giving us the whole "he is making progress" argument when he wasnt and hadnt for the whole academic year...sigh. They refused to get him assessed until he had gone another year without making progress (and would be moving up to middle school...hmm....coincidence???) Well. Fuck that. Its quite good now, really. I have no expectations of the school at all and they think I am a neurotic nuttter

star June? ooohhh....not long!

claw Just a thought...could you apply for the information you need under the freedom if information laws?

A nutter who cant even spell nutter evidently

"Freedom of information" laws...ffs!!!....