Quick question (I hope) on continence in draft statement

[richmond44]

Hi there

Just going through proposed statement and on the whole seems fine but I have a query in the section on self help and independence skills. One of the strategies to develop his self-help and independence skills says:

"This will include support of appropriate adults to help him to both achieve continence and to contain it in the meantime. This will require appropriate changing facilities and an understanding of how to support him in achieving this important life skill".

At present son wears pull ups and is unlikely to be potty trained by september when he will hopefully be going to a ASD unit attached to a mainstream school. My question is should this section in the statement say for example this will require appropriate changing facilities and someone to change his nappy and clean him. I am not sure if the wording in the draft statement would cover this. I do not want to be called to the unit to change his nappy!
Any views please.

Thanks
Richmond

Richmond. I've just checked our proposed amended statement, and the only mention of toilet-ing was in Part 2 under Medical, physical and sensory difficulties. It states that he is still in pullups and nappies, with occasional successes on the loo, but not that someone should clean him etc. He is off to SS after Easter where they do all that anyway, but yes you are right. You should put something specific in there about it. Mine says "He does not yet indicate whether he needs changing." Bloody hell, if you are downwind of him, that's indication enough!!

"school will provide adequate changing facilities and assign a member of staff to assist in the cleaning and changing of "DS" Due to his continence difficulties the member of staff will also have the task in helping "DS" with ongoing toilet training issues.

How about that??

Oooh thats bloody perfect!!! If my DS was in MS then I would get that put into his Statement. I never gave it a thought as we were too busy trying to get everything else right. I know that it won't be a problem, as the SS make everything feel that it's perfectly normal.

Thanks coff33pot and sallybear.I think it should be specified as its all very well saying changing facilities if no one uses them. It has never been an issue at his pre prep,they have gone out of their way to adapt to his needs.Its a lovely school that both my girls went to but that environment. Just not suitable for ds who will have no need for cramming for7+ entry. Exams.

I emailed by SEN person at my LA with coff33pot's words asking was it too late, does it matter as it's SS etc. to amend the proposed amended statement. Probably is. She's usually very good and will get back to me quickly. Anyway I can't wait for him to start his new school. Every time he has been there for a visit, the change in him is huge. So much happier and more settled.

Richmond, I think he needs a 'care plan' specified as in a MS school it's not usual for a member of staff to do intimate care, as they call it. Schools usually have to ask TAs if they would volunteer to change a nappy, (causes them all sorts of stupid child protection anxiety!) and a named member of staff (or two to cover for sickness etc) need to be on the care plan.

So the statement needs to refer to a care plan for toiletting and the care plan would have the finer details. A bit like an IEP should have the finer details of any academic or social provision and targets. Generally you want the statement to be pretty tight, but open enough not to need changing every year. The care plan can be updated as he progresses with his toiletting. I know after Pre school or nursery where toiletting issues are commonplace it seems like overkill, but you'd be surprised at the attitudes towards nappy changing that you get in schools, so you definitely need this tied down.

Thanks for that ellenjaneisnotmyname. That sounds sensible. Must admit I am not sure on the status of a unit attached to a MS school - the covering letter with the statement gives me the option of expressing a preference for a maintained or mainstream school, special school or special unit or to give representations for a non maintained or independent school. So its a special unit that we feel is most suitable for DS but attached to a MS school, so I guess it has similar status to a normal MS school?

Sallybear good news about your son and starting his new school soon. Will he be starting in the Summer term?

Richmond he starts on 16th April. They would've had him start on 27th Feb, but I wanted to give it all a natural order plus his TA was in bits about him leaving her

The SS here is a lovely, happy place. We looked at three SS, and DS chose this one! He seemed very at home and calm there. Amazing child.

Hopefully a special unit attached to a MS school would be a bit more used to toiletting issues. It's MS schools with little experience that can be a bit funny about it sometimes. A special unit sounds great.

Looks a lovely school Sallybear - I am sure your DS will be happy there.
Thanks ellenjane - one would hope an ASD unit has more experience but I will try and get it incorporated in his statement.

Coff33pot and Richmond44 - I emailed my SEN person at the LA on Saturday, after this thread made me re-examine his proposed amended statement.

I asked her to consider the words that Coff33pot had used, and she has emailed me saying that it was a very important point, (not that his SS would worry about it ) but as it was important she has added it in as an objective and provision, to make sure all of the support DS needs is recorded.

I think that I have a very good LA SEN Dept.

Great sallybear! Then perhaps taking in what Ellen was saying about a specified care plan as it is going in his objectives and provision you can request a care plan be but in place similar to an IEP?

This is what will now be included in Section 3. As he is going to a SS where they have some severely disabled children, the whole toilet thing is part of the territory. So this is what she put in his statement:

Support the development of his toileting and personal care.

The school will provide DS with access to changing facilities as required and assign a member of staff to assist in his cleaning and changing. Due to his continence difficulties, DS will require ongoing support with toilet training.

So I hope that this covers it all. I am happy with it.

Looks good sallybear.