proposed statement, mainstream or speech unit?

[mummytofive]

this is going to sound really silly to those that know, but my friend and I both have children with apraxia in the same nursery class, we have both applied for statements but my friend is further along than me by about 6wks. both dc have been agreed to be assesed.
we both want the local speech unit, both children are on the 1st percentile line for verbal but average for non-verbal, both of our nhs speech therapists are hopefull and feel if the dc dont fit the criteria then they dont know who will but who knows! so, my friend was surprised she has got her proposed statement thru 2wks ahead of schedule which is fantastic news, she now has to name her school but it is really hard to understand if it means she will be granted the speech unit? I know this will sound daft, but do you write down the unit and hope you get it? I somehow thought it would say what provision is best, it clearly states her child needs a visual class and has put all the salt reccomendations down but doesnt say about any 1:1 somehow i thought it would say where would be best, as its the easter break its not possible to talk to the headteacher or senco. is there a 'code' on what phrases to look for, or do you just write the nearest unit? sorry about the ignorance! we are going thru this together, thankfully! any advice will be great.

They generally won't recommend a particular school or unit, god knows why not, professional something! To get into a SS or unit in my LA it goes to a panel and they decide if a particular school matches the needs. (and a space is available)

The statement is generally written around the type of school that the LA thinks is suitable. You don't generally need 1:1 in a SS or unit. Is there anything in the statement that can only be provided by the/a unit? Daily SALT? All staff to be trained in SALT techniques? Is your named LA officer available next week? Otherwise your 15 days to ask for amendments will be a bit tricky.

i agree, it is crazy to know if you are asking for something they wont reccomend, everything is so coded in the process. I only had a skim read of her proposed statement, but for some reason thought at this point they would at least let you know what all the phrases indicated rather than guessing when we have never been in this situation before. it seems a waste of their time by not suggesting it. I do feel the lack of 1:1 but saying dc needs visual, diffenatiated curriculum with daily salt is indicating a unit. aswell as us both being able to support each other, i have a selfish interest as i do feel what is offered for 1 will be offered for the other as we naturally have compared reports and they are both very much using the same phrases. its just bad timing as both of our salt are unavailiable over easter, and the schools are shut. but my friend will phone the caseworker on tues. thankyou!

They generally don't make a recommendation as to a SS or mainstream because they mustn't take away your right for your child to be educated in a ms environment (and since it is often the cheaper option would prefer that ms was what you chose).

And it isn't bad timing btw. LAs are well known for delivering information to parents/teachers/education staff at the beginning of holidays so they don't have to deal with any fall out until everyone has calmed down.

Yeah, got our statement in late July!

mine is due early june, I will look up when the half term is as that might be when we get it then!

Yes, half term this year is the first week in June, due to the Jubilee. [bugrin] Or are we just being super cynical [buhmm] ?

Hi

I am a SALT working in a unit and am battling this right now. We are "not allowed" to recommend a particular provision.

What you need is VERY SPECIFIC wording in part 3 of the statement.

I am trying to "standardise" a basic package for tweaking for individuals but something like:

19 hours support in class provided by a highy trained support assistant who can provide support with x/y/z, 2 hours weekly with SLT who is highly trained in and experienced in providing evidence-based interventions to address apraxia [can name here if you want e.g. Nuffield], 3 hours weekly carryover of SALT programme provided individually or in a group by a highly trained support assistant with specific training in x/y/z and 1 communication group is a "core offer".

Some students will have additional/more - it will be based on their needs, but this is guidance to ensure that 25 hours is specified. This "core offer" matches our general provision for our students, it will be different in different provisions and depending on need etc and some students may need more e.g. lunchtime interventions, AAC, social trips built in etc.

Be very wary of wording in the statement that looks like:
"a communication programme drawn up with advice from a speech and language therapist which will be integrated across the school day". Read your statement and at the end of every line, try to think if you can brainstorm different ways this might be SAID to be achieved e.g. for the above, that could be a few photocopied sheets provided once a half term and not really monitored or reviewed. Watch for the loopholes..

Hope this makes sense!

Watch the wording carefully

thanks for that info, I am writting my sons letter of parent support this week and will be putting lots of that into it! I also want to make sure they put in for lunchtime supervision as he has problems with choking and his mobility is not great. I want to make sure that all staff are trained, as in a unit, as at the moment if his nursery keyworker is off then his iep targets are not done. his salt works in the unit and her report looks good, the headteacher of the unit says she knows of him via the lea but I am not going to let my guard down on this!