Worst LA place to live for SEN

[wasuup3000]

I vote Lancashire!!!

I've had no problems with Wakefield but I know Kirklees just a stones throw away is the pits

Northants - we're having to move house, only 1 mile away, so that we fall back into Milton Keynes catchment as they are so much better...

Staffordshire are good at saying dc with sn are not entitled to a school place, then offer a pru 2hrs a week,and that was only if the pru could be bothered, got a phonecall most of the time saying they are short staffed so no school this week as we can't meet needs

Buckshire fined by LGO and we know how difficult it is to get the LGO to criticise LAs.

here

Kent

ASD Outreach - who visit a child once in 3 years, then lie about it.

EP - who visit a child once in 3 years, then lie about it.

SALT - Same as above.

OT - discharge children on LA/school instruction.

2 MS schools, who lie about provision at Tribunal, then when you ask for evidence of provision report you to Child Protection.

LA scheme with school to report you to Child Protection 3 times, as soon as you apply for SA. They threaten GP's and indi experts and instruct them to withdraw reports or medical certificates.

No schools for HFA in Borough, either MS or SS for children with severe learning difficulties. Had to go out of Borough for school who specialise in HFA.

We're in Peterborough but only at the beginning of the journey (ASD dx two weeks ago). We have portage come to our house twice a month and the Early Years person once a month. We've been given funding for extra support when DS starts pre-school in September.

However, we're just going through the parental request for a statement so we'll see how that goes.

We have a special school that just takes high functioning ASD. There are also a couple of units attached to mainstream schools.

Kent, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich all use CP as a means to stop parents challenging SN provision in regards to HFA kids. Cahms has to be seen to be believed - truly shocking.

Odd as they actually have some very good provision between them for some other disabilities so I don't think it's a uniform across the country. More how current local service provision actually meets available demand, (God forbid new unit places etc be provided if demand increases in an area).

Even the race to the bottom is not uniform, depending on the specific disability in question.

Devon. Forced to move out of the county to access ASD primary provision, the manoeuvres of some LEA Officers and school HTs bordered on the criminal.

Any experience of Hampshire?

Helpme,
Hampshire very good so far, have accessed physio, Speech therapy, behaviour support, ed psych, all great.

Only CAHMS was useless, they told me to go on a parenting course!

I think all CAMHS offer parenting courses. I wouldn't be surprised if it was one of their meeting targets strategies.

CAMHS didn't offer one, just told me to go to my local children's center and enroll in one.
Useless, but everyone else we have encountered in Hampshire has been great.

Hampshire very good for DD1 (8 with complex SN). 1:1 support at preschool from the moment she was observed by the inclusion co-ordinator, then statemented without a murmur and despite all reports indicating MS with support, was offered a special school place.

DD2 is not being processed so smoothly, but so far haven't had involvement from Hampshire Education itself - just school level and NHS services. SALT is as most find it - broad brush strokes so detail is missed which is crucial for DD2.

I won't give up though - I won't have a choice. DD2 isn't going to get better just because no-one will acknowledge what's wrong.

Just had to click on this thread, as I suspected my answer may feature already (it does, thanks Starlight) but also that there would be hundreds of replies and very few people shouting 'it's fab over here, come and join us!' ;)
no autism units or bases here in mainstream at secondary level and I'm starting to worry (terrible that, isn't it? I've been told off for it by professionals a couple of times. I mean, why not wait until we're fire-fighting, SO much more fun...). So am interested to hear that Milton Keynes might be good... off to google now, but if anyone could name a specific school or two, that'd be great!!

I'm glad this thread keeps popping back up. Mine, like most, is far from perfect and as bought into "inclusion" so wholeheartedly that there's big holes in provision, but I always reassure myself that at least I'm not a few miles south, in North Yorkshire.

Also heard good things about Surrey around the Kingston upon Thames area. As ever depends on the child and their needs.

Lewisham aren't bad, did take us 3 applications to get the statement, since its been in place I've amended it 3 times and the ammendments have been approved. I have yet another ammendment going through, so fingers crossed they sign off again.

Heard that Lambeth were good, good resources, good SS provision plus a SS free school.

Oh God, don't know about Surrey but Kingston has done a recent about turn in terms of SEN provision. And not in a good way!!

Wasuup asked about wales..... We have had good experiences and got what we want out of our LA, but that may all change now that we are heading towards transition...... Same as England really though, there are good and bad LAs. My experience from working in various parts of the UK with families is that it is a complete postcode lottery but also depends on how much parents fight and whether they fight in the right ways some areas I know of willingly give home based ABA, some areas give big direct payments amounts, some areas won't give any direct payments if you 'only' have autism. It's very unfair. Although I think I have to agree with the person who said Scotland is the worst.....I see a number of families there and it really is not a good place to be.

keepingupwiththejones do you know where is good in sefton for aspergers?

I know quite a few parents of children in Knowsley, they seem really excellent.

I think most areas have potential to be excellent or appalling depending on three main factors

1. obvious and short term hassle/expense, or personal risk to self or job. Dc with advanced fire setting skills, for example
2. dc with severe needs that can be easily and completely met by the simple allocation of a place in the local SS
3. having one (or ideally several) people within the systems who 'get' your dc's needs and advocate strongly & persistently. A sympathetic school occasionally does this

I am not long into finding out SEN provisions. I'm in Hampshire. Waiting lists long it seems. CAMHS helpful for strategies but flatly refused twice to assess for DX. SALT good. Looking waiting list for OT. Local SEN outreach seem good on the face of it.

looong not looking!

Croydon. Also stunningly incompetent.