Stupid LEA and useless Sensory Support Manager - just need to get it off my chest!

[NoodlesMam]

I'm so angry with my LEA! And with the so called Sensory Support Team!

DD2 has been refused a school place at the primary school her nursery is attached to.

My DD2 is registered vision impaired/partially sighted and has been attending mainstream state nursery since September. The Nursery staff are absolutely fantastic and have spent a lot of time and resources on settling DD into Nursery and chasing up support from a QTVI. DD's first QTVI was off sick for over a year, no one picked up the workload and all of DD's notes were lost. Nursery chased things up, insisted that another QTVI was assigned and also questioned the need for a statement. The Sensory Support Team Manager has insisted that DD didn't need a statement 'yet' but the Nursery teacher has kept records and requested an ed psych assessment anyway as she felt it was only a matter of time before it was needed (I've now requested that they start the process regardless).

The reason I chose this particular school even though it is slightly out of our catchment area was because there are two other children further up the school with vision impairment and therefore teachers with experience of working with visually impaired children. The school has already made changes to accommodate these children. My other two children attended the school although both are now at senior school the environment is familiar to DD2. The original QTVI was already working with the other children with VI at this particular school.

So DD2 got her place at the Nursery, has settled well, made friends, learnt her way around etc. Settled with a childminder who only picks up from this particular school, finally trusts the staff to give her drops which she needs 3-4 times during the school day, a new QTVI is now in place and this same lady is again working with the other children in the school and now we might have to go through the whole thing again with a new school that might not be as well equiped to support her. I've also been told by the sensory support team manager that should DD end up at a different school this would stretch the QTVI service so far that they are unlikely to be able to offer the same level or necessary level of support. He's refused to put that in writing though to support an appeal as he said the 'Authority would lynch him' which is an utter cop out!

In the school application I stated these points, sent in copies of DD's registration certificate, a copy of a bland on the fence letter from sensory impairment saying that it would be easier for the service should DD remain at that school, told them that DD2 is on School Action Plus, pointed out the benefits of having a peer group with shared experiences and teachers with experience. I told them that I felt the transition from nursery to reception could be better managed if DD2 remained at the school for all the reasons above and also because DD2 trusts the nursery staff to give medication, although I know DD2 will have to learn to trust other people to do it until she is of an age to do it herself, it would be beneficial to have a familiar face to call upon should DD become distressed or refuse medication.

When I received the refusal letter I contacted the LEA and was told that because DD2 doesn't have an official SEN Statement none of her supporting information has been looked at let alone taken into consideration!

We're appealing and have started the ball rolling with a Statement although it wont be processed in time to help the appeal.

What's the point in providing a space on the form for supporting information if it's not looked at? They tell you that Statements are not necessary but then don't take School Action or School Action plus into consideration!

Sorry it's so long and if you got to the end thank you for sticking with it! I really just needed to write it down and get it out there

Sorry you have been treated badly by people not informing you of how the system works, can DD2 remain at nursery while the statement process is taking place?

Don't shoot the messenger, but they are right.
Supporting info is only relevant in a tie break scenario
They have to exactly follow the admission criteria
If you have a statement the admission criteria do not apply
If you don't have a statement they do
Usually criteria will go children in care - siblings - distance etc (will be on school or LA website)
They could put medical needs as a category but don't have to
An appeal is different the school have to show they are full / cannot take one extra child. If appeal panel decides school can take an extra child then medical reasons etc are relevant
But for infant class sizes the law says they cannot have more than 30 children with one teacher
So it is very difficult to go over 30
You need the statement as then your child will be an excepted pupil for infant class size rules.
Can she stay in nursery until the statement is sorted?
In theory does not have to go to school until term after turns 5
How likely is it she will get the statement?

Thank you for your replies. I asked the sensory support team manager to help me with the original application and I was told that the additional information in DD2's case would be considered, this same person has told me several times that she doesn't need a statement 'yet'. DD2's teacher and her consultant are certain that DD2 should already have and needs a statement so I'm hoping it is likely she will get one?

I'm not sure about DD2 being able to stay at the Nursery, her 5th birthday is not till June 2013 so it would give time for the statement to be processed but the appeal process has already been started (it states that appeals must be received 14 days from requesting the appeal form so I've already done it).

I spoke to the head teacher at the school and the class sizes have been reached. Even if the appeal was successful, after a term the school would have to employ an extra teacher with nowhere to teach and at silly expense, that's assuming no one leaves before then. So obviously the school are in a difficult position but are still willing to support the appeal.

I've been wrongly informed by the sensory team manager about the application and about the statement and I am so angry with him but most of all I feel like I have let DD2 down. I vowed when DD2 was diagnosed that I would do everything I could for her, that I would get every bit of support for her and I've failed at age 3

They can't go over 30 without a statement, but if you go over 30 they can legally take 31 without employing another teacher.
Agree go ahead with the appeal - a child may drop out.
Can you have a meeting about the statement and work out the chances of success.
You could try Parent Partnership and ask them to find out your chances of success and say you are thinking of holding her in nursery until she can go into reception with a statement as an excepted pupil but need to know if likely to get a statement and if school would take 31.

I've spoken to Parent Partnership and they feel that the appeal could be successful, even without the statement, and have offered to come with me to the appeal hearing. I will give them a call and discuss the option of holding in Nursery.

DD2's Nursery teacher, Consultant, QTVI and Parent Partnership agree that she should have a statement and that the application will be successful.

The School head teacher did have a meeting with me on Tuesday and has said that they would support DD's retention at the school even if that meant going over their numbers but that decision would only be taken by the authority. There are 2 reception classes so an intake of 60, hopefully there will be some movement in the next few months. As it is DD2 is 6th on the waiting list.

You learnt a hard lesson there; you cannot and should not trust anyone who tells you to "wait" for any reason re a statement application. Note too that they did not tell you why exactly. Funding undoubtedly was behind that rationale of thinking.

How far along the statement process are you now and who made the application?. Were you actually aware you could make such an app yourself?.

I hope that PP and the others are right re a statement app being successful but some PPs are far better than others and some work in very close cahoots with their employers i.e the LEA.

noodles, you haven't failed, you've just done what a lot of us have, learnt a valuable lesson on trust! Now you've got this done you're well armed for fighting for everything your dd will need in her statement just watch what QTVI support gets written up!

Hi Attila the School has made the application at my request. I discussed it with DD2's consultant and he was horrified that she didn't already have a Statement, even if it's just for DD2's physical safety, so I told the Sensory Support guy that I was not happy with his advice and asked the school to go ahead with the application. But that's as far as it has got so far, application stage, as it has taken so long to get all of the signatures (including Sensory Support Managers).

The lady I spoke to at Parent Partnership seemed very nice, she said she wouldn't normally get involved with appeals, certainly not those on the grounds of practicalities but in DD2's case she does feel there are grounds for appeal and that the appeal could be successful. I told her about the Sensory Impairment Manager telling me that the service would not be able to offer the same or necessary level of support should DD2 move schools and she was disgusted that he wouldn't put his money where his mouth is and put that in writing, she said that what he did write was a complete cop out. I told her that I understood when he said he would be 'lynched by the authority' but she said that wasnt good enough, that DD2 should be his priority. So I'm hoping she's one of the good ones and not just in cahoots with the authority!

Thank you Ninja, I wish I had taken your advice ages ago about the Statement!

I honestly thought I was doing the right thing taking his advice, he's supposed to be the professional, I should have known when I met him and had to explain DD2's condition to him including why she has difficulty with depth perception (she's blind in one eye and her macula is flat) that, surely should be basic knowledge for him?

Agnes - just reading through your first post again. Medical Grounds was one of the admission criteria for our Authority. Parent Partnersip feel that a school place should have been offered on that criteria.

You can tell the LA and the appeal panel that 'when' she gets a statement you will be naming that school so they might like to find a way to accomodate her now for hers and the schools best interest. The trouble is, they need to apply the law to admit your dd, and they won't now be able to move someone out of the school in favour of your dd.

Noodles

Have you asked what qualifications these Sensory Team members or Sensory Integration Manager have?

I'll bet you they have no appropraite qualifications at all.

Most of the time they are just a sop to stop concerened parents taking appropriate action and applying for a Statement - as you've just found out.

You're new to this nonsense so don't beat yourself up. In fact it's good to be lied at an early an stage because it will make you a lot more vigilant for the rest of your child's school career.

As for all those people who told you he should have a Statement - their opinion actually counts for nothing as it's the LA that decide. But that should not stop you applying for one.

The whole SEN system is corrupt and while your primary aim is to support your child you'll learn that the LA's primary aim is to save money - hence they prime their operatives (the Sensory Team) to put parents off applying for one.

It's sick.

Noodles, - you don't need any signatures (except yours) to apply for a statement. You're being given the run around.

Ah I feel it's all one big fight isn't it...

Yes, - I'm afraid so. But it shouldn't be, and there is no way you could have known this. These people that have let you down are supposed to be PAID to help you and your child. How could you know you should be suspicious.

You're not stupid, you certainly don't sound it. There are extremely bright parents on this board who have been similarly failed. In fact there have been lawyers, teachers, SENCOs even. What you must NOT do is blame yourself for any of this.

So what are the quals for the Sensory Manager?

the manager of the sensory impairment service should have either a ToD, QTVI certification or MA in MSI. You have to be qualified to work with a child with VI/HI. Still doesn't mean you get decent advice unfortunately!

noodles, have they definitely applied, do you have a copy of the paperwork? You can apply yourself if they haven't. I've never had to explain dd3 eyes to our SIS, usually it's been them explaining stuff to me.

Oh good that helps.
So did they just ignore the medical criteria or did the places get filled in a higher band?
Still worried they cannot go over 30 without employing an extra teacher.
Some info here
Seems you may have to show they did not apply the admissions criteria properly and had they done it properly your child would have got a place.

He's supposed to be a Qualified Teacher for Visually Impaired. His training to gain that qualification on top of his normal teaching qualification includes the anatomy of the eye, functions of the eye, different forms of impairment etc. etc. etc. He should have known at the very least that if vision is very different in each eye then that creates problems with depth perception.

Thank you for that link Agnes. I think I'm going to speak to Parent Partnership again and get some more advice. At least I think I'm going to have to look at the schools with places left, maybe speak to their SENCo?

Ninja, whenever I have asked him for advice all I have got is a 'I don't know' 'hmm maybe' 'not yet' response. Most of the advice I've had is from here or Dr. Google

He sounds totally crap at his job - trained or otherwise

he does sound crap, even if our QTVI wasn't sure of something they'd always get back with an answer later when they'd looked it up.