Referral for team action plan (TAP)

[JackJacksmummy]

Hiya

I popped in to see the senco today to see how far along we are with the referral process and she said she had this form for me to fill in and hand back because they are due to have a meeting to discuss this on the 23rd may. On that form I am asked......

What do you as parents want to change and
what are your ideas for achieving this....

Well I don't know what to write - I don't want to "change" my son, he is adorable and quirky. What I want is for things to be made easier for him, for people to understand why he reacts the way he does when, say for example - a stranger touches him, or if something happens that he has not been forewarned about. I want him to have more help to move past the reception stage work he is currently doing even though he's about to go to year 2. And personally for me - I'd like to learn how to cope with those public meltdowns, why we can't go on a bus because he can't cope with the mass of different noises of all the people chatting.

So I don't know what to write....any ideas?

Bless you, you have just written some fab reasons for getting your son assessed in order ti make things change for him.

Just write it on the form .

Good luck

Bless you, you have just written some fab reasons for getting your son assessed in order ti make things change for him.

Just write it on the form .

Good luck

Sorry pressed the button twice.

Referral for what?

It feels like I should be writing things more specific to what he actually does - I suppose I could add in about his speech and clumsiness as they are more physical aspects that can be helped. And the eye contact avoidance so maybe he can learn some other techniques as he gets older.

The senco said she is aware that he is still very young - will be 6 in July. I just don't want this to be put down to immaturity and then be having this same discussion when he's 9/10.

I mean what exactly IS a team action plan?

Who is in the team? How often do you see them? What do they do?

One of the things you should be requesting IMO, is a comprehensive assessment of his strengths and weaknesses by an EP, a SALT and an OT. Until you know clearly what his issues are how can you as a parent or even the school formulate ideas about what to do?

From what u gather it is going to be a meeting to ascertain whether he is going to be assessed by the ed psych which the senco & I discussed a few months back. So basically what I write on the form and what is discussed plays a huge part in whether it happens.

He has an IEP, a SaLT and People coming in from an external SEN facility once a week to work with him. He is on SA+ at the moment.

Forget TAP - apply for a Statutory Assessment.

TAP is a cheap way for the LA to avoid it's legal responsibility to provide support.

With Statutory Assessment that may result in a Statement they must deliver the support.

If you apply for a SA you'll get to see the Ed Pysch etc automatically as part of the Statementing process.

If you just go along with this TAP nonsense you will be back on here when is 9/10 asking how to get a Statutory Assessment.

He's already on SA+ and they are sufficiently concerned to offer an Ed Pysch appointmnet so - Statement is the next stage. But they won't do that - it costs them money

How do I apply for a statutory assessment?

JackJack,

TAP is a lot of hot air which will get your son nowhere in the long run. DO not be taken in by this because it is support on the cheap which can all too easily be curtailed.

Re the statement you will need to write to the Chief Education Officer at your Local Education Authority (the council staff will give you the name of this person) and you will need to give them six weeks to reply (mark that date on your calendar).

Use IPSEA's website to write the letter (they have model letters you can use).

You do not need anyone's permission to apply for a statement and as you are now seeing, you are his best and only advocate here.

www.ipsea.org.uk is the website in question.

Keep posting here; there is usually someone around to hand hold if needs be.