Proposed statement

[MummyMalone]

Hi everyone! im really hoping you can all help me! Did post this on SN edu, but wetaugust suggests I repost on here! my son is autistic and has just been granted a statement! Proposed statement arrived on friday, and tbh me and my hb both think its alot of crap!! Doesnt really seem to say much in it and near enough all of part 2 is copied word for word, from Psychologist who met him for 30 mins
Part 3 b lists he must have ''access to an environment which has enhanced staffing to provide opportunities for individual/small group support, specialist facilllities and experienced school staff'' no mention of when, how often etc, surely this isnt right!
also lists things such as 'planned oppurtunities'', no mention of when or what, Also in our report we wrote how son has no sense of danger, often run into road, and statement says son needs to b kept safe, but stil no mention of how this will be ensured, and school they seem to be pushin us towards is on a main road!
Sorry to go on, but I was under the impression after reading some of the SEN code of practice, hours and more details are needed, his statement seems so vague its useless!! Any advice would be great, so sorry its so long! i just dont know wot to do, have meeting in next week and just know it will be some know it all cow from authority talking to me like im stupid!

Hi,

Who is the meeting with next week?

If the statement is neither quantified nor specified (and from what you write the proposed statement is neither) then it needs to be rejected as a matter of course. A poorly worded statement is not worth the paper its written on and some LEAs do continue to try and dodge their statutory responsibilities here.

IPSEA's website is good with regards to the whole statementing process www.ipsea.org.uk and I would appeal their crass sounding statement as a matter of course. IPSEA also have info on appealing the proposed statement. I would seek independent advice from one of the charities like IPSEA or SOSSEN; they should be able to tell you what Parts 2 and 3 should state. Parent Partnership who operate within many LEAs are not always fully independent of them and can therefore tow the party line.

It may come to you going to a SEND tribunal.

Guidance from the last Government <a class="break-all" href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110809091832/teachingandlearningresources.org.uk/collection/14161/node/2882" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here

They are being stupid - and unlawful

This is a useful summary of the law.

Also partnership with parents service in every LA, if you are in England or Wales, can be very helpful with helping you check that statement matches recommendations in reports and evidence supporting the statement. They will also come to meetings with you given sufficient notice. If you can't set things up with them in time for mtg next week, would recommend asking a friend or relative to come with you to take independent minutes.

link here: www.parentpartnership.org.uk/

thank u all very much! the meeting origionally was with special needs advisor, but after i rang saying we werent at all happy, we now have the meeting with the department manager, senior sen manager has asked me to email the LEA named officer with a brief description of wot we arent happy with, but meeting is going to be at the mainstream they seem to want him to go to, which i feel abit uncomfortable with as it doesnt seem very neutral, i did ask if i need a solicitor to bring with me, and he sounded quite shaky, sayin that isnt needed! just cant believe we have to fight for the help our children need, its awful, i understand its all about money, but making it difficult for children with disabilities/sn's is disgusting! i hav had a look on the IPSEA and saved quite a few of the documents, also details from the Lamb enquiry - talk about stress eh!

oh and also they said the panel felt the local autism special school, which we wanted, they felt couldnt meet his needs!!! how can a school for autistic pupils, not meet the needs of an autistic pupil!!!

It's the LA Named Officer that you need to have your discussions with. He/she is the only one who can make the changes. School staff cannot as it's now a mtter between you and the LA.

You also have to lodge the appeal as school cannot do that.

Go through Part 2 and make sure it adequately describes all his difficulties.

Then look at Part 3. For every difficulty stated in Part 2 there should be commensurate support in Part 3. That support should be quantified. i.e. DS will receive x hours per day/week/month from (who) to (addreess which difficulty).

You want the support in Part 3 to point to the only place that can deliver it as the autistic base you wish him to go to.

Also make sure that transport and anything else is stated in Part 5 and 6.

Make sure the periodicity of reviews of IEPs and Statement is also stated.

It shouldn't be for parents to do this - we should be able to rely on LA to 'do the right thing'. Unfortuneately all LAs care about is 'doing the cheap thing' and that often means providing less than adeuate support.

thanks everyone, had meeting with Statory Assessment manager on mon, went well we think, but not going to trust a word she says until i hav new proposed statement sent to me, we turned up with our file and showed her all the things we werent happy with! and how most of it was copied word from word from psy, who met him for 20 mins, she said they will use parts of the report, but seemed shocked, when i showed her how much was copied word for word, pretty much about 90% of it, she was shocked, and looked quite angry really, basically our joke of a statement is being shreaded and new copy drafted up, by her and the manager of the LEA in our area, who seems really decent, fingers crossed it will work! she said about 5 times that she thinks we can sort this without going to tribunual!!