AR - how long to make a decision?

[appropriatelyemployed]

Our AR was in March and the head asked for more hours. We have heard nothing.

I can't see anything in SEN COP which sets out a timeframe.

How long should this take?

Our AR was also in March. Got the results maybe 3 weeks ago? You can ring the LA and ask when it's scheduled. That's what we were told while we were waiting.

our AR was at the beginnng of December. No change to the placement, or provision provided (all done through school, so no quibbling about amount of hours SALT/OT etc). we did want to update (suggested by LEA, actually) some of the descriptions of dd1 and her issues/needs, as most of them we still copied across from a provisional statement issued when she was 4, and no longer very apt.

we got the new provisional through about 2 weeks ago - and that was only a matter of cut and paste the descriptions given by us/school, so no real input from LEA/case officer.

it can really take time post AR to get anything through, ime.

The AR review process should be completed within 12 months of the last AR. So the decision / any recommendations should be sent within 12 months of the previous review being completed. Did you bring yours forward?

So if you are over 1 year from the last Statement they are out of time.

Its ridiculous the COP gives a time limit for the HT to submit a report (10 days) but none for the LA to respond to the report.

Given they decide whether to give a statement or not within 2 weeks of SA completing then it should be 2 weeks again as its effectively the same decision. Anything over 6 weeks is starting to get unreasonable imo unless there is a clear explanation.

IPSEA have picked this up as new delaying tactic.

You may have to complain (again)!

The statement was issued in Jan 2011 and the first AR was in March 2012 with no decision as yet.

Does this mean they are out of time? You may have seen my post on the LGO. It has taken three provisional judgments and a year to get them to accept a very basic case of maladministration in failing to provide where the law is clear.

I wouldn't hold out much hope where the law is not!

Yes I saw the thread .
Found this from ACE - so yes any recommendations on changing the statement should have been made & sent to you by Jan 2012.
The review of provision is supposed to be annual - I guess the clue is in the title

I think because they don't have to submit stats on timescale for ARs to Dept of Ed like they do for statements then this falls down the list - unless they are axing support of course when no doubt they do it really quickly!

The school organised the meeting so will they just try to blame the school?

I suppose you can argue that, given that we were outside 12 months when the meeting was held, and very clear recommendations were made in the meeting, there is no reason for continued delay.

S.328(5)(b) Education Act is the rule I think
The LA has to write to the school at start of term and give notice to have a meeting, so really they should have done yours in Winter term to have it complete by Jan
Having said that I don't think the rule is followed much and often of course its in the child's interests not to rush a review.

If the HT has to do report in 10 days and they have to write to you within 1 week of making a decision then really them taking anything over 2 weeks is slow. It does say if intend to change statement amendments should be made asap - that might be in COP / Toolkit not legislation