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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

Request for statutory assessment. Advice please

18 replies

maddiemostmerry · 20/02/2006 14:03

Ds4 (age 4) has no dx but is probable language disorder/asd. It has now become clear that he will not be able to access the national curriculum with out considerable support.
The problem is that we have had very lillte support so far for him. No portage, been on waiting list for 1:1 support that has never materialised.

The EP and SALT will both write strongly worded reports saying that he has severe langauge difficulties. However the nursery don't really understand him and I am worried about their contribution.
So, I need to request stat assessment and that request is best coming from me so that I can appeal. I have been told I need to get all intial reports to the moderating panel at the same time, so that they don't reject because one report is missing.

So report from

Me
SALT
EP
Nursery.

Is anything else needed at this stage?

Although I have been through all this before with ds3, he was in sn provision and they made the requests.

I am worried as ds4 is very complex, non verbally really able, but verbally dire!
The EP thinks he should be in langauge disorder unit but SALT have already vetoed that by saying he has too many asd behaviours.

OP posts:

lou33 · 20/02/2006 14:18

do you have a paediatrician who can prepare a report as well?

Original poster

maddiemostmerry · 20/02/2006 14:32

Have been referred to complex communication paed but there is a six month wait to be seen.
Have seen a general paed who requested the EP see ds4. He has written a general report which could also be submitted.

Thanks Lou.

OP posts:

MeerkatsUnite · 20/02/2006 14:50

IPSEA are very good and would have a look at their website as well. Their web address is www.ipsea.org.uk.

If you make the initial request and the LEA agree to assess (sincerely hope they do so) they will then write to the various professionals your DS sees for reports.

MeerkatsUnite · 20/02/2006 14:54

"I have been told I need to get all intial reports to the moderating panel at the same time, so that they don't reject because one report is missing".

This is important and I wish I'd known that at the time. My initial request for a Statement was turned down for the reason that the school had not submitted all the paperwork (and some of it got lost by the LEA. I was not amused!!!). Had to wait a further three weeks before the panel sat again. Again turned down and thus appealed their decision. We got it.

A meeting with the LEA officers is also something you may want to consider.

Socci · 20/02/2006 14:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

emmalou78 · 20/02/2006 16:31

We're in a similar position, except that we have an Ed psyche on board who held back on applying for statutory assessment for 6 months, after telling me she was going ahead, and has only now gone ahead when I offered to do it myself, she wants to present the panel ith his diagnostic reports, and and updated reports/reviews from the SALT, clinical Psych, me, the pre school, probably our Peadiatrician and christ knows who else...

I do know its in process, reports are being written, and hopefully we're on the way.

I wish you look, nad can assure yo the ladies on here are a veritable fountain of knowledge on this front, and helped me a lot when i asked a similar question

tobysmumkent · 20/02/2006 16:41

Message withdrawn

tobysmumkent · 20/02/2006 16:44

Message withdrawn

Original poster

maddiemostmerry · 20/02/2006 17:12

Thanks to everyone for advice. Even though we have been through this before things do seem to have changed quite a bit.

I get the feeling its going to be quite a battle.

Haved asked for specialist SALT cancellation and will do same re paed.

I have to say I had forgotten how stressful it all is.

I have meeting with LEA next week re ds3 statement so will talk to his caseworker for advice.

Thanks again, and good luck to everyone going through the process at the moment.

Tobysmum, I am in Kent too.

OP posts:

tobysmumkent · 20/02/2006 23:25

Message withdrawn

Davros · 21/02/2006 08:09

This is going back a few years, but when I requested assessment I only sent in a very short letter from our Paediatrician, nothing else. Do you really need to send all those reports at this stage? I suppose I knew that the Paed would support the request and I'm sure he was consulted.....

sphil · 21/02/2006 20:18

I'm confused now. We've been told to send in any medical reports but nothing else. I'd assumed that the LEA will ask for reports from other agencies if they decide to go ahead. Is it different in different LEAs?

Davros · 21/02/2006 20:24

That was my experience Sphil, I suppose the Paediatrician's letter was a medical report. That was all I sent and the other reports came as a result of their agreement to assess.

auriel · 21/02/2006 20:32

I hop eit isn't interferering but if you think its asd ish can you get anyone to make a diagnosis? Properly? Contact the NAS for advice onthis too . People fudge the issue so that support isn't obviously needed. If SALT think he's got ASD beh then can they not help you push for proper diagnosis. However much we hate labels if its a way to get our kids what they need then go for it. Good luck. you sound tired but determined. go girl!

Original poster

maddiemostmerry · 22/02/2006 10:15

Tobysmum, I am in Bromley so a different part of Kent.

Thanks for all advice. I think policy seems to vary from LEA to LEA, it seems I have to get the initial paperwork together as I am making the request. Each involved agency has to write a brief {A4) report. If this gets through the moderating panel everyone is asked to submit further detailed reports.

Auriel, I have an older autistic son and have learned through experience that(where I live) asd children are not given priority for SALT. As far as I am concerned ds4 may be mildy on the spectrum but his primary need in the classroom is langauge disorder so therefore I will only accept asd as a secondary dx. DS4 has to wait until xmas to see language disorder SALT

Thanks everyone.

OP posts:

emmalou78 · 22/02/2006 11:23

You have been told you have to wait till christmas to see a language disorder SALT?! WTF!
Thats disgusting, is there anywya you can hurry them along, I know you've asked to be informed of cancellations, but surely a child presenting with language disorder and suspected ASD needs assessing and all the help they can get ASAP...

I know from other threads on here, you can request SALT on the statement, so theres a chance if you can push for a dx of the susected ASD and get him the statement that he'll be able to access a lot more help... and if it were an ideal world that could be theoretically before he even sees the language disorder SALT.

auriel · 22/02/2006 14:38

I too am shocked tah youhave to wait so long. Especially with your other family issues. I would turn into the one who rings three times a week for a cancellation! good luck...

Davros · 22/02/2006 18:40

Looking back, I suppose the reason I only sent the Paediatrician's letter was because that was all we had, we hadn't seen anyone else. But it was a dx.

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