PRU seems good.lEA want me tackett NIL as you can go there without one.

[starfish71]

Went to visit the PRU this morning. It did surprise me to be honest. Seems like they have good staff, quiet environment, similar children to DS, experienced with children 'on the spectrum'.

Just come off the phone with ASD advisory teacher who told me she can see DS doing well there..

Sad she had spoken to head case officer and that reason they haven't given statement is because he doesn't need one to go there.

I cried. I know she works for the LA but she kept saying "do you really want to put yourself through an appeal when he could have everything he needs at the PRU".

I will pick myself up but I am doubting myself now that I will be doing the right thing. BUT I know things can go wrong, that is why we are where we are now. He needs the protection of a statement doesn't he?

thanks for that info wet

Wet DS is currently getting home Tutition, an hour a day, hasn't been officially signed off at docs but LEA agreed home Tutition as DS is highly anxious as it states in all the advices. Does this help my case too.

Thank you so much for your advice, I actually managed to sleep last night for a few hours as I feel more confident!

home tuition shows that his anxiety is such that he can't access the PRU itself surely....
you could ask for more home tuition as he's entitled to a full-time education and tell them he absolutely cannot access the PRU due to his anxiety.

what does your GP think? Have we already asked you that?

I'm re-reading your OP and am really quite cross about an ASD advisory teacher advising you that he'll get 'all he needs' from a PRU. Next time you speak to her ask her what her qualifications are. Ask her what accredited training she's had around anxiety.
Has ds had a sensory assessment from an OT? That could help you to argue that the environment of the PRU isn't suitable.

Thanks corny. I did take DS to the doctors in Jan to have it noted that his anxiety was stopping him being able to go to school. Didn't offer me any advice just checked that DS is seeing CAMHS, which he is.

Will ring OT and find out about a sensory assessment, he has dyspraxia and had quite a bit of OT but he had his quota of sessions so was put on hold, I can request further input. They didn't deal with any sensory stuff but maybe if I ask specifically?

I was cross and upset with autism teacher,she has been really great with both my boys and helped loads but I am really questioning her advice on this one.

Am hoping this makes sense but am feeling bit ropey so here goes. Just finished meeting with LEA named Officer who brought along the ASD advisory teacher, I had DH, SNAP representative and a trainee. (please bear with me it did get surreal, in my opinion anyway)

He said that they won't issue a statement a you don't need one to attend a PRU. Kept stressing that DS is so 'highly anxious' he would not be able to attend an ASD resource as these are in mainstream schools which are loud, busy etc etc.

This was being backed up by the ASD teacher (really shocked by that one) who said that the PRU was the best place for DS at the moment to help him gain confidence etc.

LEA said they would write a letter to me putting in it, that when DS is suitably more relaxed and not as anxious they would turn the Note in Lieu into a statement and name a n ASD Provision. They wont issue a statement now as the statement has to reflect what his current needs are and they are convinced that the PRU is the right environment for him.

Right, now DS is highly anxious and has barely left the house for a long time but this just doesnt seem right to me.

I am sure I have left loads out so will come back but this the above all a load of crap?

It was made clear too that autism advisory teacher would be a witness for the LEA....

Starfish,

re this part of your comment:-
"EA said they would write a letter to me putting in it, that when DS is suitably more relaxed and not as anxious they would turn the Note in Lieu into a statement and name a n ASD Provision".

My first thought on reading this part of your comment is that the LEA will not change the NIL into a statement. Well, not without a possible visit to Tribunal.

Seems to me that they are pushing the PRU because it is a cheaper option. They are not thinking of your child at all let alone you as parents. It overall sounds like more nonsense from this LEA who should hang their collective heads in shame.

IPSEA and or SOSSEN are well worth contacting.

Another option is to now contact a firm of solicitors specialising in educational law. Are you eligible for legal aid?.

(P.S Many thanks for your best wishes re LittleAttila).

Atilla, you have always encouraged me on this board, nice to give you a bit back! :)

I am in touch with SOSSEN and am wanting for them to get back to me. I have also just rang an educational solicitor. Not sure if we are eligible for legal aid though.

Don't trust the LA to do what they said. They could have issued a Statement now if they intended to.

I think this all strengthens your case. Definitely appeal.

Thanks Wet. He made it sound like he is doing my son a favour!
Thing is I think MAYBE the PRU will be ok and may help DS (as i said did visit and it did seem quite positive) but it is not going to be a long term solution.

I am feeling as if I have been run over by a bus.

Outrageous! so basically they have said that he QUALIFIES a statement but they aren't giving him one because of his anxiety? Isn't that in breach of the equalities act?

The ASD teacher is in the LEA's pocket. Disregard her - her opinion doesn't matter.

Have you been in contact with your GP about this?

Thing is Starfish

If you put him in the PRU and his anxiety decreases - (big if) they will either immediately try to return him to his mainstream school and the anxiety will escalate again OR they'll keep him in the PRU and declare it is a suitable placement.

Either way it does not address the main issue which is he needs a suitable placement that can provide continuity.

Have you actually lodged your appeal yet?

As Corn says - isnore the ASD teacher - she's a paid-up croony of the LA

Yes he said that if he want into mainstream he would have to have support and for that would have to have a statement. Then went back to how DS couldn't access an ASD provision because he was soo anxious and how if they named one on a statement then it would be pointless as he is not able to access it yet.

I wish I had taped the meeting..

I haven't lodged it yet, intend to sort it over weekend.

write it all down while it's fresh in your mind and email them a copy of it as a record of the meeting....it's all evidence
was anyone taking minutes?

Will do. No nobody took the minutes - Dam I should have made sure of that.

Starfish - that sounds like total bollocks! For a start PRUs are actually mainstream. ASD provision is very used to dealing with severely anxious children as the staff have specialist training in this. It's all designed to get you to accept the PRU (probably longterm and then bye-bye the minute he hits 16).

It's a bit like my LA saying DS needed a specailist placement - but only when he was post-16 and they didn't have to pay for it

now you know why the ASD teacher told you what she did over the phone as well...she was probably asked to sweet talk you into accepting the PRU.

Yes you are both right, really disappointed in autism teacher, DH couldn't believe it either. She has been so good and helpful to us in the past, feel betrayed to be honest.

Just checked we don't qualify for legal aid, just over the threshold. Anyone know a good welsh education solicitor?

Wet its a money saving exercise with them isn't it? You have had a right time of it yourself with your DS haven't you. :(

Of course it's money saving. That's their top priority. Fob of those they can fob off and cough up when they face a fight.

Have PM'd you re solictitor

Only got as far as you being told they woukd turn the NIL into a statement at some arbitrary future date.

Wtf? Not really sure whether to laugh or cry!

You do know that IF (and this is a big dubious IF) a PRU WAS suitable as a short term placement with a transition into an ASD unit when your Ds has had a measurable and defined reduction in anxiety, then it is technically possible for a statement to say that.

Which is an argument you can throw at them.

If you ever were to get a statement like that, it woukd be even easier to appeal for an ASD unit straight away or an independent for ASD Chikdren with high anxiety.

Oh wow star, that is actually what I am looking for, was saying again and again to them today would they do that, the answer was no!

That is actually what I want in a statement. Anything to back that up Star?

I know I really did want to slap him today, Lea officer not my DS x

Well actually it woukd be a dodgy statement unless the trigger for him to move to the ASD unit was defined and concrete with no allowances for interpretation.

So, a set date for example.

And there woukd have to be very clear evidence that the PRU and support WOULD in fact reduce his anxiety.

Any good specialist ASD school deals with very, very anxious children as a matter of course, so to say he couldn't attend school until his anxiety decreases is bollocks.

And what WET says.

TBH, I think if you can get this bollocks in writing you've got your ticket to an independent specialist placement with on site therapy.

Where in the country are you?

DH has come up with a plan, email LEA saying we are still going to appeal, send in an updated Parental Views as they are taking it back to panel on Thursday with the social use of language summer group report. In the updated views we will say that the focus seems to be off his ASD issues and focusing solely on the anxiety, which is part of ASD.

What do you think?