Have told LEA am rejecting proposed Statement as it stands and submitted my reasons,what next?

[starfish71]

Sent my response to the proposed and stating that there is no provision which is specified for DS.

Am really demoralised at the moment. Went to see the other mainstream with ASD unit yesterday and I have to admit, reluctantly that at the moment DS wouldn't be able to access them. Too big, too noisy, sensory wise he is just not ready.

He IS making progress, he has started taking his lesson with his tutor up in the PRU unit and has said he prefers working away from the house. Huge step forward for him, he even walked through the two downstairs rooms today past the pupils (there is a total of 18 pupils. (it is just two houses knocked together).

What I am trying to make sure is that the statement is very tight and specific about what support they are going to provide for DS and that the next step when he is able to cope with it, which I am sure he will do soon, is to go from there to an ASD resource.

I am upset that there is no other small provision that DS can go to, the options are very limited and it has really made me cry since yesterday that DS just doesn't fall into one of their nice neat boxes.

Any one want to help make sure I get this right. It is far from ideal but I don't think there is any other option at the moment.

BUT he is leaving the house every morning for nearly two weeks now! am very proud of him.

It's not as dark as you think Starfish

He's now proven that he can access education so that immediately floors the LA's argument that they will not provide anything other than the PRU as he's too anxious.

So he's proved that in the correct setting (and the PRU is not a sustainable longterm setting) he would benefit from the placement.

So, if the ASD unit on offer locally is not suitable then you need to look at independant provision that is more like the PRU but tailored for ASD support.

So that's what you should be asking for now in Part 4. But that means you need to get out and start visiting independant provision to see what's on offer so you can make a case for it.

starfish have pm'd you

Thanks Wet I am trying to keep the positive that DS is making progress, its small steps but they are happening.

Am trying to research independent ASD schools but having no luck so far. Can understand why some people try to set up their own schools, not that would be an option for me!

Thanks alison

Some PRU staff are ace. Sounds like youve got that type, with a lucky dip from the possible pool of other pupils (which may not last so you need a long term place)

The PRU know where similar dc have ended up going on to. Ask!

Hi mariamariam I have asked and got told 'oh some do go back to mainstream but many end up staying here until they are leaving year 11!'

This is worrying me. I may be wrong but I think they try and get them into vocational subjects and I know for my DS this is not best avenue. When I think he has missed out on a year's education, oh getting wobbly again now. :(

Got a meeting with LEA to discuss my response, energy levels are zapped at the moment.

It will end up at tribunal I think.

Meeting not today early next week

Well that gives you a few days to get a very considered response together.
At least your LEA are meeting with you at this stage. Mine ignored requests for a meeting until just before tribunal when they realised I was not going to go away.
It sounds like you need to work on the specific help needed first then go and look at schools to see which one can offer that. - I suspect you wont have time to view all the local schools this week. Be prepared for resistance to the needs - ie I kept getting "thie school is organised this way... so you don't need to specify xyz" but I stuck to my guns and my mantra was that the statement was supposed to be transferable from school to school if this school placemen t failed for any reason and that it was meant to be be able to be read and understood by anyone - not just professionals - like an idiots guide to my ds - mind you that last comment earned me quite a few looks I can tell you and perhaps was not the best choice of words.

Thanks Alison, have got lots of stuff now to help, thanks again! Just got to get that bit of energy and focus now.

Provision really is very poor around here for children like DS.