Do I wait for statement to come through before she starts school???

[mummyloveslucy]

Hi, my daughter is 7.5 and home educated. We've been to see several schools, and one has a place for September. We really liked the school, but we have to have a meeting with the SENCO to discuss weather or not they can meet her needs without a statment.

They have agreed to let her flexi-school until her statement comes. The women from the LEA special needs team, sugested me helping at the school on the days she's there, or at least be on call for changing her.

I'm not sure the school sound that thrilled about having her to be honest. I really want her to go to a school that would be happy to have her. (Or is that too much to ask, with her SEN's?)

If I wait for her statment, I'd be more likely to get her into the school we liked the best. It would take time, but could work out best.

Just not sure weather to hang on, or take this place. (If they agree)

We've sent of the request for statutary assessment already. The lady from the LEA said they really would have to grant it, reading the letter.

You might want an idea of her SEN's. She is globally developmentaly delayed. She can't read at all or perform basic sums on her own. She has speech and language difficulties, chronic constipation and regula soiling and wetting. She also has co-ordination difficulties, possibly dyspraxia? She has an array of inapropriate behaviours too.

I don't know the ins and outs, but a school that was truly committed to meeting her needs wouldn't be wanting you to go in to change her, and could arrange to access some form of emergency funding to enable her to be full-time from the start.

Hmm, I see what you mean, but it was our request for the flexi. They just don't sound that confident though.

problem is though that if you are prepared to flexi-school, in the cash strapped times there is no incentive for them to hurry up the statementing. Also if the statementing doesn't allow full-time 1-1 but only part time what's going to happen long term. I would be very wary indeed.

If there is a chance that when the statement comes you are going to then change schools then I personally wouldn't put her into school yet as the experience may or may not be a good one for her and it could be better to go straight into the right environment with suitable provision so that hopefully it helps her confidence and ability to settle into school without any setbacks.

I agree with bg - if you have already kept her HE'd until she's 7.5, and then are going to use a different school once her Statement is through, then I can't see why you would want her to start at this school now, for a short term placement ?

It is a bit chicken and egg. You may need a school's support to get the statement, to back up her requirements and your application, but even then it may not be fulltime support she gets. If you appear to be able/willing to wait and/or flexi school the LA may well take advantage and decide her needs are not a priority as you can meet them short term. The system is likely to change anyway but nto sure if that would help you.

What is the chance of her getting a place soon at the one of your preference without a statement initially? She'd be year 3 so there isn't the same limit on class size.

Thanks everybody. If she did start at this school, that would be it. We wouldn't move her unless she was very unhappy.

I think waiting for the right school, with the right support is probubly the best bet.
She was at school up until 16 months ago. She loved the nursary and reception, but went down hill big time in year1. She had such a bad experience, she's scared of school.

The school I really liked, would take her if they had a place. The head said I could try the board of govenors, as it's exceptional cercumstances.

The school that has a place, I have to arrange a meeting with the SENCO to see if they'd take her or not.

The school that is dubious, knows a lot more about Lucy's SEN's than the more welcoming school.

That's good to know. I think I would like to help out at first, just not all the time she's there.