Meeting over proposed statement tomorrow.

[Gottalovecosta]

I have a meeting tomorrow with the headteacher and someone from the LEA to discuss my son's proposed statement. He's in the process of diagnosis of ASD/ADHD and currently has dyspraxia/hyper mobility diagnosis. He's 5.9 years old, and has had 1:1 since starting school in Sept. He attends mornings only as he hits/kicks other children and cannot cope with more than that. (this has our full support) His behaviour has improved at school but he still struggles greatly.

Proposed statement asks for him to be in mainstream school full time with 17.5hr support. There is no way he would cope with this. Thy have totally ignored our comments and have ed psychs comments in the parents comments section! We feel he would be better placed in special school, which they have already said over the phone is unlikely to happen until he is 7.

I'd just appreciate some hints or tips on what I should be saying, so far I've highlighted supporting statements in the various reports supplied for the statement, and have written our reasons for wanting him to go to special school. Also, why we feel he is struggling in mainstream.

Thank you.

Hi

A few 'rules'

Don't go alone - always take someone / anyone with you

Make notes

Don't agree to anything - just acknowledge what was said and say you'll consider it

Let them do the talking while you take notes.

If you consider he needs 25 / full time hours support or Special School then you must hold out for exactly that - so make that quite clear to them. If he remains in mainstream without the correct level of support you'll find that he won't learn and will probably be excluded due to his behaviour. You don't want that.

The meeting will be to try to persuade you that he doesn't need more than 17.5 hours / doens't need a special school etc. They'll probably tell you there is no available funding to increase support / his needs are not serious enough - blah blah. Just ignore them and hold out.

It may be useful to tell them tghat you intend to appeal to SENDIST if they will not agree to your demands. That's what you will have to do if they don't change their minds.

Good Luck.