Proposed Statement:Have no idea if I'm expecting too much here.

[Catsdontcare]

Received ds's propsed statementa couple of weeks ago and sent back the form saying I would like a meeting as there were things we were unhappy/unsure about. I hadn't had time to go thorough it fully before sending back the form so figured I'd have the time to get my thoughts together before the meeting. Anyway they phoned me two days later and asked me to discuss it over the phone.

It caught me on the hop a bit but I spoke of some of my issues and the person seemed very nice. Over the next couple of days I had a few more issues so phoned back and spoke to someone else (most miserable person ever).

Within a couple of days of that phone call the ammended proposed statement has arrived and they have made the changes I asked for and in general it covers all bases BUT nothing is quantified at all. under part 3 nothing says how frequently etc these things should be happening etc. It just says a programme should be in place for each thing.

Ipsea helpline is closed til tues. Am i being unrealistic here? I have no idea what this statement should actually say in terms of time/frequency etc. The only thing they have specified time wise is that ds should have access to 25 hours additional support per week either 1:1, small group or in class.

Of course they'll give you whatever you want provided they don't have to specify.

You'd probably get 'access to private jet to the Caribbean up to 10 times a year with accommodation for extended family, as appropriate' if they thought you'd go away!!!!!

Ha ha indeed!

So am I right to push for them to quantify how much time he should be getting for each part?

25 hours worded that way means they don't have to provide anything other than a general classroom assistant who the teacher can use however he/she wishes.

Yes you're right. They are not fulfilling the legal duty without s&q

thought it was all moving along too easily/quickly.

Right well I'll send a note saying not happy want a meeting (NOT a phone call) and will ring IPSEA tues morning.

Am fairly certain they sent it out to clash with my being on holiday when the first one turned up and IPSEA being closed for two weeks.

Tried parent partnership and they were "all oh no they don't specify things what's the point your child's needs might change" - wankers

Statements have to be both specified and quantified in terms of provision: LEAs know the law here so cannot plead ignorance. Therefore they have to specify. A statement doc that is neither specified or quantified needs to be rejected by parents.

Stating that a programme should be in place for each thing is not acceptable in a statement doc as it is too vague. I daresay that all of parts 2 and 3 in this doc (the most important parts of the statement so this has to be bang on) are too vague and woolly worded.

I would also try and call IPSEA when their helpline reopens on Tuesday.

Just reword it and send it back.

Ds will receive x hours of TA support, exclusively for him to include minimum of x no. Hours 1:1. This TA will have a minimum of x years experience of 1:1 support of a child with x and be qualified to a min standard of x. He/she will attend all additional 1:1 therapy and deliver additional practice in the classroom setting.

Not too surprised unfortunately to read your comments about the PP in your area.

BTW the PP of the LEA I reside in work out of the same offices as the LEA so they are neither independent or impartial. They are all too ready to tow the party line.

Hopefully your LEA will agree to such changes but it may well come to a tribunal situation for you if they were to keep dragging their heels over failure to specify provision.

Ok as an example

"ds2 requires a programme and arrangements to develop his ability to attend to adult instructions"

What does that mean in real terms? What SHOULD it say? sorry I know I sound dim but I'm not sure how to fight for something when I don't really know exactly what I should be asking.

My personal favourite is "ds requires a programme to develop his social communicationa and interaction" - Not too sweeping there then

You're not dim, but by all means pretend you are. The point is, you SHOULD understand what it means even if you WERE dim!

Wtf is a 'programme'? Who is going to design it? What are their qualifications for doing so? How will it's effectiveness be measured? How much time will your Ds be on said programme and why has that particular length of time been chosen for him......

our pp is the same attila.

When she said is there anything else I can help you with i said "no i really don't think there is" I think she got the message

Pp are good for signposting, giving names/opening times etc. NOT for supporting your rights.

well it rather helpfully suggests in part 3 that all programmes will have clear objectives, which are well recorded and monitored.
Basically ds is going to have an IEP with this shite

my parent partnership are the same - and for good measure she took of an extra 2 weeks leave in july and wont be back until sept - not a bad holiday at all! her advice to me before she went on her 9 week break at beg of july - that i will just have to wait for sept as nothing is going to happen - she was right but i would have like more of a fight from her on my side rather then leaving me in this complete and utter mess - now about to lodge to tribunal papers so when/if she does contact me in sept will be an interesting phone call!! will tell her very little as im 100% sure whatever i say will go straight back to the lea

Sorry pwp were so crap - I know they vary hugely form area to area.

The main way to work out how to quantify support is to go back to the documents in the appendices of the proposed statement. Eg salt report should recommend both a type of intervention, how often it should take place and the qualifications/training of the person who delivers it. EP or camhs report should specify type of environment how much support should be 1 to 1 or small group, withdrawal or in class.

If the reports themselves are too vague, you are entitled to go back to the author of the report to ask them to be more specific.

Hopefully you can find something in the reports to allow you to change vague statements such as " ds requires a programme to develop his social communication and interaction" to "ds will be withdrawn from class once a week for 45 minutes to take part in a social skills class in a small group of 6 other pupils, some with similar communication difficulties others with well-developed communication skills led by the senco/ visiting language and learning teacher/salt, the programme to last for 10 weeks, progress to be reviewed at x intervals."

Thank you I have already started going through the reports and noting down the parts where they have specified exactly what interventions and how often.

I think I will have to send them a written version of my requests I'm not great at articulating myself in person although now I know my expectations are not realistic I feel more confident.

Catsdontcare we are in same position as you statement not worth paper its printed on. Says things like "programmes and experiences to develop social communication skills"., "programmes and experiences to develop on task behaviour". Does mention additional adult support but doesnt mention who when or for how long! I am so cross that they can get away with this bloody crap.

Think I've got a lot of work ahead!