Come and talk to me about statements please

[FrustratedSycamorePants]

Okay I'm new to the statementing lark. DD has a statement. It's just been finalised.
But what does this mean in reality?

Do the school have to do what is on the statement?
Do they have to do everything that is on the statement?
What if the methods written (quite comprehensively) into the statement are not possible because the 1:1 they've employed doesn't have the necessary skills? eg the use of sign

What if they don't?
Where do I stand then and what can I do about it?
Can I do anything about it?

What if "inclusion" is not possible because of all of the above? (but was originally possible)

Well, I don't know all the ins and outs of it, although DS2 has had a statement for over a year now. But yes, they have to do what is on the statement, although you may find they sometimes do all they can to skirt the edges of it (and some downright ignore it and you need to fight them on it). We were lucky and our DS2's school was brilliant about not only following it, but providing extra support for him as needed even if it wasn't in the statement.

A LOT depends on your school tbh. DS2 is starting at a SS next week, so it'll be interesting to see what changes there are, but I'm pretty confident at this point that he'll be well supported.

As far as inclusion goes, that's pretty much why DS2 is now going to a SS. He had a place at a lovely primary school (MS) that literally did everything they could to support him, but it just wasn't enough - he needed smaller class sizes and a few other things that simply couldn't be provided. So while they did everything possible to allow inclusion, we asked (with the primary school's support) for him to be moved to the SS at his statement review. It started out looking like it was going to be a huge fight, and we had a date for tribunal, and then the LA decided to cooperate and placed him in the SS that we requested.

I don't know much about fighting for particular aspects of the statement, as we've never had to do that. But I'm sure that there will be some along soon that can give you loads of info on it. Are you anticipating difficulties with the school?

In a nutshell DD has 2 (major) SEN problems. --which all interlink into littler issues) And all the plans that were put in place before the summer have fallen through at short notice. now to get any support in place short notice involves prioritising one of the problems.
In the long-term (1st year) it will be okay as they will have time put appropriate provision in place.
But short-term DD is.. well.. fucked. for want of a better word

I dont want to fight, I'm sick of fighting, I'll fight if I have to dont get me wrong but I wanted the choice of SS made knowing that MS has done all that it can, and DD just can access learning in the ms setting, not because she's been set up to fail.

I just want to cry. I knew it was too good to be true.

The statement is binding, but if the school can't recruit someone with the correct qualifications, that's just how it is. I know it's not the school's fault in your case. They have to do their best, though. If they can't get someone with signing quals they need to insist that who they do get goes on the next available course. My friend's DS had a SSW TA who had stage 1 when the statement specified stage 2. The SSW went on the stage 2 course that year as a condition of employment, as there was no one with stage 2 applying. TAs don't get paid that much and those people with good signing skills might get better paid in other areas, such as special schools.

I know you don't want to out yourself, so don't want to give too many details, but that makes it hard for people to give specific advice.