Withdrawing his statement

[8etty8lue]

My DS is 9 and has a statement for his Aspergers with 15 hours support. He has had a really good start to the term and has started to finally make some progress in all areas - educational and behavioural. I believe this is predominantly due to the fact that he is now in his third year with the same teacher and second year with the same TA. In other words, his support is working just fine and he is making progress. His teacher mentioned that the ASD support specialist has mentioned that if he is making progress, county will withdraw his support and the statement. This makes no sense to me - it's beacuse the support is working that he is making progress - that's what it's for isn't it?
Does this really happen? I've started to worry now, particularly because he's year 5 and secondary school which will be a whole different ball game is not so very far away....

Yes you need to use that in your defence to keep his statement and the point that he is due a big transition soon is an important one- you can appeal this also at a tribunal hearing.

Thank you Wasuup. It seems such a waste of everyone's time (and ultimately money I guess) to state what can only be the bleedin' obvious! Yet again, the possilblity of another battle looming around the corner....

I would also be cynical and say this is likely to happen more as the statementing reforms come closer. Also they may argue about delegated funding to the school and his needs can be met that way. Do not let them withdraw his statement without a fight. It is a legal document and is the ONLY way of ensuring he continues to have his needs met

I doubt that they could make a sensible case for withdrawing the statement. 15 hours a week is quite a high level of support, so to go from that back to SA+ would be a very big drop. It is well known that children with Asperger's need more, not less support when they get to secondary level and it would make no sense at all to withdraw it.