The changes in April, will a statement still be a statement?

[crappypatty]

Des is eight in Y5 with a dx of ASD. He currently has 27 hrs funded by LEA.
We have had a new HT since Xmas and she is great. She gave dx the catalogue and he picked himself fiddle toys in addition a wobble cushion and work station were ordered. Things that his one to one had been requesting for ages to the old HT and Senco.

She seems to really have an interest in him and has even taken him for lunch in the library when the dinner hall got too much.

He copes reasonably well with his work as in he is capable but it causes him a lot of anxiety, he is a perfectionist and if he gets one thing wrong, he will hurt himself, punching himself in the face and other things.

The old HT and Senco always said he has no chance of a statement, however it is not the new HT idea that he needs a statement especially as we need to start thinking about high schools. She wants us to get the ball rolling before Easter. I am a bit confused about the new changes in April. What will the difference be? I will definitely apply, now the school are supporting us.

Sorry that should say Y4

The changes in april are to do with house the LA will fund h schools for statements. This isn't really something that you need to be concerned about. If head and you feel he needs a statement then apply. There are bigger changes coming in 2014 when the term statement will disappear so you need to get applying. A statement takes 6 months but if they refuse could take longer

The 2014 changes are what I must be thinking of. I will get the ball rolling then.

I would be getting that letter in today. The new system is a logistical nightmare and the LAs aren't finding it easy to set the frameworks.

Get a letter in today, so that he gets a statement (hopefully) by the end of the school year. This is particularly important because he is in Yr 4 already. The SEN Code of Practice says that:

"9:43 This letter should be sent to the parents within eight weeks of their initial request. If the child is due to transfer between phases, the LEA must send an amendment notice as set out in the Schedule to the Regulations. The LEA must explain that the parents may express a preference for a maintained school and make representations for an independent or non-maintained special school. As set out at 8:132 the LEA must allow for a new school to be named by 15th February in the year of transfer. The amended statement should name the current provision in Part 4 of the amended final statement and the new school with the date from which the new placement becomes operative."

For your DS, that means that by 15th February 2015 he must have his Secondary School named, in preparation for starting Secondary School in September 2015.

If you apply for SA now, you won't have a Statement finalised and effective until September - the beginning of Yr 5 - practically speaking.

You want a year or so with a Statement in place so that you can see how your DS's needs are met and how he progresses with a Statement in place. That will inform your decision about the best school for his needs in Secondary.