Did anyone have to write a report for the LEa re statementing?

[spursmum]

I got a letter though saying that ds has been put forward for statementing (about time, the nursery wrote weeks ago!) and they are asking me for any reports I may have and that I can write a report on ds' behaviour, problems etc.
Although they say they don't need me to write because I am already having input on his IEPs,It is assumed that I will agree to the assessment, they would like this written report from me!

Do I have to write it?
What do I put in it?
Will it affect his chances of getting a statement?
Help from any mums in the know PLEASE!!!
Ds is 4, ASD and very little vocabulary, little concentration etc

First off congrats on getting to this stage.
I wrote a report yes. If memory serves me right it was a full page of A4. It started off generaly discussing Charlotte and her needs and how I saw her 1-2-1 teacher helping. Then I split it up in to her main areas of concern, speech, mobility. I used the words 'needs 1-2-1 help in order to fully access her curriculum' talked about health & saftey issues without a 1-2-1, ..... I'll try and dig it out for you if you like.

Please I would be sooooo grateful!!
His nursery teachers are pretty sure that he will get his statement, I just want to be sure that I give it eveything as we all want to do what is best for our kids.

ok, bear with me. I'm supposed to be packing

have they agreed to assess or has he been put forward for consideration?

We've just found out this week the LEA are going to carry out a statutory assessment, I've got a huge form asking for parental advice and any reports etc they haven't recieved, and to name anyone i would like them to contact.

Its not compulsary by any means, but You know your son best, you know how bad he is on his worst days and you know what his strengths and weaknesses are, you know what areas he needs specific support in, so yes you should have some input!

I'm halfway through, but mainly I'm managing to condense it and atually use the form and write it by hand! theres a couple of sections I'll have to type, namely the ones involving school, relationships with staff and children and how he compares with children the same age...

I've been advised by his preschool advisory teacher to think of elijah at his worst and write it from that perspective, becuase thats teh level of support he actually needs, to ensure the bad days decrease and he can reach his potential.

My son is 4 in july, barely verbal ASD he's also poor concentration wise, he flits AND he gets stuck on things, and don't et me started on the stims...

any pointers I can offer I will though! just ask!

Right, found it - but it's 6 pages long!

It's a parent assesment and it is broken up as follows:

The Early Years - basic background info

What is our child like now:
General health
Physical skills
Self help
Communication
playing & learning at home
Activities outside
relationships
behaviour at home
at school

Our child views:

Our general view:
We think our childs special educational needs are:
Mobility -
Communication -
saftey - general learning -

We think these can be provided for by:

We think our child compares with another of the same age in the following ways:

Our worries & concerns:

Spursmum if you use the outline and then come back and ask me what I said about certain things we might get there a bit quicker, what do you think?

I got that one I think!!
The letter says
'We are going to consider the request for statutory asessment and would like your views'
and
'As we are only considering whether to assess at this stage, I will write to you again to confirm whether the assessment is going ahead'
So I am assuming that they are deciding if he needs the statement.
Why can't they use the same terms throughout the letter, it's confusing!!

Well they tolod me first off that we were declined because 'Charlotte is developing age appropriate skills'. I wrote back and said, in a nutshell - "u#k you, what's age appropriate at n ot walking or talking at 3 yrs old - pi#s off and come back with something sensible," and they did.

So, anyway, I haven't been of any help at all then! Sorry mate! What can I do, shall I give you examples of things I said to certain poiunts? Let me know. Will be off to finish packing soon so...

I'm going to try and write a rough draft over the bank holiday weekend, and run it past everyone if thats ok?
Then Im going to run it past the nursey as i've got to go and check his next IEP soon.
So much hassle isn't it?

Statmenting - a hassle - nahhhhhhh, it's a breeze..... yeah right . If only. It's a long and difficult road but makes the end so much sweeter. Good luck, keep us poated. Sorry I was no help.

No problem!! It's just nice to know that someone else has been through this too!

I think pretty much everyone on SN's has. You'll be fine and others will be of a lot more help

They haven't agreed to assess yet then... You need to submit something, and you need as many people as possible to back up the request, Pead, SALt, Psych, Nursery etc.

Its the biggest hassle in the world, but getting them to agree to assess is half the battle

Good luck with it Spursmum. Have a look back at your posts here, that might help. Also, although its a right PITA, you will have something useful at the end of it and next time you need to write something it will be easier. Nice way to spend the bank hol!