<<Slaps head>>

[MerryCouthyMows]

I've just twigged. The 'specialist preschool teacher' that is coming soon to assess DS3 to "see if he needs specialist teaching input"...is bloody portage.

And he's already got through the first panel meeting, which most apparently don't.

God, I'm a fool. After 15 years with DC's with SN's, you'd have thought I would have twigged slightly quicker!

I only twigged because I was reading another thread that suggested asking for portage. T'was a lightbulb moment!

As you were.

Bless, your not dim... Sounds like you have enough going on at the moment, some things get past us. Don't beat yourself up, at least he will be getting the support he needs.
(to be fair I missed obvious flags for my dd)

Take care

Thing is, I spoke to the woman and she never mentioned portage. I might have known what she meant if she's said that!!

And perhaps not "just ordinary Portage"... as it looks as though your locality might even offer portage training

maria gets ridiculously excited now

Unfortunately, Essex is very large...treetops school is actually under a different LA to me, despite still being in Essex.

Thurrock has it's own LA. which is significantly better than mine.

Thurrock is about as far south in Essex as you can get without being in Kent. Colchester is about as far north in Essex you can get without being in Suffolk.

That looks so good!

They are so short staffed in my area for the portage 'specialist preschool teachers', that they are having to pull one in from South Essex to do his 'urgent' assessment because they have 2/3 staff just started Maternity leave...with no cover...

Can anyone link me to the IPSEA template letter for requesting statutory assessment please, in my technological ineptitude I can't find it online!

Here you go

statutory assessment template

Scroll down it is at the bottom and has another link to download a word template

Rofl @ mareeya!!!!! And the links.

It's a state school iirc.