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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

Tribunal on Friday!!

22 replies

Scottishdancer · 20/03/2013 17:34

Tribunal on Friday and am getting very nervous. Have read of so many cases were panel ignore parents and side with Lea. We are appealing parts 2,3 and 4 of statement. Ds has Asd, dyspraxia, dyslexia and sensory processing disorder.He is not coping in mainstream due to his anxiety and his literacy skills and we are asking for an independent school. Lea are saying he is fine where he is, even though he is in yr 5 and the SENCO has already said he won't cope in mainstream secondary. They won't agree to a single thing on working document in fact send it to tribunal saying they didn't have time to read it. They were then ordered to! Their EP has even said he need certain extra things added to statement but they wont even agree to this.

OP posts:

bjkmummy · 20/03/2013 18:15

good luck xxx - sounds very similar to my tribunal and as you probably know we won so it can be done.

what i would say is that if the LA are not agreeing the working document it is possible on the morning of the tribunal that you will also be sent out to try and get it sorted which of course wastes time which could be a what the LA are up to so make sure that the time is used well and watch out for any of these stalling tactics by the LA. we didnt get going until about 11.30am on my tribunal and i felt it was rushed. i thought too that the tribunal were biased towards the LA but turned out i was ocmpletely wrong on that ! you just cannot read the tribunal at all, they would make very good poker players.

take something to eat with you as well and maybe a bottle of water etc

Original poster

Scottishdancer · 20/03/2013 18:39

Thanks. Our solicitor has already had a long telephone conversation with them, but they refused to agree anything! Good advice about water etc will definitely do that.

OP posts:

EllenJanesthickerknickers · 20/03/2013 21:35

Good luck, Scottishdancer. Got no advice but crossing everything for you.

MareeyaDolores · 20/03/2013 23:12

Perhaps make a secret list of unimportant things you'd be prepared to concede, so if you get sent out, you can (hopefully) nudge LA to do the same... wont hurt to be seen as the reasonable adult, rising above LA squabbles and intransigence

coff33pot · 21/03/2013 00:22

Wishing you good luck for friday! :)

KOKOagainandagain · 21/03/2013 07:18

Good luck for Friday

StarlightMcKenzie · 21/03/2013 07:50

Good luck.

It sounds like another case of forcing you to tribunal 'just for fun'.

So many LAs are making a joke of the system writing dumb statements and forcing parents to tribunal just because many will not make it. They are using it as a filter. I wish someone would bloody well pull them up on it but who?

Naelith · 21/03/2013 09:11

Good luck on Friday. I had a tribunal very similar to yours last year and I won. You tend to hear more about parents losing but there are a lot of wins for parents out there too x I think the best tip I can give is to have a pad and paper with you and know your evidence, if the la say something you know to be wrong dont interrupt just wright it on your pad until your turn then when your turn say your piece and refer to the evidence in the bundle that backs up what your saying. Good luck

Handywoman · 21/03/2013 09:56

No advice here but wish you lots and lots of good luck

xxxxx

janrose · 21/03/2013 20:34

goodluck for friday.

Original poster

Scottishdancer · 21/03/2013 20:49

Thank you for the advice and good luck wishes. I was really hoping they would give in before tribunal, but no such luck.

OP posts:

babiki · 21/03/2013 20:55

Scottishdancer, good luck, will be thinking of you xx

Icedcakeandflower · 21/03/2013 21:13

Good luck

corkysgran · 21/03/2013 22:02

Your LA sound very similar to ours - the Tribunal slaughtered them. They've already been disrespectful by not reading through the working document and the panel will have noted that. They are ignoring their own EP and SENCO (our LA did the same). Going to Tribunal was the most stressful thing I've ever done but it was definitely worth it because we won and got proper provision for DGS, which has made a massive difference. No advice for you, just wishing you all the best. x

tryingtokeepintune · 22/03/2013 14:07

Good luck.

EllenJanesthickerknickers · 22/03/2013 15:34

How did it go?

KOKOagainandagain · 23/03/2013 08:21

bump

Original poster

Scottishdancer · 23/03/2013 10:50

I am not really sure how it went. It was very stressful and very long. Didn't get out until 5.30. The SENCO denied that he is anxious at school (although teachers and Lsa s have all told me is ) and she said they are meeting his needs (although he hasn't made progress in 3 years). His spelling age is still the same as in 2010. The judge didn't seem happy that all is support is from an inexperienced LSA. We now just have to wait!

OP posts:

bjkmummy · 23/03/2013 11:49

Make sure you not try and take some time for you - easier said than done I know. The day itself does feel stressful and it is very hard to know how it went but I've got everything crossed for you. Did they sort the working document out in the end ?

zumbaleena · 23/03/2013 12:00

i am sure it will turn out your way!

Original poster

Scottishdancer · 23/03/2013 13:01

Working document still not agreed. Has to be in by Wednesday, and the LA didn't provide costings until 5 pm!
bjkmummy I really admire you for doing it without a solicitor. I don't know how you did it!

OP posts:

Handywoman · 23/03/2013 16:37

Well whatever happens bl**dy well done you! From what you are saying I am sure your school is not going to be seen in a favourable light whatever happens. I'm sure I read on the Ipsea website that most tribunals go in favour of the parents. But without having any experience I guess it's probably like having a job interview, hard not to go over and over it and feel you could have done better. Good luck, hope the wait is short as poss and let us know as soon as you hear. Fingers firmly X'd for you.

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