Parts 2 & 3 - statement

[sweetteamum]

I'm just going through this bloody statement - again!!

I'm just wondering if the provision specified in part 3, could account for more than one need in part 2

There is more needs than provision at the minute and I'm convinced I'm doing something wrong.

Thank you so much.

[MareeyaDolores]

it's sitting on those little infant school chairs that does it for me. Makes me feel 4y old again.

Don't know how they manage to find mini-chairs for parents even in the juniors or head's office. And wtf do schools still smell of chalk 10y after they've all been exclusively using interactive whiteboards

[sweetteamum]

Hi Daily, thanks for replying. Yes, I'm just the same. Give me a laptop and/or paper and I can argue all day. However, something's happens to me when I'm face to face.

I had a little break yesterday so am back to working my way through, ready to send my response and proposed amendments to them. They won't be happy as I've actually put all assessed needs in there, whereas they hadn't put everything in.

Enjoy your day away from it.

[DailyNameChanger]

Hi sweetteamum I am in a similar place, got proposed statement last week and have spent the whole day at my kitchen table reading, re-reading and drafting up a response. It's exhausting. I am ten times better at arguing my point on paper than in person, where I turn into a gibbering wreck. Actually I don't any more, I cover it by adopting a passive aggressive stance with no emotion on show whatsoever. Not sure if it helps really! Going to take a break from it tomorrow and do another mega day on Thursday.

[sweetteamum]

I will take your advice. Thank you for (another) kick up the arse :)

[moondog]

Noone has ever told them to read them!
I'd never even heard of half of them until I had to iykwim.

They are busy however. Whether it is things that you would consider to be important is aonther matter of course.
Remember also that caseloads are huge.

[StarlightMcKenzie]

So what on earth do they DO then?

[moondog]

Remember also that most professionals have not read the SENCOP,Lamb Enquiry, Bercow Report, IPSEA landmark judgements and so on.
You have.

[StarlightMcKenzie]

No point in getting mad. Stay cool and know that this is a well trodden path and above all have faith in yourself.

[moondog]

You have to remember a couple of things.
Firstly, a lot of parents don't really care what is sorted out so tacit feeling amongst LEA bods of of 'why should we bother?' as the parent(s) in question aren't bothered.

Most parents are not (for one reason and another) like the sort of people who post on MN.

Secondly, your efforts can be likened to a horse race.
Many people just give up straight away (horses falling at first fence)
Several give up after raising a mild fuss (horses falling at fifth or sixth fence)
Only a very few make it to the finishing line.

Make sure you are one of those who touches that tape.

It is unfair and yet that is how it is. It is also helpful to look at it from their perspective. If they instantly rushed to tidy everything up for those who raise their voices even a tad, very soon, public money would be spent funding reiki, crystal healing, dolphin therapy and holding therapy.

This is a form of weeding out the faint hearted, indolent and plain mad.

[sweetteamum]

Star, you've hit the nail on the head. Thats exactly how they've said it and exactly how i've felt. I keep going back reading the toolkit, ipsea etc just in case they are right. They never are though. I'll be more prepared at this meeting and will take my (written all over) toolkit, the lancashire judgement, my proposed amendments and hit them where it hurts - they've got me so mad today.

[StarlightMcKenzie]

sweet It's good that you sound more confident. I remember when I was where you are now. You just can't quite believe that these people know that puting SALT in part 6 is not legal because when you raise it they laugh at you and make out you're a bit confused and out of your depth.

[sweetteamum]

Moondog, thank you. It's so refreshing to hear again (and again) that i'm doing the right thing and pushing for what DD SHOULD get.

I think the meeting to discuss placement will be tough. I've gone through all the proposed statement, along with all the appendices and they have left so much out it's unbelieveable - actually, it's not, it's shocking that they get away with it time and again.

[moondog]

However, there is of course the issue of whether the s& l therapy you receive is any good. Many therapeutic inputs are of limited use as they are neither evidence based or measurable. Nevertheless, it is the principle that counts.
Do not let people fob you off with incorrect information and to shirk their duties.

[moondog]

'LA are refusing to put SALT in parts 2/3. They've acknowledged the reports with lots of difficulties but say that any outside therapies needed to be provided in parts 5/6'

Communication needs have been established as educational needs and as such they must go into parts 2 and 3.
As explained here

It makes me so mad when this happens (as it does, over nad over again). They know exactly what they are doing which is wriggling out of their legal obligations. When there is little to no s/lt, they will then shrug and blame the NHS. Mention you are clear about the 'Lancashire Judgement' and they will be uturning so fast you will see skid marks.

I am an s/lt.

[sweetteamum]

Thanks Keepon. I'll get onto this first thing tomorrow.

Just for the record most of the difficulties on the proposed statement will come from the SALT report the NHS provided, it's just the LA have kept lots out (i've yet to solve that problem).

How can they say, an almost 12 year old, with a language age of 6.6 does not need therapy!! :(

[KOKOagainandagain]

Book now. Good ones are busy. Make sure that they do tribunal reports. You can always cancel. You can either time the assessment report to submit at parental evidence or final evidence tribunal deadline. Don't worry NHS SALT may do limited testing and declare all is fine where comprehensive assessment clearly shows that all is not well. Trouble is if you do not do the assessment to show a problem you do not have to solve it ...

[sweetteamum]

The LA took that comment of the SLT report just before SLT discharged DD (without telling me). This is clearly going to tribunal anyway and I have no problem with getting indi report done - is this best to get now or leave it closer to tribunal time?

The SLT does point out numerous difficulties and needs identified however the LA have failed to put that in the proposed statement. I'm currently making sure they are put in during my amendments.

[sweetteamum]

No, it's not finalised yet. They are wanting to discuss schools next week then finalise asap afterwards. Should I leave the conversation there for now then? She was a little patronisisng and said "just to be clear her difficulties are listed in part 2 but it's provided in parts 5/6, I will clear this up with you at the meeting"

At present they seem to be hanging on to the fact the NHS SALT (who have limited funds and didn't discharge us until after hearing from the LA) have said no regular therapy is needed and DD is being discharged.

Do you think I should get a SALT report again now or wait until tribunal?

[KOKOagainandagain]

The problem is that the draft statement says that DD does not need SALT input in part 2 despite describing (in really vague terms) her difficulties. You either need to put in recommendations from the existing SALT report in part 3 if they are there (in the report not the statement) or accept that you will have to get an indi SALT report that carries out more comprehensive assessment and will specify and quantify recommended support (and that this is maybe going to tribunal).

[MareeyaDolores]

It's useful to be clear about this. Needs in part 2 are acknowledged to be educational, so provision for them goes in part 3. Any needs in part 5 are non-educational so related provision is also non-educational.

LA obviously accept that there are educational SLT needs (a tactical error on their part) but want provision to be outside part 3 ie not their problem, not their responsibility, desirable but NHS-funded and discretionary. This is not legal, and presumably a tribunal would see that instantly.

Making too much fuss too early might just alert them to 'disappear' the SLT needs from part 2, unless the statement is already finalised.

[sweetteamum]

Please could someone help me. I'd appreciate it so much.

LA are refusing to put SALT in parts 2/3. They've acknowledged the reports with lots of difficulties but say that any outside therapies needed to be provided in parts 5/6

Now the nhs salt has discharged (without informing us) dd, stating no therapy is needed. However, ipsea, sossen, ace all say that it's definitely educational, as I know.

How do I deal with this? Lea have said her communication difficulties are listed in part 2, but I'm just so confused if they've acknowledged and listed difficulties, then surely someone has to help her overcome these difficulties?

[sweetteamum]

Thank you so much for the advice. I feel a lot less lonely on here. I'm with people that speak the same language and don't judge when I need to ask simple questions - over and over knowing me! :)

[inappropriatelyemployed]

Do as Star suggests. Leave them to justify themselves,

[moondog]

Very true.
The people churning out all of these computer generated sentences will never even meet your child.

[sweetteamum]

Ok, I will do the whole lot as I feel it needs to be. Making sure I state as many needs that will also point more to indi special school as I can fit in.

I like how they get 8 weeks to write this thing yet we only get 15 days!