Applying for SA, advice please

[Theycallmestacy]

Ds is in Y4 MS, he currently has 25 hrs 121 which was awarded by panel. Under the new funding arrangements I am not sure how it is now funded.

His 121 is brilliant, she can't do and learn enough to help him, and since he has had support, his work has improved and I no longer have to chase him around the house to get him dressed and then carry him kicking and screaming to school.

Socially and emotionally in school,he isn't improving, a circle of friends group failed miserably, he doesn't have a single friend but isn't really bothered by this. When things don't go his way, he self harms, punching himself and strangling himself.

I want to apply for a statement, the HT wants me to apply BUT parent partnership say that as school are doing everything that a statement would do that he won't get one. I am not to fussed about what they say however on the model letter from then IPSEA website there are two parts,
Child's needs which I have no problem with, but the second part the reason why school cannot meet there needs I am really stuck on. What kind of things are they asking for?

My reasons for applying for statement are that I know they could take his funding for 121 away and also I am thinking of HS now. In our area there is nothing other than resource attached to MS, I don't thinks this is suitable due to his high anxiety I think he would spend all his time in the resource therefore just having work passed on rather than being taught science by the science teacher etc.

The SS are for children with SLD so I want out of borough specialist.

Sorry it's so long.

Have you tried giving ISPEA a call. I really am not sure the answer?

'socially and emotionally failing'
'anxiety'
'needs specific interventions and very gradual transition planning to get him ready for MS high school'

I wouldn't worry excessively what you write at this stage. HT report will carry far more weight, and EP advice will also influence whether LA approves SA or not.

If they say yes, there'll be plenty of time to give your views. If you say no, even longer, given the tribunal timeframes.

If they say no, even longer

Balls to what Parent Partnership say to you; these people are not totally independent of the LEA and can and do utter the party line. My friend has heard similar stated and its all rubbish. Forget about the funding stuff, that's really not the issue here. The main thing here is to get your son's needs met at school.

Get independent advice as well; use IPSEA or SOSSEN.

You have the HT on your side and that is a good thing, his words to the LEA will carry more weight.

You can state that the school are unable to meet his social and emotional needs because their attempts to do so list examples have not succeeded.

You need to think longer term as well because in three years time Y7 and secondary will be here.

If you ultimately want out of borough specialist be prepared to potentially have to fight for it. It will probably invoke a tribunal situation and the onus will be very much on you to definitively prove that this school is the one above all others within your borough to meet his needs.

Attila - to get OOC indi ss parents have to prove that the LA named school CANNOT meet needs - not that they can be better met by parental choice. If panel decides both schools can meet needs the argument is then centred around 'unreasonable public expenditure' - the cost of in county provision versus the cost of occ provision.

In county provision such as units mean that the criteria of small groups, similar peer group etc are easier to meet in county and in the m/s. If your county has no or little provision you have more chance of panel accepting your need to go ooc. If the need for different provision is linked to anxiety it needs to be extreme, ie effecting day to day functioning such as ability to attend school.

The process may/is likely to take 18 months or more so now is the time to act for Sept 2015 if you see a problem with transition.