Ds has been offered a place at Indi school. Some advice needed quickly please

[claw2]

Statement is still in draft form.

Indi school are saying they can meet needs. LA are saying they will fund indi school.

Do I just agree the statement?

Im not so sure about that bit Star bearing in mind i am already being accused of fabricating needs, refusing to accept improvements or progress etc.

Sounds like i am hoping they will find difficulties, rather than ds making progress?

Good point Lougle, we will have Summer holidays and the fact that ds will only be attending part time, a day a week until September. Maybe 6 months to start from September when he attends full time.

I am sure that if the school encounter any major problems during this time, they will do something about it anyhow.

Perhaps Claw, but I think you need to show integrity and that you stand by what you have been saying.

So just be careful you don't undermine yourself iyswim. Don't sound whether part 2 and 3 are right or not. You are certain at least that it isn't quantified and specified.

Perhaps you can state that it might be prudent to wait until 6 months of a stable placement has occurred before quantifying and specifying as the law required. It is after all, quite clear that any flexibility should be for the benefit of the child and not the services and you feel that this could be an instance where this applies, though as a temporary measure.

Would that work?

Yep that sounds better Star

Sorry been out all day. Think LA being bit sneaky here with 6 month review as actually in your interest for review to be longer away and don't think you said 6 months did you? I would accept statement on basis you need him in school. You don't think parts 2 and 3 are accurate but accept as ds cannot be assessed at the moment that cannot be indep confirmed by LA. new school will need time to get to know him before able to set out needs. If you don't want review in 6 months then don't be tricked into accepting that. You could suggest a light touch interim review 6 months from sept just with evidence from school and provided all going well a full review in 12 months as normal. In meantime you will work with school to set detailed ieps which will help LA in expanding 2 and 3 when statement next reviewed. If LA really think he does not need placement then it will be keeping in touch with school and can call a review whenever it wants. I think they have changed mind as home tutor and EP confirmed you are not fabricating and needs are real and do not want any tribunal to see what has happened up to now. But they don't want you to know they screwed up hence the continued bully boy tactics.

Oh I hope so Agnes!!!

No I didn't ask for 6 month review, I just asked that more details be added to statement at next review. However as I am saying that parts 2 and 3 are not adequately identifying needs and supplying adequate provision, I suppose they could argue a yearly review is too far off and its in ds's best interest to review after 6 months.

I have asked that the 6 month review start from September when ds attends full time.

The pattern with ds has been that although he starts off well, he quickly has difficulty maintaining this, without any support.

She has replied to my email stating she will reply to me formally, confirming the contents of my reply.

She wrote to me refusing to supply an electronic copy of the draft statement and requesting that I not email, but reply via post. I have ignored this. I will reply via email as its more convenient for me and quicker, all other professionals including LA email each other, but im not allowed to email LA!

so she then writes to me confirming the contents of my emails!

Ask her to include in her reply her rationale for not allowing you to correspond via email.

Doughnut!

Being the total and utter cynic here... It's much harder to do a successful DPA search on letters. Electronic correspondence ALWAYS leaves a trace - even if the LA weeds their data.

If I was you, I would keep emailing but then put an exact copy in the post

She did Star, after discussing my request for electronic copy with her manager 'As this is not usual practice'. She then 'helpfully' supplied another paper copy!

She also went on to add 'if all future correspondence could be sent in writing and she will reply in writing' referring to sending by post not via email.

As far as im concerned I am responding in writing, just via email, as it also gives me the opportunity to copy loads of other professsionals in, to avoid any further lies being told, oops I mean further misunderstandings or miscommunication between us.

And always reply to every letter with an email, and scan it in to make it clear which letter you are responding to.

You can't deny a parent communication via email because it is not 'usual practice' ffs?

Okay. So email the head of Parent Partnership of the LA you are in and ask them to request a copy of your child's statement electronically. Then get them to email it to you.

Can't imagine they couldn't/wouldn't and expect this is how they support many parents with their working documents.

Seems a bit late and pointless now Star, as there is literally nothing in the draft that I would leave in there and I have rewritten it and hopefully it will be rewritten again in 6 months time.

Maybe a battle I can leave for now?