Please help SALT refuse to carry on as over streached

[2boysnamedR]

Long, long, long back-story which I will not go into. I am in Surrey and my son waited over a year to see SALT from the age of 18 months. He is 5.5 now and been under SALT for three years in Guildford. He is also under paediatric care and occupational therapy. He has delays including speech. He has a IEP and school action plus. School say it is very important he stays under SALT but today SALT told my husband they will no longer see my son unless he is statemented. As they are so stretched. So he NEEDS SALT but does not DESERVE it, as they have so many children on their books. Does anyone know how to find out the clinics PALS service????!!!! I though if a child needed SALT they should get that help. If there are more children needing help than the NHS has staff how does that help my child?

I know it doesn't help in the short term but is there any reason why you don't want to get a statement for your son? If he had a statement you could make sure that SALT was properly specified and quantified and if for any reason the NHS didn't have the resources then it would be up to the LEA to fund privately if necessary.

Forgot to mention that the AFASIC website might be worth a look

I would love to get a statement but that seems impossible as after 3.5 years I have no diagnosis yet. Pulling my hair out to get one! Anyway I have raised my formal complaint now thanks

a statement should be based on need, not dx. You do not need a dx to get a statement.

Ipsea have a model letter for requesting a statutory assessment HERE

just send it off with any supporting docs that you have.

I's be putting in a compliant, and worse case the HPC.

The guidelines for SALT clearly state that they should not refuse your child due to resourses. I understand that is the reality of it, but they should certainly not be saying we know he needs help but we wont bother.

This is a minefield for me. Almost four years in and I am clueless. I have no backup, no support. I just go from one professional to another completly clueless. My formal complaint is in, the gp has written to salt to back us up, she has referred him to ent so I guess I need a copy too and the letters I have asked from the schools senco then follow that link to ask for a statement. Thanks

ICAN websites will also be useful. And please don't feel alone or clueless. There is a wealth of information on here to support you and you have already taken some good steps forward towards getting your son statemented. Keep asking questions!