Statement advice

[WipsGlitter]

I got the first draft of our statement today and am a bit underwhelmed. It's very... vague. It says he needs additional support but doesn't specify hours or anything. It has stuff about SALT support but thats irrelevant as he will get that through the community team.

He's due to start mainstream nursery on September. The school have arranged at FT assistant for him (2.5 hrs per day roughly). He has Down's syndrome.

We have 15 days to respond. Any advice?

SALT is not irrelevant in a Statement. If it is listed as a provision in Part 3 of the Statement, then even if the NHS bails, the LA has to provide it.

Ok. Thanks. We're in Northern Ireland so slightly different system. Anything else? I thought they had to specify hours of support or something more concrete.

Statement still has to be specified and quantified however regardless of location. Sounds like you will need to appeal parts 2 and 3 of this document via tribunal.

I would contact IPSEA www.ipsea.org.uk and see if they can assist.

SALT should also be in Part 2 as well as 3 of this document and is certainly not irrelevant. Community team support can be too easily withdrawn or curtailed particularly if that is not specified or quantified in said document.