DTS2 working to Yr3 level in Yr6 - worried about him starting secondary in Sept.

[DontKnowHowToHelpMyself]

His primary have been rubbish. In fact I have often decided to move him but he has insisted he wanted to stay and so I left him there so as not to cause him the distress of moving when he did not want to. DTS1 has done well there and is working to a Yr7/8 level.

DTS2 was put on School Action+ in Yr1 and has obviously not progressed that much. He has also had behaviour issues (silly not nasty) which I was constantly called to the school about up to Yr4 and I feel that the school wrote him off as 'naughty' early on. In fact in Reception Yr he was paraded about KS1 due to a very minor infraction and was used as an example to the other kids so has a 'name' around the school with the other kids as well. In fact from Reception Yr, the other kids used to come to me at pick up time and tell me what he'd done that day!

The school is in a very affluent area (we do't live there anymore) and I feel that the school just could not deal with him and I did not know where to start.

Many times, I asked the school if they felt further assessment was necessary and they said no. He saw an educational psychologist and even a counsellor and they did not come up with anything except lack of confidence which was obvious due to the way the school managed his behaviour. My GP refused to get him assessed unless the school felt it was necessary and they would do it.

Finally last year, in Yr5 I had enough, changed GP and demanded he be assessed. We had a year of 3 monthly appointments and they are now looking into possible ASD and he has been diagnosed with learning difficulties. He may need to be Statemented. He is starting Secondary in Sept and at our Feb appointment, the Consultant assured me that his assessment would be completed before then so any additional help he needs could be in place from the start. I have been told now that the earliest he can be seen is Oct and I am fuming.

Has anyone else experienced this? I am planning to make an appointment next week to speak to the secondary school about his issues and show them the reports from the Consultant instead of them just getting his primary school's view of him.

Luckily DTS1 is in the same tutor group (primary has always separated them contrary to my wishes), so can keep an eye out and he has been paired with a friend from primary. Is there anything else I can do?

Forgot to say. The secondary is 'outstanding' and is the best school in town but then again, so was his primary!

Just to point out statementing is completely independent of diagnosis and takes a long, long time so you really need to get that started too. Your initial step would be just to write a short letter to your LA asking for statutory assessment - see IPSEA website for a model letter. They will then write back to you asking for more details (also to school, education psychologist etc). Even if it goes straight through it takes 2 weeks from your initial letter so would not be in place by September. You also do not need a diagnosis as is based on educational need (this includes social and behavioural issues). My twins react badly to being in the same class but both have an Aspergers diagnosis which is probably the cause of this. I would also wonder if it is fair to put the responsibility of looking out for DTS2 onto DST1 but that is from the perspective of the relationship my two have.

You can request him to be Statutory Assessed - you don't need the school's permission to do this. Although it does sound as though you don't have much hard-evidence as to his needs at the moment. The LA will turn down your request for SA so you will have to appeal.

Because the process of Statementing is so slow (and that's when the LA acts legally!), it'll be a long time before any necessary support is put in place. Personally I won't delay any long and I would immediately start the process to get a SA.

I requested SA in January 2012. Eighteen months later I will be going to Tribunal to finally resolve my DS Statement because the LA has acted so unlawfully (and immorally) in his case. My DS has been out of school for one year.

Do not delay any longer. Request the SA now! You are your child's only hope.

You've been fobbed off to date by this school and your previous GP and they have failed him as a result.

I would apply for the statement asap; a statement can take upwards of six months to sort out anyway so I would not delay making such an application.

Use IPSEA's website www.ipsea.org.uk and also arm yourself with a copy of the SENCOP.

Secondary will keep DS on SA plus till such time as the statement is put in place. This SENCO certainly needs to be aware of your son, I'd also show them a photo of him so they know what he actually looks like.

As you have seen all too clearly, you are really your son's best - and only - advocate here.