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Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

Original poster

swimming in mud...

11 replies

kayjune123 · 20/07/2013 13:52

hi,been looking at you site for a few week and feel that i'm swimming in mud and not able to get out. Not sure if anyone can help me but i feel this is probably a good place to express how i'm feeling, my hubby has ostrich syndrome (if he buries his head in the sand its not happening)
just a little background, My daughter finished primary school yesterday she also received her proposed statement yesterday to. i am really not sure what i have to do next. since starting the statement process in October she has had a medical to which the doctor felt she should be referred to cahms due to her feeling that she falls on the autistic spectrum.
At the moment i feel like my head is spinning as up until October i did not even know my child was struggling at school as much, she had a iep i had been to all the parent meetings at school and they had always told me she was w little behind but she would catch up, even to this day school are not saying she is behind but the gap between her and her peers has grown (to me that translates to she is behind). i have also now been advised to get her a laptop for her to use for school work and as my husband got layed off from work two weeks ago and we are now waiting for his jsa claim to be sorted money is very tight (we have never been well off but we have always managed).
i was wondering if anyone knows of any grants that i could appliy for to help with the laptop.
sorry for the waffle but i do feel better starting to write stuff down. x

OP posts:
PolterGoose · 20/07/2013 14:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jocook · 20/07/2013 17:01

I agree...get your DLA claim in. You dont need a DX and just repost for any pointers or adivce on what to include.
Good luck!

Original poster
kayjune123 · 20/07/2013 19:25

thank you both x

OP posts:
WetAugust · 20/07/2013 23:13

Hi

It's a lot (too much) to take in all at once isn't it?

IE posted this link educationandrights.blogspot.co.uk/p/what-should-be-in-the.html on another thread. It gives very good advice on what you should do now you have your Proposed Statement and about specification and quantification.

Ostrich syndrome is common in blokes. It's usually the mother who does all the battling.

School has probably down-played your daughter's difficulties for a long time,. That's time that has been wasted when they could have been supporting her much better. But good support costs money so schools don't always rush to see problems as they know those problems will cost them money.

If school are saying she needs a laptop then that need should be clearly stated in her Statement and will be paid for by the school/LA. It's an education need - not a luxury that the parent should be expected to fund.

Demand that school provides one now.

SallyBear · 21/07/2013 05:56

You are not the ones to provide a laptop for her to use at school. That is equipment that will be paid for and provided for by others - LA/SENDIS/School (delete applicable)

AgnesDiPesto · 21/07/2013 10:43

Has the secondary school she is going to broken up yet? If not get in touch with the SENCO and ask about a laptop etc - the council will have sent the proposed statement to the next school as well for comments and can ask for it to go on the statement too.

You can get IPSEA to check the statement for you by emailing it to them (IPSEA is a SEN charity)

The primary school has let you down as it should have arranged transition meetings with you and the new school to sort out any help your daughter will need. I'd ring the secondary school on Monday someone must be dealing with the proposed statement over the holidays and be able to reassure you about help being sorted for when she starts

Some carers charities (there is usually a local one) can also help you fill out DLA forms. If you get middle rate or above you can apply for Carers Allowance too.

Ring up and order a DLA form - you can fill it in online but if you ring the helpline they will backdate the claim to the date you rang and asked for the form not the date you submitted it

Original poster
kayjune123 · 22/07/2013 21:20

ok so a very productive day... have parent partnership coming to see me Wednesday morning to help with statement... phoned to get forms for dla. phoned secondary school for September and have a appointment for Thursday,
Got hubby on a training course next week.
Thank you all for your advice feel the best i have in weeks x

OP posts:
WetAugust · 22/07/2013 21:43

Great - you've got a lot arranged!

Just a word of caution about Parent Partnership. Some of them can be a little too cosy with the LA. It's the LA that pays for them.

StarlightMcKenzie · 22/07/2013 22:23

Blimey, well done. You have certainly been proactive.

Unfortunately I have to support the warning from Wet re Parent Partnership. They are variable and are paid by the LA. They can find it extremely difficult to be independent, not necessarily deliberately but by their access to training which is often provided by the LA.

Parent Partnership are good to have on board generally though as they do have access to contact names, processes and policies and can get you official LA documents quickly if and when you need them.

Just be healthily sceptical of them.

Original poster
kayjune123 · 24/07/2013 16:07

had meeting with parent partnership but i will hold judgement on weather she was any help...she is going to email me with any changes that need to be made to proposed statment.
got to be honest i found her very wooly and would not give straight answers

OP posts:
StarlightMcKenzie · 24/07/2013 16:14

Ah that's a shame.

Keep her onside though, just don't necessarily do everything she says if it doesn't sound right.

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