Statement help!

[PrinceRogersNelson]

I am feeling very confused.

My DD needs a statement. She is going in to reception in September and has spent the last year at the nursery attached to the school. The same SENCO covers nursery as reception.

School want her to have a statement and just before the end of term the SENCO had said she was going to get the request together. I think it will be sent in at the beginning of term (September).

Since then I have been advised by a (private) Ed Psych that I should apply for the statement.

I have just spoken to the SEN team (to check they hadn't received a request from school) and they advised that I let school make the request as:
The school will not have much time to respond to the request and therefore I am running the risk of it getting refused. Where as if I wait until September the request from school will be better and therefore less likely to be refused.

Obviously I cannot talk to school and I don't know what to do.

I want to get things done as quickly as possible, but don't want to risk getting it refused if it is more likely to get accepted if I wait a bit longer.

I feel like I am getting conflicting advice as every turn and have decided to trust Mumsnet!

"The school will not have much time to respond to the request and therefore I am running the risk of it getting refused."

I am not sure what they mean by this. There are only a couple of weeks until the start of term. If you get your request in now, the school will be asked for their advice and can add that at the application so I am not sure why it will be refused.

Your application now does, however, start the clock and it may be that the LA is happier for things to be delayed. Every month delayed, is one months money saved

I would put it in saying that school support your application unless you think this will annoy or upset school and you are confident that it can be done quickly on your return to school.

you apply yourself now! LEA is bullshitting you

apply yourself.

here is a model letter from IPSEA. just scroll down.

I am on my way to hand it in now. Hand delivered and will get someone to sign to show I handed it in.

Thanks all

good stuff!

The process is slow!! Good for you getting the ball rolling. By you applying IMO you are better informed as to what's going on rather than Chinese whispers. You also have the right to appeal should you need to. The lea have to let you know within six weeks if they'll agree to assess, so there is time for school to submit their support when term starts. Good luck with it!

August can be discounted so effectively you are ensuring that the clock starts from beginning of Sept anyhow. What you are avoiding is delays by the school either intentional or otherwise, and the law states a refusal should not be given on the basis of lack of evidence. It has to be clear that needs are, or can be met without one.

We did actually have assessment refused initially through "lack of evidence" because test results weren't included in schools first response despite school writing a covering letter saying he was not capable of sitting them! However we got full statement without any further hiccups in the end.