School records!!!!

[Dingle]

I have requested that the LEA consider statementing Amelia, who is due to start reception in mainstream school in September.
She is doing very well in nursery but getting very little in the way of support.

The school have been great in so many ways, have attended our specialised private SALT sessions and have also paid to attend a course based on SALT in mainstream for children with DS. They do spend time working on her therapies outside of the nursery at present. (20minutes 3 times a week but no additional help in the nursery setting)

I copied my letter to the LEA requesting assessment and gave it to the school with a letter requesting a copy of Amelia's school records BUT they seem really reluctant to provide me with these! I didn't want to come down heavy handed but I have just quoted on the phone to the secretary that I am legally entitled to these and they do actually need to do this within 15 days of the request.

I feel really uncomfortable about this and don't want to put their back up IYSWIM. I quoted various documentation/resources such as DfES code of practice, the DSA, Ipsea and our local Parenting Partnership.....just waiting for them to get back to me now!!!

www.ipsea.org.uk is their website. They also have a freephone helpline number you can call.

Pretty pi**ed off. The SENCO rang back and said she had been talking with the Head, and that they didn't have to provide me with a copy, but I could go in and look through them.

I made some comment about someone having their wires crossed because PP actually advised me they had to respond in 15 days and were only able to charge me for the photocopying!! I also made it clear why I was doing this- why should I settle for a couple of hours support each week when it seems most children with DS seem to have statements giving them 25 hours each week. Why shouldn't I expect the best I possibly can for Amelia to reach her potential!!!

I am having to go in one morning this week and look throught her records. If there is anything I want, I am having to mark it with a post it and they will then copy it!!

Seeing the SENCO next week.

You need copies of her IEP's to submit to the LEA.

Does your LEA have a pre school SENCO? Ours provided the pre school with forms entitled request for stat assessment. They were brief forms asking main area of need and what progress had/hadn't been made. The IEP's were then attached as evidence of what the nursery had done to support ds.

I'm not actually under KCC but a neighbouring LEA, although still part of Kent.

Hello Fio, good to see you.

I have not been around much, so have missed lots, will start new thread to explain.

www.parentscentre.gov.uk/educationandlearning/rightsandresponsibilities/pupilrecords/

This is a useful link as well Dingle that you may well want to read and/or show the school concerned.

You would certainly need as much documentation as possible to present to the LEA (not necessarily solely from yourself, other official sources like nursery etc are contacted by the LEA if they agree to assess) in order for them to make a decision.

Thanks ladies!!! Rang Symbol today (specialists in SALT for DS) they are going to help compile a report. Rang her SN nursery were up until recently she attended 1 day a week, they are going to give some input too!!!!

Have reams of papers to sort through, physio, OT, SALT, BIBIC, paediatrician, audiologist, orthoptist......

The school's argument was that all the relevant info has already been sent to the LEA as part of their paperwork, my argument was that I should legally be able to have a copy and to use it to compile a fuller picture of Amelia's needs!!!! compile

Thanks for asking about my mum Fio, no real improvemnt there. She had a line put in earlier on in the year and managed to do home dialysis for all of 10 days before the line failed. That was back in March and she is still travelling up to London 3 times a week for dialysis.

A fortnight ago she had another line put in for home dialysis which they are going to test tomorrow. That is a complete muck up too, she had to go up yesterday for it to be checked and all they would do was clean site and change the dressing (which mum has been doing herself anyway!) because the line wasn't put in over a fortnight ago.....FFS she had told them that on the phone when they book the appointment. So this week she is travelling to London 5 times!!!!

Soory to hijack my own thread, but it just adds fuel to the fire ATM.

I am certanly a woman on a mission!!

The LEA sent us copies of all the reports that had ben submitted to them Dingle. Might be worth asking them if preschool not cooperative.

Dingle, you have a right to access your daughter's school record, whether you want to read it or have it photocopied.
For more information look on the website YourRights.org.uk for the title Education Records, www.yourrights.org.uk/your-rights/chapters/the-right-to-know/education-records/index.shtml

(sorry, I can't do links...)

You could contact The Information Commissioner's Office who would be able to advise you on this matter. www.ico.gov.uk/eventual.aspx?id=33