request for statutory assessment... what do they want to hear?

[bundaberg]

So, the time has come for me to start off the statementing process. I've been on the Ipsea website, and I've got their model letter.

Now I just need to fill in the parts about what DS1's needs are, and why I don't think the school are able to provide for him.

Is there anything specific they're looking for here? any hints or tips that might make the whole thing a little easier?
when we applied for DLA we used the cerebra guide which was fantastic and explained very well the sort of thing that we needed to put down... can't find anything similar for this process though!

obv the part about his needs isn't too much of an issue, he has autism. but do i leave it at that or describe in more detail the areas in which he particularly struggles?
should i mention social difficulties or only academic?

also, do the school see the letter i've written?

and does it help if i send a supporting letter from school? do I need to send proof of his diagnosis?

As far as I know you need to briefly outline the child's difficulties. They will send you forms to fill in after they get your letter.

Thats what happened when a family I support applied but someone else might have had a different experience.

Good luck I am doing ome this week too.

you need to spell out every single difficulty, social and academic, and how this is impacting his education.
the main point you want to make is that the school cannot meet needs through sa or sa+. include any reports from professionals and quote from them to prove your point. you can also include ieps, school reports etc.
if you had a supoorting letter from school great but if not dont worry you dont need one - the evidence will speak for itself iyswim.
the lea forwarded the school a copy of my request along with the proposed statement. you can always include in your letter 'despite the best efforts of the school' and 'the quality of provision already implemented' etc. try to keep the letter factual and based on evidence instead of blaming the school etc. although I know its hard to do this!
good luck!

My son failed two IEP targets. Also targets on his Ieps where not being met. I sent in his completed dla form.

But that was all after I sent in the request. My lea then asked for evidence

Read the SENCOP and quote passages from there.

Talk about how he isn't currently receiving an adequate education, and how his needs are complex (if he isn't and they are) iyswim.

bundaberg I asked a very similiar question on my thread here

The thing that worries me about my request is that I don't know if it is that the School can't or isn't sufficiently organised enough to meet DD's needs eg although apparently I am told that all IEPs are reviewed, this hasn't been done consistently and the targets themselves aren't SMART.

educationandrights.blogspot.co.uk/p/applying-for-statutory-assessment.html

IE's blog is good

One thing to be aware of is that after parental request for SA the LA will send the school a form to complete. I sent loads of stuff for SA which was refused twice with a cut and paste sentence from the school report. Either what I sent was ignored (and it was good, graphs, standard distribution curves, quotes etc) or it was not read.

I wanted to create a narrative for the tribunal panel and so they were my audience rather than the numpties at the LA.

It's good to have but don't expect it to work now iykwim.

ahh this is so helpful, thank you all!
we're in an odd situation where our SENCO recently left (without much warning) and so the head teacher took over as SENCO as a temporary measure. We then got put into special measures so the head has 50 thousand million things to do, so understandably isn't doing the job as well as the previous full time SENCO!
Hopefully though she will be able to write enough to back up my request! eek

we are also paying a private behavioural specialist who previously worked for our county council helping schools though, so I think my next step will be to speak to him and get him to read through my request and see what else he can do to assist

off to have a proper read of links now :)