Thanks to all knowledgable MNers on these boards...

[Perspective21]

Thanks to all of you who post replies to MNers asking Statementing related questions. My son has just had first meeting of Child Development Forum and whilst I don't think it had much dynamism, at least we have referral to EP. We have been warned that the waiting list is long. My son has DS and aiming for Reception 2014. Rather perturbed to find at the meeting that the panels knowledge of SEN reforms was limited.

Have checked IPSEA website and we should (hopefully ) be Assessed and Statement in place before new legislation comes into play. Just thinking it's not such a great year to be starting school...but we shall plough on.

My thanks are due to you all because I have read so many posters stories, I felt confident and ready to make requests in appropriate language, I'm sure it helped.

Fantastic news. Are you putting in a request for a statutory assessment yourself? If you do, it will get the EP out much faster as their case to refuse will be extremely weak without it and if it is granted the EP input will be essential to form the statement.

That's interesting Starlight, if I request you think they'd move EP faster ? Just had a turbulent couple of days thinking all this through. One agency in council is nudging mainstream nursery towards applying as they keep saying, it's much better coming from the setting. Now I'm not sure what to do. Think they said they'd put me on waiting list for EP to offer something and reassure me that something was underway.

Since Fri I feel all confused again as there will be conversations that I'm not part of, between Early years team and nursery. Was wondering whether it would be better to take control back and apply again myself, also thinking I can control timings better re deadlines etc.
Last year we did get turned down on lack of evidence and I didn't appeal and left son in private nursery for another year.
I did ask lots about procedure at that meeting and the panel seemed blasé and answered some things could be sorted on on appeal ( almost as if they thought that was a given).

My wild card is wait to see if school place is allocated (hear in April) and start it off myself then.

Feeling really muddled again, straight answers hard to get from council agencies. Had look at IPSEA stuff and wondering if I would do a better job myself and keep control.

If you have a statement you can chose whichever school you want and don't have to wait for allocations.

Personally I would apply yourself as it ensures that you are copied into every single report and documentation as well as getting you an EP visit earlier and without delay and excuses (it isn't unheard of for an EP to be promised but take years - perhaps because others apply for SA!?)

Thanks so much Starlight, you've helped me to make up my mind again...I've realised it is going to be best coming from me, even though that panel were very much of the opinion, "let the official route take its course", which of course is probably a delaying tactic!! They just do not seem in the slightest bit of a rush! Annoying when you want to get things organised before your child goes to school!

You're such a great source of advice, MNHQ should consider a liitle consultancy role for you!!

I agree about applying yourself, I work in EY and yes the wheels do turn exceedingly slowly. Schools are the same.

You are right to stay in control, that way your son will get the support he needs in place before he starts school.

I have just requested statutory assessment for my daughter and am glad I have as school werent in any hurry to do it.

Good luck

If you have evidence of meeting the 'probably requires a Statement of Educational Needs', which referral to CDC could well be at this stage (the threshold is much higher once school starts because then they can start to look at whether progress has been made academically, etc.), then get the process started today.

The reason I say today is this: The Statutory Assessment process takes 26 weeks.

Even if you apply today, your finalised statement wouldn't be issued until 22nd April 2014. If your child needs special school (I am not saying they will), the special schools are already being given lists of children who may need a place. DD1's special school has a number of children known to them who need a place for which there is no space, plus at least 25 children whose names have been given to them as starting school in September 2014 and will probably need special school. The school is likely to have around 13 leavers this year, so 20 children will be turned away.

Even if you apply today, your finalised statement wouldn't be issued until 22nd April 2014, and a MS school would only have one term to get everything in place for your DS for the start of September.

Even if you apply today, if your finalised statement is inadequate, by the time you have been to appeal, it will be past September.

If you wait until April, you won't have a Statement in place by September under any circumstances.

Thanks so much for posting lougle, I can feel your sense of urgency coming through the screen. I just wanted to reassure you that I have heaps of guides/information and know how long the process takes but, for me, I'm hoping to defer his place til Jan 2015 as he won't turn 5 until near the Christmas holiday.

I have a number of reasons for this, mostly because I know his cognitive ability is much less than his chronological age and I'm happier sending him to school a little later. I have teaching assistant experience and a couple of degrees and have worked in primary school myself, so I've based my decision upon experience of how children cope. I certainly want him to join reception with his peers but I'm happy to do a gradual transition from being based at nursery (3days) and home with me.

I still take your points about getting the whole thing moving, it's of benefit to all parties. I should say the HTeacher is very approachable and in broad agreement with my plan.

Thanks so much for all the help, it's really appreciated.

I'm glad you have a plan If you defer until January, won't you have to then enter him full time as he'll be 5?

Apparently, and this is all from chatting to all agencies, all I have to demonstrate is a willingness to get him educated, if school and EP etc all are convinced a gradual provision is in his interests, then that is ok.

Just know 2 children with DS who have struggled terribly with tiredness in school, just from doing all day from the beginning. I'm keen to get him in, but at a sensible pace, Head thinks this would work too as a parent can flexi school a child with disabilities if they choose. I have planned to stay at home to provide the flexibility that this approach will need. I just want to build him up gradually and hopefully keep it all positive.

Thanks for your help, been reading other thread about SEN budgets! Very interesting...