How do you know your child needs a statement? ASD

[specialmagiclady]

My nearly-9 year old is high functioning and really bright but doesn't always cope brilliantly at school, though school seem to think they are managing him just fine. (See other post re peer monitoring)

He was diagnosed at the end of the summer term.

The thing he copes least well with is transitions and he has to have a special place in the line coming in from breaks etc to stop him from just wandering off and/or getting distressed.

It gives me the fear for secondary, which is all about moving around the school, IIRC.

Also, the school nearest our home is not good at SEN and is enormous. The school that is next furthest away has a good reputation both academically and for SEN but is wildly over-subscribed, I'm almost certain he wouldn't get in.

Basically, I'd like to get a statement so we can choose the right school for him, but how does it work? What are the criteria? What kind of things go on statements? If he had to have someone to walk him from class to class for example?

Where can I get impartial advice about whether it's even worth pursuing? I just don't even know how to start... HELP!

You have come to the right place for advise about statements.
It shouldnt matter but how is your Ds doing academically??

I have just put in a parental request for statutory assessment for my Dd3 who also has Asd.

I dont think we will get one without a fight but I am prepared to try.

Hope someone will come along who is more helpful and has more knowledge than me.

Good luck

Take a look at thus excellent blog educationandrights.blogspot.co.uk/p/getting-started-in-sen-process.html

It is completely independent and written by a parent of a child with ASD.

Yes I would also advise that you think seriously about getting a statement. It takes time to complete the process. My ds is high functioning ASD dx with above average iq but he really struggles with school demands and changes. We thought we would be able to get through without it but everything caved in when he started at secondary school. It was awful he disintegrated before our eyes with panic attacks and anxiety. The school aren't very experienced with sen support. Fortunately we have got ours now and he now gets some minimal support. You will find that blog an excellent help along with ipsea and national autistic society education rights helplines.

Thank you! Thing is he's doing fine academically, I think (Parents evening next week) but he struggles to actually get things down in literacy. Think it's worth pursuing. Will look at that blog.

We have just applied for an assessment ourselves. The school suddenly sprung into action and said, they were just about to do it themselves.
DS is 7, has ASD can't read or write, has no friends and doesn't join in classroom activities. I was told he wouldn't get a statement as he is average at maths (quite how he can be level 2b at maths, when he can barely write his name is a mystery)

We've just decided to apply for SA for our DS1 (DS2 already has a statement - both ASD).

Despite the school saying he's getting along fine, he doesn't talk to anyone at break times and is actually going down academically despite the fact he has an IQ of 140. Reading has never been a problem, writing - always.

He's still above average but he is starting to struggle and he's shutting off from school (has stopped talking at school apart from when he has to, stopped participating, has no good friends, and seems to be angry at everything when he comes home) so we feel we need to get him some help now, with or without the school's blessing - although preferably with.

We're quite prepared to take it to tribunal, and intend to make that clear.

devilinside He probably gets a reader in maths and maybe even a scribe. He doesnt need to be able to read or write if he knows the mathematical answer by himself.

Scribes are not allowed to interpret the questions but they can read them and write exactly what the child says!!

Sorry for the hijack

Meant to say, that doesnt mean he does need a statement though!!

Think of it like this, it's not up to you to decide if ds needs a statement - that's what statutory assessment is for. If the word has pooped into your head then your in the head space of thinking its needed. So with that logic persue one.

Talk to your school. Get them on side as much as you can. If they are willing to apply all the better. You can apply yourself but better if it come from them. Be prepared to be knocked back hard. This does not in anyway mean your ds does not need a statement. Don't give up at the first hurdle. Don't believe anyone who says don't try. Be academic is not a automatic criteria for doing well at school.