Has anyone had any luck getting the SALT their DC NEEDS with statement

[PrinceRogersNelson]

Hi,
I am going through the statement process for my DD who is in reception and has disordered speech and language and dyspraxia.

It is obvious that she is going to get the minimum on her statement, i.e. termly visits from a SALT and a programme to be done at school by TA.

We had private SALT last year and perhaps unsurprisingly they think she needs more than this, i.e. weekly 45 minute SALT with a TA sitting in so they can support during the week.

The suggestion has been that I appeal the statement and then get a report from private SALT to state what she NEEDS not what the NHS can provide. The statement then gets changed on appeal to state weekly SALT and the LA have to pay for a private SALT to come to school to provide.

Is this pie in the sky? Is this actually going to happen, has anyone else achieved this?
I am ready for a fight, doesn't bother me in the least, but if I knew others had achieved it then I would feel more confident.

Thanks :)

Yes, I got weekly SALt written into the statement Not pie in the sky at all - you have to show that is what your child's educational needs are - backed by expert evidence.

Sadly, the LA wants to drop that from the statement despite my ds still needing it so we are appealing again - just a warning that although you might get it this time, you might have to fight to get it again...

Yes - same as tryingtokeep - I've got weekly SALT - all backed by expert evidence. But it took a hard-fought Tribunal to achieve it.

Thanks both. And who is the weekly SALT provided by? Private or NHS? As the NHS will just say that haven't got the resources to provide it.

How and who provides it is not your problem. If it is written in the statement, the LA has to ensure that it is provided. They can pay someone from the nhs, or someone private or someone from out of state - whatever - as long as it is someone with the qualification stated in the statement.

Failure to provide statement end provision means you can apply for judicial review.

Yes, obtained indie SALT report stating twice weekly SALT, had it included in the statement and found a school outside of LEA which could deliver it. They buy it in from another PCT as are non maintained.

Can you put any pressure on your SALT to increase visits, at least each half term. A complaint to the chief exec of local trust worked for me in this as a shorter term move.

Had 5 years worth of SLT in DS statement, not received squat. he now leaves secondary school unprepared and a number of years below his age with his language skills.

As others have said LA can pay for an independent SLT to deliver the provision if need be, it does not have to be NHS...the next problem though is finding an Independent SLT that is thinking of your child rather than siding with the LA so dumbing down needs etc..in the hope they get more work in the future as I have the misfortune of encountering

I have it but again took a tribunal to get it. my son was discharged by NHS SALT at age 5. got private reports done at age 9 and he is now dx with a speech disorder. my LA not happy I wanted salt and they trilled about it never being an issue. he is now in an independent school so get salt there

DS got an hour weekly SALT to be observed by Higher Level TA with 2 years experience in a SALT unit to deliver 3 more sessions each week.

Not entirely sure where the SALT came from but she wasn't private. I think she worked in SALT unit.

It took a tribunal, sorry. At Annual review she wrote a report that was vague and a senior SALT wrote recommendations that all SALT provision be removed due to no SALT need.

He now attends a SALT school

Thank you everyone.
It is good to know it can be done, albeit with a fight.

I am prepared that it will go to tribunal, I will just have to make sure we are as prepared as we can be.

Look forward to seeing the draft statement.

So, I just came back from a SALT session (we have just been given a block on the NHS, the SALT has just written DD SA). At the end I said I would be pushing for more SALT in her Statement and she said that the SEN team had told her to expect to go to tribunal over DD.

Eeek. Is this normal. Suddenly the people who were helping us have become the other side and I am not sure what I should be saying to who.

And I am also now rather sceptical about how we have suddenly got some 1:1 NHS therapy. To try and keep me quiet perhaps?

Does anyone have any advice about what I should say and to who? Or should I just say nothing to anyone?

FFS. So you've only got SALT because you're supposedly a knowledgeable parent.

Honestly, it isn't the sharp-elbowed that cause disparity it's the idiot professionals.

Don't talk to anyone. The SALT was good to tell you she had been told to go to tribunal. That's fair. Ours pretended she wasn't and visited our home every month and then told me the day before the hearing that she was attended up until then unnamed.

But I haven't even had the draft statement yet! But they already know we will be going to tribunal. I have already given them private reports so I suppose they know that I will fight for more provision.
I suppose it is a bit odd knowing that they know where it will end up and that the statement will be rubbish. And to be honest I feel quite intimidated and scared.

It is just my assumption about why we have now got SALT, but I have always kniwn DD has got what she has because I am pushy. I feel very sorry for kids who don't have someone shouting for them.

Getting provision is simple. Excuse the pun manish, but you do make it sound simple. Sadly, it is not. Yes, get the evidence and with evidence, comes provision.

But evidence is not cheap. And if you have vengeful, nasty, spiteful LA, then evidence is extremely expensive because they will do everything to deny your child provision - including breaking the law and bullying parents - so your evidence will be even more expensive because you are counter-acting the behaviour of a nasty LA. The entire system is stacked against our vulnerable children (and their parents).