Won the Tribunal

[theDudesmummy]

That's it really. Won every point we argued. Thanks so much to everyone on MNSN who has offered advice and support!

There is still the problem that the number one priority for most government employees is not children, it's not even finance, it is maintaining the status quo so their jobs are protected. Until that changes, nothing else will.

It is changing with the advent of Free schools, unshackled from LA control. LAs need to respond to the need for ABA or lose their pupils to Free schools. They cannot justify existing levels of staff with fewer LA maintained schools.

But that only works in large cities / affluent areas where there are enough parents wanting to do ABA or already funding it to make it happen. It takes a group to set up a free school. I don't know of a single other parent doing ABA in my LA. You can't get a private ABA programme up and running because if you advertise for tutors you get no replies. Most people are grateful for the little appalling provision they get and don't question it. LAs still only see their budget one year at a time. They don't see spending money on my DS now will save money when he's an adult. All they see is they are spending more on him than other 7 years olds now. A lot more. Because the provision they make for other children is so cheap. Vastly cheaper than an ASC unit (of which we have zero) or ASC school (of which we have zero) or speech unit (of which we have zero). The only option here is MLD school which costs £15k and you can't run a proper ABA programme on that. Not for a child like DS who needs 1:1.

Can I just ask - bit of topic sorry - but those of you with ABA programmes, how do the LA actually pay for them?

We think we have, for now, (touch wood, waits for sting in tail etc) sorted a s 319 package for DS but getting the funding in place seems to be causing chaos.

We have asked for DPs but our LA hate them and we can't pay for it up front and claim back as we would never afford it.

What do you do? Does your ABA therapist submit bills directly to LA? How long do they take to pay? Ours is saying 3 weeks so tutor not happy.

3 weeks? Really? Sounds amazingly fast for a big organisation with whole finance and contacting departments. Suspect your provider is a bit at the glib promises.

Er no. It's more like he has watched us battle for 6 months to get funding without success and sees himself doing the same things.

Perhaps if you are a company wanting payment, it's one thing. But private tutors are cash in hand or get paid instantly, not wait three weeks and see if you ever get paid.

inappropriately that is exactly what I have been wondering now, especially as they haven't paid for anything on the statement previously, so when/how/why will they pay now? I have heard nothing. My tutors get paid on 23rd of each month and of course I can't just tell them two days before Xmas oh sorry but we have to wait for the LEA to pay you now...so I suspect that as usual we will just carry on paying....

Wee are trying to get this one sorted in the next week so I will let you know what we find out.

Agnes may have some idea as she has been in this position I think?