Working Document- How fast do I have to reply?

[kafkesque]

I have received the working document dated 16/12. Well this is going to take me days- it's a very long document. I am taking them to tribunal over the statement.

The instructions say:"We would be grateful if you could please make amendments etc to the working document for further consideration by the Local Authorty and return as soon as possible."

In the past they have not been very fast and left everything to the last minute, plus some, but I let it go.

Over what are you going to Tribunal exactly?

I think you have 2 weeks to reply, but you can ask for an extension - I did. Did they send it via email as well? It's much easier to work on it then.

It"'a a working document. You can continue to work on it until the day of the tribunal. The big and obvious things are best making clear now. If you need more time you can always say stuff like 'hours of 1:1 need increasing considerably' and see what if anything they come up with, rather than you stating a number iyswim. You can say SALT needs to be qualified and registered with HCP and delivered directly, and again see what if anything their response is to that. At this stage you don't need to give exact wording if you're still figuring it out.

The Working Document needs to be served on the Tribunal, normally by the LA, 10 working days before the Hearing date as per the Case Management Directions.

If you give it to the LA 48 hours before then that seems reasonable to me. All they need to do is to agree with the bits they agree with and send it off. If you are feeling generous then make it longer say a week.

If you are tight for time so long as you tell the Tribunal what has happened and why you will not be able to serve it before the hearing they are normally ok with that.
You can always say that you will be working with the LA to further resolve the issues before the hearing and expect to be able to present a further agreed document on the day. The Tribunal likes that as it means that the differences between the parties have been narrowed and they don't have to do so much work on the day.

babiki parts 2 and 3 we don't agree with his difficulties and have been securing extra diagnoses to prove it. eg hyperacusis and Irlen syndrome. And the level of provision we have independent reports to prove it.

They have sent it by email as well.

Will demonstrate the big and obvious things and will keep on working on it down to exact wording.

Thanks everybody.

We really need help with the working document. Can you help if we send it to you? Anybody?

I also really need a free legal advocate as they have instructed a solicitor. Our tribunal date is 28/03/14. This is the furthest they have pushed us so we are on new ground.

Is there any local charity who would help you? I found one and they went through it with me.

I also know advocates who - if you are on full HB will work for you for 100 pounds donation ..

Phone the IPSEA tribunal helpline. They can provide help with amending the working document and may be able to represent you at the hearing free of charge.

Hi Babiki I am working on it.- local charity

Not on full HB.

I think I am just stressing and should work through it, as Star suggests by prioritising the big things first so if they are pushy I shall just give them what I have got and carry on working down to exact wording.

Yes, it's a lot to do though, I rewrote the whole thing ( with help) and awaiting response.

Perhaps try Ipsea for representation at tribunal? I'm already saving money for Tribunal :(

Print off or copy those reports, kafkaesque and number the paragraphs. You can then run through them, highlighting what needs to influence part 2 as a need and what needs to go in part 3 as provision to meet that need.

So for example, for the hyperacusis, pick out all the bits that affect the ability to learn and to function within the school environment eg the noise in a busy classroom or in PE or in the corridor when moving around the school, in the lunch hall and how it affects your DC. If poor auditory discrimination is present, then you need to make sure that is acknowledged and explained, too. You can then match that up to the provision for part 3, according to the reports, eg small class sizes, acoustic softening of the working area with carpet, cushions etc, use of ear defenders or noise cancelling headphones, being allowed to move around school at quiet times, being spoken to directly to ensure understanding etc etc.

Picking everything apart like this would help you to feel a lot more confident and less overwhelmed and more able to say to the LA "well actually..." when they've missed something important or resorted to their bank of stock statements which resemble your DC in no way at all.