Tribunal panic! Been told I need a solicitor for refusal to assess!

[2boysnamedR]

My ds senco has called me, she has asked around people who know in the lea and who know my son. She asked what chance we have of winning the tribunal to assess him. Answer "depends on how good their solicitor is"

Panic! I don't plan to get a solicitor! This is step one, if I need a solicitor for this step he hasn't got a chance in hell

Thanks, I hate feeling like this. I like the angry me more :0) I think she's burnt out.

I so convinced i going to walk this. I wasn't sure about getting a statement but assessment was going to be doable.

It's still doable, it's down to the judge on the day.

Must repeat 'let the judge decide'. What I or the lea think isn't the crux is it? If he needs assessment then that should show itself.

'the child I see isn't the child they see' just means they are not experts and probably too inexperienced to see what you see. Hence why they need the guidance of a statement to identify needs and target provision.

It is wise to plan ahead, however they haven't actually opposed your appeal yet!

It is likely that they will, however you will be able to see all the evidence their decision is based on and tear it to shreds, before you go anywhere near a Tribunal.

Chances are high they will back down before Tribunal. It is still very, very, very doable

and don't sit back and let the Tribunal decide just yet, you will be far too busy gathering evidence for Tribunal and tearing theirs to shreds! It is so not over yet.

2boys

Calm down dear.

They do this to rattle you.

Don't engage with them.

Don't email anything to the SENCO - they cannot help your case and could damage it.

Don't believe the SENCO is on your side - you don't pay their wages - the LA does.

The less you talk about this forthcoming Tribunal to anyone remotely connected to the LA the better.

I was naive enough to think that some of DS's teachers were on my side but soon realised that everything I said was automatically relayed straight back to the LA.

Shocking but true.

Keep you powder dry.

Do you live anywhere within reach of South London? SOS SEN run workshops occasionally on how to do tribunal appeals - check their website.

If you haven't done this already, I suggest you send an email or letter to the SENCO thanking her for her support and confirming everything she has told that supports your case. That way, if she doesn't write back to deny she said it, she will not realistically be able to say anything different to the tribunal, and if she does her credibility will be shot anyway.