Ok, HELP!!!!

[emmalou78]

The LEA are obviously feeling super speedy, I got the proposed statement this AM.

And the goals they want the provision [preschool] to meet are fanatastic, so long as he's in the right setting, and I know in my heart that he's not. They're proposing a TA for 10 hours a week, thats brilliant now - he's in preschool 12.5 hours a week, but what about january? or do I have ot start the whole frigging process again, or call for an emergency review, because 10 hours when he's fulltime is not going to be enough in mainstream.....

But thres section 4 and I can choose a school. Problem is tomoorows end of term, and i don't know if I can getto look round, I've seen the website nad frankly base don that I'm happy.. should I name it?

because at the end of the day 10 hours additional support in a small SEN school [2-19 year olds, maximum 165 pupils thats what an average of 10 per year group?]would be brilliant.

I suddenly don't know what to do, they have at least agrred he needs support eh! but seeing it in black and white, has hit home quite hard especially when last week ds1 had his report and he couldn't be any brighter if he was nuclear.

I know you can't tell me what I should do, but faced with teh choiuce, what would you do.

sorry about the spelling.

Well I talked to the senco at preschool thismornng and she said to just sign the form and sendit back, because she thinks he'll cope fine in mainstream...

A kid who communicates at an 18 month olds level, understands at about a 24 months level and has some severe behavioural issues, wouldn't he just cope well? In a agressive,stimming, self directed, stripping and piddling on the floor sort of way

The sooner he's out of the place the better, they are a great preschool for NT kids but their awareness and understanding of SN is appalling...

Looking at it no, but I'll be pointing that out to them they've glossed through teh reports a bit by the look of it.

I can back up with quotes whre they're wrong.

inone of teh reports it states really clearly that he needs helpt o focus on eating meals and also has no qualms about takign any old food he fancies from other people which "may cause problems ina cschool environment" they also ALL point out that toilet training is slow nad he is uanble to attend ot his needs independently and needs taking at regular intervals, has no sense of danger.

And nowhere in section 2 do they hint at the fact that development wise his best level was 24 months, he's 4 on the 31st

So yes I'll be pointing out how severely he's affected and from there explaining why the 10 hours is inadequate, the learning goals is a very exstensive ssection and covers way more then I could think of! however 10 hours a week is not goign to allow for them to be covered.

I shall make it very clear in black and white that its 26 hours in class + lunch and breaks supervision required in mainstream, or a place at SEN school. NO compromises.

if I have to appeal it'll be interesting as I can't afford legal advice or representation and our current SENCO isn't exactly on board.

Right now on the preschool front, if there was another place I could enrol him in, and get the £200 towards the autumn term 1:1 wages we've passed onto them from POOBI I would be doing it. Its very frustrating to be trapped somewhere thats really shown themselves up as just wanting the extra money his statement would possibly get them. "just sign it and send it in, you won't get anymore help then that, he doesn't need it, and then we might feel the benefit"

As everyone else has said, I think you're absolutely right to be holding out for this. My DS (4 in October) sounds quite similar to yours developmentally and we are asking for the same thing in his statement - f/t 1:1 in m/s or a place in special school. We have all the battles to come though, as we're further back in the process!

I think getting the LEA to aggree to make the assessment is the hardest part. I was prepaered to get sent a note in lieu, so a proposed statement, albeit inadequate was a relief.

I'm hoping getting the LEA ot agree to what I want will be simple, of course I'm aware that its going to be a fight all the bloody way, ad will be stashing all my birthday money in a couple of weeks so I can afford a solicitors letter if needs be..

emmalou

If you have to appeal then you must get IPSEA involved. They have much experience with tribunals and the like.

Their web address is www.ipsea.org.uk. Infact I would seek advice from them asap re your son's proposed statement.

What does Part 3 say?. This along with Part 2 is very important.

Sorry, was not aware of the full extent of your son's needs. Ten hours in such circumstances is in no way sufficient. Where is he placed on the banding scale they use - for ten hours they're looking at I think band C.

Am glad you did not get a note in lieu because such a thing is not worth the paper its written on.

Banding scale?
ther are banding scales for children with SEN? WTF??

Hi Socci

I talked with IPSEA the other day about banding scales and such things are commonly used by LEA's.

Am still awaiting the outcome of a panel decision for my DS (bet you they'll say no) as the LEA (in their infinate wisdom) changed his band from C to B.

What severeity of SN do each of these bamds covr then?

I work in a SN school and we have a child starting with us in September coming from ms with a 1:1 statement obtained via tribunal, and there is a few kids in our school who do have 1:1 statements so it can happen.
In my daughters school a child with sn has her statement 'topped' up by the school as she needs 1:1

Cat64,

Questin first...

I do see your point, I can see why it would be much easier to sign the form send it in and say 'oh Ok then 10 hours a week'.

Thing is he isn't developmentally delayed he's AUTISTIC a disabilty that is never going to go away. Yes communcation is at a level you would anticipate for a child of 18 - 24 months, and has been since he was... 18 -24 months, in 2 years he's gone from NON VERBAL to BARELY VERBAL. HIs development isn't delayed, it isn't a case that he'll just catch up, he hasn't moved on an inch in over 2 years. He completely lost his language, and now he can name and sign colours,vehichles, animals,he signs, with prompting and physical assistance: thankyou, more, cake, drink, apple and toilet.

he has no consistent means of comunication and cannot tolerate face-face play, he will if not suported spend hours self directing, stimming and attacking anyone who touches whatever he hasdecided that day is 'his'

Does he sound delayed?

I will argue to till their ears bleed that he needs support.I am sick of the wishy washy developmental delay bullsh*t the HV nad GP both gave me that when he was 13 months old nad I went to them for refferal, it took him losing language and me refusing to leave to get a referral, but then he was 28 months.

26 hours a week is not the best that can be offered, its THE ONLY way he's going to cope and make any progress in mainstream, whihc thanks to inclusion, is more realistic then my getting him into a SEN unit/school.

And I haven't been offered an SEN place for him, its not 10 hours 1:1 m/s or SEN its 10 hours mainstream or 10 hours mainstream.

I'm sure though that whatever level of support I do manage to get for him they'll make me fight to keep at every review.

oops, forgot the question...

Do you consider Autism to be anything other then a severe imapirment?

And a small update... I have typed up fromt he reports, all the quotes which back up my opinion thathe needs more support, its 3 pages... Thouhg obviously tahts split betwen section 2 not being accurate and section 4 not being realistic enough.

Now when I have a moment [when the little dears are sleeping ] I can start drafting my response, hopefully finihs it an dprint it off in time to post back to Matlock on wednesday. recorded delivery of course!

Cat64.

I'm not offended! please don't worry about that. theres no tone here, and any anger that might come across is simply heading to Derbyshire CC via here!

Also Cat.. you've helped, because now I can steer away from words like delayed and use impaired instead! so THANKYOU for that!! cause keywords are everything with these people