Bugger! Refusal to assess...

[Donki]

So now I have not quite 2 months to get private assessments done and gather evidence....

Desperately in need of honks.

Honking for you.

Do they give reasons?

His progress is only just below his peers (if you average it over all the ATs in different subjects).

But writing is below average (6 points KS1 to end Year 5)

And school has involved STARS (although they don't see him until beginning Feb), and the Ed Psych (and CAMHS and the OT - oh wait, that wasn't school, that was me). So that's OK - never mind the suicidal meltdowns and school refusal starting.

Last night he said he would refuse to go to school on Monday..... I trust we will get past that and he will go.

Happy to give more info, but being pestered by the YD to play skylanders....

Ok, well it doesn't matter who instigated the support, the fact is that the support is there in terms of CAMHS/OT, and that's what the LA need to consider.

So the main issue, if academics are not very behind, is the suicidal meltdowns and school refusal?

What did you envisage his Statement to involve? What support did you want it to bring? What would be in it that isn't already provided right now?

That might be a good place to start.

You don't have to wait till you've got all the reports before you enter the appeal. There's be a later evidence deadline around a month before the final hearing.

Useful information. Thank you nennypops

Lougle I know it doesn't matter who instigated the support really - I was just narked by school saying how wonderful they were for putting all this support in when I had to kick and kick to get them to bring in the Ed Psych and make the referrals to the SaLT, the OT and CAMHS via the GP because school wouldn't - and then demand that they ask STARS (the autism resource) to come in (once the YD had a dx)

A good question about what we want in the Statement. I can see that what the YD is getting doesn't meet his needs, because his anxiety around school/school refusal is not improving. We have had fewer meltdowns over the holiday and no suicidal ones (hurrah), but he has spent the last two bed times telling me that he won't go back to school on Monday. (He school refused 4 times in the last two weeks of term, although I managed to get him in eventually every day) But I don't know what would work - I think that it is clear that he won't cope with the frequent changes of classroom/teacher at secondary school because he struggles with the change of teacher for PPA cover once a week. But the only way to avoid that would be to go to the specialist resource (which would require a Statement, and school transport taxi) or to the wonderful Indie special school (which would definitely need a taxi - it's about 45 minutes by car) which would need not just a statement but a miracle to get the LA to agree to it.

Ok. Did you make that clear in your application, that you envisage trouble in Secondary? It could be quite persuasive if phrased effectively.

This was the paragraph about our concerns over next year:

We are worried that as year 6 progresses and there is increased stress from preparation for SATS, The YD’s school anxiety will get worse. He found transition from year 5 to year 6 very difficult when the two parallel classes were mixed up. He faces much bigger changes in the transition to secondary school. The YD finds the change of teacher once a week for PPA difficult, and we observe higher levels of anxiety and an increased incidence of violent or suicidal meltdowns associated with this. When he goes to secondary school he will get a change of teacher and room every lesson. We are worried that he will make more frequent and serious suicide attempts and /or refuse to go to school at all.

(He had just started to school refuse (twice at the time of writing the parental view, now 6 times), although I was managing to get him in once he had calmed down by saying that we would ask school to help him with what he was finding difficult - and making sure that we talked to the HT/SENCO when we got there so that he could see I was doing as we agreed)

I reckon nearly all SAs are being refused ATM.

You don't need any evidence to put in your appeal, just explain why you think he needs to be assessed honestly. When you get the LA's response it will give you an idea what evidence you need to start collecting. As soon as your appeal is in book an EP for about 2-3 months time.

Is IPSEA the best place to support with the appeal? Would I be better going to Nigel Pugh and paying for his help? (Have had him highly recommended)

And the Donki's Husband has just refuelled the car with petrol. Which would be OK if it wasn't a diesel.... It conked out on the roundabout, thank God before they got onto the motorway. But more money.

Also check whether SOS SEN are running any of their workshops on preparing for tribunals in the near future.