Local Auth conceded prior to tribunal - how long till draft statement arrives?

[autianarchy]

Our local authority has conceded to our tribunal and agreed to award a statement. However, without the SENDIST ordering them to write a draft statement, there is no set time line. How do we ensure one is forthcoming?

If they have conceded and have agreed to start the process to statutory assess, then they will be bound by the normal statutory guidelines and HAVE TO obey the normal time limits.

There are strict time scales for this.

I've just dug through my files to find out the timescales.

From the date of the letter to you whereby the local authority states they have agreed to assess, they have 10 weeks to assess your DC.

After the 10 weeks, they have 2 weeks to draft the Statement and issue a Proposed Statement.

After the 2 weeks, they have 8 weeks to finalise the Statement and issue the Final Statement.

These timescales are exactly the same if they conceded before Tribunal, or if they decided to assess without you having to issue an appeal.

They have already done SA, then refused statement. This tribunal was to get a statement. So they've now agreed to award a statement and a draft one should be on it's way - just not sure when or how long it might take.

Ah! I see. Hmm - I really don't know. Surely if they've done all the assessments, and providing that all the reports are up-to-date, then they have 2 weeks to issue the Proposed Statement?

Maybe a call to IPSEA would help you find out?

Do not withdraw your appeal until you receive the final statement - that should add some impetus.

I would call IPSEA to seek their advice.

Also you may well have to appeal the statement on the grounds that it is not specified or quantified in terms of provision. Do not ever accept anything woolly worded or woolly minded (certainly do not accept child x may have access to...); seek advice first before accepting any such document.

I can't link to it, but if you go to the tribunal website and hit the link fot forms, there's one called something like "Carrying out our order - What happens now?" That might help.

Thank you all. I realise this is by no means the end of the journey, and a further tribunal is entirely possible?!