Panel said no!

[StarlightMcKingsThree]

At this stage, if they ceased to maintain, Star wouldn't have a Statement for DS and she'd be applying for an EHCP when she wanted him to return.

My concern would be that they could quite possibly say 'well we don't know what mini-star is truly capable of now. We should try MS with some support and see how he gets on...', leading to a protracted route back into specialist education, and a fight over ability to determine whether he needs state specialist education or independent specialist education, then which one, etc.

I'm not saying 'don't do it.' In fact, it's your right to do it, Star.

I think what I'm saying is that you're spot on with the "keep it simple. Keep it open. Keep it reasonable and polite."

If it takes 2 months longer to get to HE, so be it, because in the long game you have so much more to lose than they do.

You are asking the LA for consent to delete your child’s name from the
register of the school, not to cease the statement. It is illegal to refuse to deregister the child (without having very good reason)

Once a child is deregistered, it would be a waste of money to continue a statement, however legally they do not have to cease.

I know that, Claw, and it's all completely right. Legally correct.

Just remember how hard it is to get a statement and how hard it is to get an independent school and how many tribunals Star has been to and how much disruption she's had to get here.

We've got 11 weeks left in this term, 12 weeks in the next. Even if Star was a new parent applying for a Statement today, she'd barely have enough time to get it done if it went smoothly.

September is just around the corner in the Special Needs world.

frizz Thank you. That's the thing though. The school HAS worked. It's just that ds has outgrown it and his needs have changed, and the priorities for his education have changed.

The school isn't perfect and hasn't been since he's been there but it really HAS made a difference and having there has not been a disaster of any kind. It's just that he needs something different now.

I always knew that day would come. I wasn't expecting it so fast but on the other hand even if I had, 2 years (how long he has been there) would have seemed an age, especially when he was so young.

Oh yes Lougle I totally agree with all the red tape etc and im not advising Star one way or the other.

Just advising that deregistering and ceasing are almost 2 different things, although one should logically follow the other.

My concern would be exactly that how easy it will be to get back into school, with appropriate support after period of HE.

Maybe flexi schooling, rather than deregistering is option?

Lougle I could sit back and wait it out and be patient. There is a lot to be said for that. BUT if ds does ever get into our school of choice the chances to supplement will be similar to now I.e impossible. I think he'll be starting on the backfoot, behind, when he could have had a chance at catching up. They'll do well with him but the nature of school is that however individualised they say they are it is still mass-education. I want him to be in the best position to access that and get going iyswim.

5 months of targeted literacy, targeted language skills on a 1:1 basis WILL make a difference to him and his launch into KS2.

I see your point exactly, Star. I don't think either choice will be wrong. I just think you have to know that whatever you do, you'll lose something, possibly. As long as you're prepared to take that chance, then it will be worth it.

With your track record, we both know that you'll do whatever it takes to get your DS what he needs.

I suppose my point was refusing to cease a statement is not an appropriate response to a request to deregister.

Thanks for your posts Lougle. I see what you are saying. I do need to calm down a bit I think.

The worst that happens is that he stays in a school he is happy in, where he IS learning.

God only knows there are enough on this board that would think they'd hit the jackpot with that.

So perhaps I should stop stamping and try to reason with a smile......

You are only doing exactly the same as the rest of us, what is in the best interests of your ds.

How long does being patience and waiting to see if school of your choice is named consist of?

If they named your school tomorrow, would you still want to HE?

patient

If they named the school I'd like ds to attend he still can't go until Sept as that is when it opens.

It just all seemed like the least disruptive and most opportune time to do a bit of HE booster.

So, the two issues are separate, though linked.

Oh I see. Well I am sure you have done your homework and have weighed up the pros and cons.

Ah Thanks for listening guys. Dunno what I'd do without you.

It helps, doesn't it, just putting your thoughts and thinking into writing and having them questioned sometimes

It does help.

One minute I think what I am asking for is simple, straightforward and reasonable, and the next minute I think maybe I'm asking for the moon on a stick and the most complicated arrangement ever.

It helps to clarify that I am reasonably asking for the moon on a stick!!!!!

Well really it should be simple, straightforward and reasonable. You request to deregister, LA say yes or no, if no they give grounds for 'reasonable' refusal. You then make further representations of why their refusal is 'unreasonable' quote the Law at them and they agree!

However, on planet earth.....

I really don't think that some professionals within schools/LA's are actually aware of the Law and parents rights. When they do encounter a parent who knows their rights and has access to the appropriate Law, its like you are speaking a different language.

Sometimes, it pays to put it into writing, just to ensure they check with someone else who has more knowledge or at least have to check they have got it right before replying.

Sure BUT IT'S THEIR JOB TO!!!

(sorry)

Too right it is! I have lost count of the unbelievable bollox I have been told verbally, when asked to confirm in writing what has been said verbally, how much back tracking is done! You taught me that

Ah now Star if everyone was actually doing their job then many of us probably wouldn't need this board. Unfortunately it seems that really is the moon on a stick, shouldn't be, but it is....

Hiya star. Can't believe I missed your thread. I had a feeling you were thinking of HE again

This LA sounds a bit public-sector-dozy but not evil. Same with the school (yes, even though they are indie). Which is novel. The trouble with your request, though, is that you're asking for something that doesn't have a category. No budget allocation, it's no-one's job, mucks up their nice tidy pupil-allocation lists, doesn't fit any stereotypes and probably never been done locally before. And if they try they might end up with multi-agency meetings, arguments about resource funding, bad feeling with the indie school and probably a bol*king from their strategic management team.

Plus your plan rips apart the polite accepted-fiction of the professional and the pen-pusher working productively together for the child's benefit; always knowing best, earning the eternal gratitude of well-meaning but rather stupid parents who simply don't understand special needs, local government, disability, or indeed education of any sort.

Go back, and be very grateful for their carefully considered advice and their agreement to look at all the options for September. Their agreement for this school in the first place, the marvellous progress in non-academics compared to the previous terrible experience in the last borough, anything complimentary you can say without actually lying.

You've taken the panel's comments on board, and discussed them with a number of wise friends whose dc have a variety of SEN and you think perhaps the LA asking the school to consider flexi-schooling might be a good option for the next term or so .

Lets them give in, whilst meeting their needs: saving face, staying out of trouble, and feeling there was a point coming to work.

Yes, reasonable AND moon-on-a-stick sums it up very nicely

Oh yes, and you can also congratulate school for doing such a good job that the language disorder part of things is much better compensated for, your trust in education professionals is coming back and your gratitude that the main current issue with DS is the (comparatively minor) issue of formal academic progress compounded by a very long day.

So they can have all the credit for ds being nearly ready for a much less intensive environment, and you'll be needing their major help with a smooth transition: so important and reliant on their expert skills and liason. The small matter of closing the attainment gap just requires a few workbooks; just supported homework really so can be safely left to non-expert mum if you can get distraction-free time when he isn't overtired.