Please or to access all these features

SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

STATUTORY ASSESSMENT FOR STATEMENT

11 replies

pinkbunny2012 · 09/01/2014 20:34

Hi I'm really hoping someone can help me as feeling so stressed out and worried. I recieved a letter in the post from my local council saying a request had been made from my dd's SEN nursery for a statutory assessment. It says I have 29 days to respond but have been on holiday and found it waiting for me when I got home. My dd desperately needs this statement and really hope someone could offer me some advice about what to write. My dd has a severe speech and language disorder, some sensory issues, mild hypermoblity, and a fairly severe global delay. It also says that someone can be a 'named person' to 'act' for me but have no idea who to put
Please any advice would be so much appreciated

OP posts:
lougle · 09/01/2014 22:00

Hi pinkbunny2012 and welcome Smile

Were you aware that the nursery were going to be applying for a Statutory Assessment?

As for the comments, at this stage, the Local Authority are deciding whether your DD needs to be assessed for a Statement of Special Educational Needs. Clearly, you want the answer to be 'yes' or she won't get a Statement.

Once they've decided to assess your DD, you'll have to give a much longer contribution to the assessment, but for now, you're just trying to show them that your DD 'probably' needs a Statement.

In terms of what you write, you might want to give a brief timeline of how you got here, and outline her difficulties as you see them.

I'd suggest this:

Paragraph 1: Pregnancy - was it straightforward? Were there complications? Were you aware that your DD would have difficulties? At what stage was she born - early? late? Were you induced? Why?

Newborn phase: Any issues as a new baby?

When you first noticed something was 'not quite right' - who saw her, when did you start seeing professionals, etc. When was she diagnosed with her S&L difficulties, when was she diagnosed with sensory issues, hypermobility, global delay, etc.

Keep these fairly brief, because they're just giving a background.

Then, current day. What causes her difficulty, how far behind is she, what support does she get in preschool, is this enough, or does she still have problems? How do they cope with her, etc.

Stress your concerns about her managing school life, especially if she has a delay in understanding of danger, etc.

Does she put things in her mouth? Does she run off? Does she have a poor sense of danger? Does she have tantrums? Is she toilet trained, or will she need full support, etc.

Anything that you think is relevant - This is your document so you put what you think is important.

When you send it back, send it recorded, signed for, delivery so that you can prove it was received in time.

pinkbunny2012 · 09/01/2014 22:12

Thanks so much for your help. Really didn't know how much to include as did have a difficult and complicated pregnancy and birth with her- I didn't know at that point she would be disabled. It's so tough writing everything out, she is very much a danger to herself, no awareness, has meltdowns but is also very vunerable and if other children hurt her will just stand there and let them. Do you think I should say at this stage that if her assessment gets refused I will lodge an appeal straight away? Thanks so much xxx

OP posts:
lougle · 09/01/2014 22:20

I wouldn't say that you'll appeal, at this stage.

A) It's your legal right anyway.
B) It's pre-empting a refusal.
C) I think it's unlikely you'll be refused.

Do you claim Disability Living Allowance for her? If so, mention the rate that she gets and why she gets it. If not....appply!

pinkbunny2012 · 09/01/2014 22:25

Thanks :) yes she gets the highest rate of care but doesn't get any for mobility, just so worried and stressed about it. Just don't want to hampen her chances of getting all the help she needs and am so unfamiliar with the process.

OP posts:
lougle · 09/01/2014 22:32

It's fine. Just make sure that her HRC is mentioned at least twice, and that she gets it because she needs constant supervision to maintain her safety.

It will be a massive red flag to them that such a young child gets DLA at High Rate Care.

My DD was very, very, similar at that age. She got a statement when requested and goes to a wonderful special school. She's 8 now Smile but I remember how daunting it all was, especially as I felt like I was the only one in the world going through it.

Do you have any idea whether you would prefer mainstream or special school? Have you spoken to any local schools about your DD, or gone to see them?

pinkbunny2012 · 09/01/2014 22:39

Thank you :) I am unsure as to where to send her, Iv been told already that she doesn't meet the criteria for our local sen school but rather a sen unit with a mainstream school. However my EP has advised me if I disclose this before the decision to statement or not is decided she may be refused, as a statement is not actually needed to attend, whereas if she goes to mainstream she is more likely to get statemented, I am so unsure of what to do for the best, I have put a ton of support into her and don't want to give up now but don't know what to do for the best, as the SEN unit is only for reception age and from this she will have to go to either SEN school, language unit or mainstream, such a big and difficult decision to make, and am so scared of getting it wrong xxx

OP posts:
pinkbunny2012 · 09/01/2014 22:41

So pleased for you that your dd got the help she needed and also attends a great school :) it's reassuring when I hear people say things like that x

OP posts:
Weller · 09/01/2014 22:41

Speak to the person who requested statement, whilst they can not guarantee they can give you an insight. The head of sen nursery did mine and in twelve years she had two statements refused, which where both awarded in appeal (not that the all statements agreed where all that the parents wanted). There are people who request especially early years who the LA listen to.

lougle · 09/01/2014 22:49

You don't have to write it in the letter Smile

It was a general question of where you see your DD - just being nosy Wink

pinkbunny2012 · 09/01/2014 22:58

They wrote a letter attached to the form they sent off requesting the statement, saying she responded best in small groups with 1:1 also. And "aged" her academically, her self care was 8-15 months and the rest 16 months and she's almost 4. So I know the LA have already recieved that. She got seen by the EP a couple of months ago who also wrote a very bleak hard to read report stating she couldn't play and didn't want to play with other children, very vunerable around other children, needed constant adult supervision and encouragement, had sensory issues and behaviour issues, relies on pecs, isn't toilet trained, academically very behind, etc and she also got chosen for an intensive sen therapy programme (the la chose the children) to be done at home with a senior salt. Her class teacher worried me by saying she may not get a statement but everyone else seems to be in agreement (including salt and EP) that she needs one. Just worried that's all xx and it's fine lougle :) xx

OP posts:
lougle · 09/01/2014 23:20

She'll get a statement, I'm as certain as I can be.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page