Advice on statements for my 2 DC

[Confusedaboutstatements]

Hi, I have three dc, one of whom has a recent diagnosis of asd, he is 7. And two who are going through the assessment process age 11 and 2.

I spoke to the senco today at my 7 year olds school who said he wouldn't get a statement as he is making progress. His consultant at camhs however said he should get a statement and his speech therapist also said he should get one. I'm not sure where to go from here, he is average in maths but behind in literacy he is reading books for a 4-5 year old and is struggling. An educational pyachologist came into school to assess him and said she strongly believes it's related to significant expressive language difficulties and word finding difficulties.

So would he be likely to get a statement?

Also my 2 year old has a significant language delay in both his receptive and expressive speech, and also a delay in social communication. Also in non verbal communication. He is bright, he knows his shapes and some numbers. he will be three In May. He is anxious around new people and dislikes change, he is upset at nursery drop off and very upset when it is time to leave. He was assessed by portage and found to have moderate development delay.

Is there any chance of a statement for him for his language difficulties alone or will I have to wait until he enters school, he is in a nursery in a children's centre at the moment. Also would I need to wait to see if he gets a diagnosis first? I think he is high functioning like his older brothers so I am expecting a diagnosis to take a while.

Sorry for the essay, I am just so confused by everything and my youngest is due a team around the child meeting before he turns three so I would like to know my facts before then.

Thankyou

Sorry forgot to add my 7 year old although he is average at maths he has been assessed to have an higher than average iq by the educational pyschologist so I would have thought his performance could be better than it is at present.

Blimey, you have an awful lot on your plate.

I'm responding so you know you've been heard and so you appear on my threads I'm on.

I've had far too much wine to be of any use tonight though.

However, have you heard of IPSEA or SOSSEN? If not, go to their websites and read stuff.

Quite possibly yes - schools and local authorities are very good at telling people their child will not get a statement. The long and short of it is the less statements are issued the more money they can save in the budget. As already suggested take a look at IPSEA or SOSSEN for more advice about getting a statement and have a good read on threads here too. Apply yourself, don't wait for the school to do it. Send in as much information as you can about his needs and then be prepared to have to fight for what you believe in. It seems some LAs will automatically refuse every application in the hopes that people back down at that point, but you have a right to appeal to tribunal and should you need to go to a hearing the process is designed that it should be possible without legal support - though many parents do get help. I would also google the SEN code of practice and keep a copy to hand to refer to - it is a long document but sections 7 and 8 (if I recall) are very relevant to the process and always worth quoting bits in any appeal paperwork should it be necessary to support your belief that you are right to ask for assessment or a statement etc. School just gets more involved as time goes on and for our daughter things just started to fall apart at a certain point where previously she had been coping. We went through the whole process of "she won't get a statement" to eventually her now being statemented and in a specialist independent school to support her needs properly. It took us 2 years to get to that point however and a lot of stress and paperwork en route! It was worth it though.

Ok I'm going to go and look at those websites now. And I will have a look at how i apply for one for ds2.

Would it be worth getting one for ds3 now before he enters nursery school or is it better to wait would you think? It's so confusing and it seems so random as to who has a statement and who doesn't in terms of functioning, which makes it hard for me to know whether they should have one or not.

Thank you for your replies

I would try before nursery as your opinion will hold more weight in the early years.

Ok so I can just apply for one now can I? Or should I wait till he has had his speech review in February . I'm wary about asking his current nursery setting as they told his speech therapist his social skills were okay because he will accept help from an adult with putting his apron on. Can I also ask about his motor skills to be on a statement? He is hyper mobile and has accident forms most weeks at nursery, can't jump or use stairs and falls all the time. Or is a statement purely for educational needs?

Do it now. You can name the speech therapist and their views will be consulted. The process is LONG.....

How long! Oh my gosh that's a long long time [shocked]

I'm going to do it tomorrow, I'm on my phone as the PC has given up the ghost so will use sisters PC tomorrow. I'm presuming it's something I need to print out.