Is there a downside to having a statement of SEN?

[WorkShirker]

That's it, really. DS1 (4) is in year R and school are concerned, already on SA+ so has extra TA 1:1, 5 mornings a week.

Possible ASD as he just doesn't seem that interested in playing with other children, and struggles to express his emotions - though he reached all milestones and has no toilet/sleep/co-ordination issues.

So if he is, then it's very mild. DH and I are concerned about bullying and how being labelled as different may affect him later on, but of course want him to have access to any help he needs - if indeed he does need it.

Going round in my head in circles!

TIA

I can't think of any down sides at all.

And a statement isn't a label. It's a description of a child's educational needs and the provision needed to provide for those needs. All much better than being labelled as "naughty" or "lazy" or "weird".

I cant think of a reason

In our case a statement has meant my dd has got into the special school she needs no disadvantages at all

The other children wouldn't know he has a statement, so I can't see that he'd be bullied for it. I can't see any disadvantages.

As far as I'm concerned (and I've been told that DS won't get a statement but he doesn't have ASD), a statement gives you choices. You don't know what your DS's needs are likely to be as he grows but a statement gives you a lot more flexibility.

Unless you actually tell people they wouldn't know your daughter has a statement. She will benefit from having targeted support. It's a good thing.

DS getting his statement was a positive experience as it allowed him to go full time into the Specialist Provision Unit. He is thriving there. He could hide in the crowd a bit too easily in mainstream. DS isn't disruptive unless he's having a meltdown but would easily sit and do nothing all day.

If your DD doesn't need to be in specialist provision then the fact she has a statement shouldn't be obvious to other parents and certainly not to other children.

Also it will be reviewed annually so if the support your DD needs lessens then her statement can change. I know of families whose ASD children have come off statement and are now thriving in mainstream. I honestly think this is only because of the extra support given in infants that these children are now coping so well.

Sorry, didn't mean to write war and peace!

I think there is. I think sometimes it gives the illusion of support where there is none.

For example, if your child is given 10 hours of 1:1 support, but the class teacher reallocates that TA to the two disruptive children then when your child makes little progress, it is assumed they are less capable than they are, as it is assumed that the progress was the most that child is possible with 10 full hours of 1:1.

Thanks for replies. I guess I'm more worried about later on, what happens when we start thinking about secondary school, uni, jobs (OK, a long way off - he is 4!)

Got a meeting with school on Weds, keeping fingers crossed it will be positive.

A statement oF SEN won't necessarily last his entire school career and you are not obliged to declare it anyone in terms of jobs etc.

I would try to focus on the now and what he needs in this moment in time rather than thinking too far ahead

Zzz I believe permission for deregisterong only applies to special schools

And given the cost of special schools, LA's rarely oppose it and if they did they would need a hellova lot of evidence as to why.

You have no right to remove a child without permission, but mostly, permission is just a technicality and a way of flagging the child up to the LA so they can check it isn't an exclusion and that the parents have the support they need to enable the child to have their needs met.

It's supposed to protect the liberty of the child I guess!?

In my admittedly limited experience it seems like the ms school is keen to suggest a move to a special school as the child already has a statement. Most people have no idea what a statement is anyway.

I'm not sure if this is right but I've been told that within the next 12 months statements are being replaced( not sure what with).some schools are not starting the process as it can take 12 months by which time they wont be being used

Presumably when people are talking about deregistering they mean to home educate. You don't need permission to deregister if your child has a statement and in mainstream school, you'd just write to the HT and ask the name to be removed from the register.

If the child is in special school you have to write to the LA to ask permission, but it's rarely refused.

extra new single plan for Education Health and Social Care comes into force September 14.

If you home ed a statemented child the LA can get a bit dafter than usual about checking the education you are providing is "suitable & appropriate".

If in a special school you have to ask the LA's permission to deregister before home edding - the intention is just to ensure the most vulnerable kids get an education. If a statemented child is in mainstream, the process of deregistration is identical to the one everyone has to follow - a simple letter of intent to the HT informing them that your child should be taken off the register. You have to do the same when you move house, so it's really no hassle at all.

It varies from LA to LA how fussy they get. Mine is a fussy one, as to be fair they do have some excellent special needs provision they are very rightly very proud of. Just doesn't "fit" my lads specific profile sadly. We are also new to the area so lack any history with them iyswim.

You have the right to refuse home visits from officials but to honest I just cba getting into a Mexican stand off about it as DS is thriving, when he has a documented history of school failures. You also have to tolerate an annual statement review, though in some cases a mutual agreement can be reached for the LA to cease to maintain it. I personally don't want this option now that the new plans go up to 25 as it'll cover DS through college if he wants to go when the time comes.

My sibling and my best friend were both statemented as children - both have had successful adults lives by any normal measure as a result of the support they got at the right time in their lives to make a long term difference. No one cares now that they are graduates with over a decade of "real jobs" behind them. My mate has raised five kids & worked overseas so no impact on his personal life either lol!