Annual Review - Parental Views

[SpringTOWIEDaffs]

The dreaded annual review is fast approaching - first one I've ever had.

I have to do my Parental Views - now I know that they are going to be totally and utterly ignored by the LA and I might as well send them in a blank piece of paper and they wouldn't notice. But I still feel I should do them.

So what do I write? I'm totally and utterly happy with his current Statement - after all it took two years and two Tribunals to get it exactly how it should be. There is no way I want any of it changed.

They've given me suggested headings but I'll probably ignore them.

Emphasise how much the hard won provision is making a difference. Your child is making so much progress with it and you're looking forward to seeing all the hard work of this year being built upon. I can imagine your LA trying to assert that it's done its job and can be taken away, now.

Thank Ouryve. Yes I'll emphasise that it has made a difference.

I can imagine your LA trying to assert that it's done its job and can be taken away, now.

We were very worried at ds1's annual review that because he was doing so well his provision would be taken away. Luckily, all present (including SEN team member) agreed it was because provision matched his needs. Sometime they surprise you!

Say that after a year of adequate provision, ds' is starting to show his capabilities and is finally starting to progress.

Thanks all. Anyone else with ideas for annual review?

When DS1 had his AR a couple of months ago I didn't hear a peep from the LA. In fact, nothing since the hearing 12 months ago. They did not attend AR.

tbh I have changed my mind about direct therapies for DS1 given his age (13). It is too late to make genuine improvement so he needs to consciously and explicitly learning work-arounds and self-calming.

I saw his Physio, OT and SALT yesterday and agreed to stop all direct therapy as DS1 does not want to be taken out of class. It felt risky and I talked to them about the LA and their shiny new provision and EHCP.

But the only reason they can be dropped is because anxiety is reduced and so über strategies that may be needed in m/s are not necessary in a different environment.

DS1 is lucky because there are no more natural transition points but that does not alter the fact that as DC get older the most important thing for them is an environment that makes it possible for them to give up coping mechanisms they relied on in m/s for survival for years. Recognising that coping mechanisms are no longer needed is hard and will take stability for the rest of his education. I think this will become more important to you in future and is an important reason why your DS needs to stay where he is. But now is not the time to consider any reduction in provision. In fact, I would say that more provision would be needed in the m/s otherwise progress over the last year would be seriously in threat. Focus on anxiety - they can't even pretend to meet that need.

(Stealth boast met DS's art teacher yesterday. He is nurturing his natural talent and really challenging him. Said he would be disappointed if DS1 did not go to art college, get a degree (MA) and probably make a fortune!!).

Well done to DS! Just goes to show that the right environment can help our children meet their potential.

Yes - he's still showing signs of anxiety but, of course, because he's in the right environment, its reduced from last year.

An LA EP will be present at AR. We've had to move the date so she can make it - so I know she's turning up. Just hope her satnav is(n't) working as she never find the school without one!

Also 2 weeks before AR, I have a meeting with senior LA managers following my LGO complaint.

My guess is that they are going to follow this AR to the letter because they know I'll be straight back to the LGO if they don't do it properly.

This is almost secondary transition (end of year 5). So my guess is we'll have two "annual" reviews in quick succession - this one and then another one next term (first term of year 6). So both are going to be flash points for the LA to attempt something.

Ho-hum. More fun and games to come! It never ends.

I've just done mine for DS1 (similar hard-won indie SS provision). I did pretty much what star said above -

"DS1 is making adequate progress across all major areas of his special educational needs. This might not sound remarkable, but it is the first time in his education thus far that he has been able to do so. We think that [insert particular aspects of provision here] has been key to his ability to make this progress over this academic year, and we believe that these aspects of provosion will continue to be key to his ability to make adequate progress over the next year. "

I also had a quiet verbal word with his CT and HT, making it clear that when I said "adequate", I was working to the narrow definition in the SENCOP, and that privately we were all delighted with how he was getting on.

The LA sent a token rep - not his main case officer, but her flunky. Their appetite for a dust-up had dropped a fair bit, too many other tribunal cases to contend with...

Thanks Ugger - that's a very useful paragraph.

Yes I've had a word with the school. We're going at full strength to AR so all the therapists are going along with SENCO and CT.

Still wondering why they are sending an EP - an EP who has never met DS. I expect it's something to do with the LGO complaint. They probably daren't send the main case worker/manager as my complaint was specifically about her actions - which the LGO upheld.

DH thinks I'm overthinking things. Hopefully I am!

An annual review is exactly that, the Year 6 one won't be early. Some of the annual reviews I've done (SENCo) fall in the autumn term, and pupils in reviewed in autumn of Y5 had an update (current progress and views) during the summer of Y5 so that the parents had the most recent info as they started the secondary transfer process. We didn't hold the next annual review (due autumn Y6) any sooner though.

An annual review is exactly that, the Year 6 one won't be early.

In DS's case it will be early as the exact date (autumn term during the first half) is explicitly stated in his Statement. So there'll be one this term, and then another next term.