Which is stronger/faster; parental request or school request for statement?

[Jerbil]

Or no difference whatsoever? I don't mind doing this. School are in agreement (those who know my historic posts can now pick themselves up from the floor!) But I just wondered if the fact I'm going to do a parental request will the request at a disadvantage?

If you do it yourself then you are kept in the loop of when assessments etc are due. You also have the right of appeal if it fails.

The timelines are statutory once a request goes in so there's no difference to those, except schools all too often delay making that initial request!

looking back I'm glad I did it myself as I hate not Knowing exactly what's going on iyswim.

So long as the school agrees, I don't think it makes a difference.

I'm a control freak so I would do it myself. If you look at the sencop there is a list of evidence that has to be provided with a school application but not a parental one. I emailed the school and quoted the section asking them to confirm that they would provide the same info in support of my application.

School advised me it would be quicker for me to action (still took a year to diagnosis though )

Parental.

There are statutory timelines so technically they are both the same length but chances are school will delay even starting.

Also, if you start it you have to be kept informed during the process.

Great thank you all.

If the school has a half-decent SENCo, they will keep parents informed and so will the LA. In fact, parents sometimes tell me about letters they have had before my copy arrives, since internal mail from the LA to schools is only delivered once a week!

'If the school has a half-decent SENCo, they will keep parents informed and so will the LA.'

Yes. But one can't assume this. Also, as a parent you are the ONLY person who has your child as their sole agenda. Even half-decent SENCos have budgets to consider and they'll always know children more 'severe' than your child with less provision than you are asking for. Even though it 'shouldn't' affect their support or otherwise of your request, it takes a special kind of SENCo for it not to.

That must be me then...I teach four days out of five as well as being SENCo and I find the time!

It's not so much the 'time' that concerns me. It is often the 'inclination'.

Though it is great to hear from supportive and helpful teachers. Thanks.

no you can appeal also if the school apply and its turned down - there was a change a few years back but lots of people still seem to think if school apply and its a no then there no right for the parent to appeal which isn't true. schools can be more reluctant to apply because of the paperwork involved -the ideal situation I guess is for the parent to apply with the support of the school. if a parent applies the LA will contact the school for their views anyway so helps if they are supportive

in this case I'm glad I'm doing it, as our Senco only works 3 days a week and only 1 of those is dedicated to Sen. And as you say Starlight I have been reminded by the Senco many times there are children with far more needs than mine. Having said that the HT no longer says that as DS1s needs have escalated recently.

If the school applies and the LA turn it down, the parents can appeal.

However, whether or not you get all the paperwork you need in time to appeal is not something I would ever leave to chance.

By appealing yourself you can keep track of the information, so that you can pretty much send your appeal in on the day you receive your refusal, so as to not delay your child getting the provision they need.

I mean, by requesting a statement yourself you can keep track of the information.

For some reason, SALTs in particular are very protective over their 'secretive' reports. I think they are often reluctant to even share them with schools, or at least take forever to do so.

Thanks. We're lucky with SALT now at least. She's very autism focussed and absolutely acknowledges all his subtleties. Hopefully we'll get evidence on paper soon from her. She's about to complete an assessment week after next.
Besides her we have so many professionals involved including: psychologist (just been referred to psychiatry too), paediatrician and OT.