Assessment by community paediatric team for statement? I suppose i have to take DD?

[pannetone]

Just that. Got a letter in the post giving me an appt for a community paed to see DD. Rang up and asked why (DD was discharged from the dept. by a consultant community paed last July) and was told it was for an assessment towards a hoped-for statement. BUT it seems a bit curious when DD is actually under CAMHs (who have supplied a report) and she is on the waiting list to see a psychiatrist at CAMHs - which the CAMHs psychotherapist told them. I suppose I have to take DD - with my mother-in-law as well - I am not having DD(9) listen to me recite the long history of her anxiety problems and interventions - she will be out of the room for that bit.

And I also learnt today that the LA EP doesn't think he needs to observe DD in school (which is the only thing he could do as DD won't co operate with any activities or testing), as he observed her just over a year ago and produced a report. The EP only wants to speak to me to be brought 'up to date'. The issue is that DD has not been in class for almost 4 months - she spends about an hour with the TA and me in a closed room away from the class - and usually struggles to interact with her. Should the EP be observing this or do I leave him to take my word for how DD is? (The EP is also speaking to the TA.)

You need to take DD to the paeds appointment, its standard procedure as part of the statementing process. When DS went for his we were only in there 10 minutes, her diagnosis was that he was quirky. Whole appointment was a waste of time but it had to be done for the statement. He was later diagnosed with ASD and has it fairly bad, luckily all other professionals knew what they were doing.

I'm not sure as regards EP, but i would have thought that he should go in and see DC especially as the situation has changed from a year ago and DC is no longer in class. Was the report that EP did last year any good? I guess if it accurately sets out DC needs and difficulties then he might just use it and add in any recent changes as reported by you and TA.

My DS is under quite a wide range of hospital consultants so I was a bit frustrated when his preschool referred him to a Community Paediatrician last autumn, 'to tie things up'. I spent a long appointment with her explaining his complicated rare neurological condition and being grilled about my approach to his behavioural problems.

We are currently going through SA, and the CP was asked to submit the medical report, based on our meeting that day (as it was within 6 months). Have to say I was very pleased as the report she wrote after that meeting was absolutely FANTASTIC and summarised all his issues in a far more clear and understandable way than anything we have ever been provided by more specialist and senior doctors.

She was really interested to hear what I had to say and quite clearly took a lot of it on board, so I'd strongly recommend you go and put your point across.

Taking your MIL sounds like a great idea, so that you can talk freely.

Thanks nahidont and PassTheProsecco - I shall go to the appt without presuming it won't be helpful at all! I suppose that it was what I am concerned about - that once again my parentong skills will be put under the spotlight as DD counts as a school 'refuser'. It would be novel to have someone to listen to my views!

nahidont - the LA EP report that was written a year ago was fine as far as it went in setting out DD's needs a year ago and suggesting strategies to meet them. BUT the strategies have been tried and haven't worked and I obviously want that noted. I understand that the LA EP doesn't make 'recommendations' as to placement, but I am hoping that this time the EP states things like DD needs a smaller class - will the EP go that far because it would mean a move away from her current school and mainstream class of 30?

I'm not sure. When DS has seen the council EP they have put in strategies and suggestions such as regular breaks from class and how to help with his noise sensitivities etc. It just seems to be things to help the school cope with him in my experience. Even when he was taught outside the classroom on his own they didn't state that small class sizes would help, they are vague at best.
DS went to special school anyway purely because he exhausted all the support available in mainstream and already had a full statement so i wasn't in a position where i needed the EP to state that he needed small class sizes etc.
The EP's at my local council are rubbish and most parents complain about them. DS didn't see an EP in the 2 years before going to special school!

Don't forget that you can state your preference for a school when they draft the statement.

I am worried I won't get a statement as they will say DD's needs can be met in mainstream and the school has delegated funds and can apply for top-up funding to provide the resources to meet them.

In my LA it seems that they only want to give a statement now if a child needs a special/specialist school - so I want a new placement because a) DD needs can't be met in mainstream b)because being in a special school will mean that DD also has the legal protection of a statement. Mainstream and no statement seems the 'worst of both worlds' to me.

DS spent 5 years in a mainstream school with a full 27.5 hour statement and full time one to one. They can't refuse a statement just because it's mainstream school.
Most LA's are trying to get out of issuing statements but there are ways of appealing. You will have a better chance as well with the full backing of the school. I can't see how they can refuse a statement if DC isn't even in class.
I haven't got any experience of naming a special school on a new statement so i can't advise about that. DS's change in school came following an annual review and amendment so it's slightly different.
Hopefully another poster will be able to point you in the right direction with naming a special school. There might be something on IPSEA's webiste as well.
Try not to worry too much because its sounds obvious that he has a high level of need and should get a statement.

Thanks _ I get to speak to the LA ed psych tomorrow. I didn't manage to get DD into school at all today, and I am not going to attempt tomorrow, as I am meant to be leaving DD with the TA while I speak to the ed psych but if I try to prepare her she will refuse to go in, and if I don't tell her she will get into too much of a state if I then try to leave her.