They are removing OT and physio from his statement, what can I do?

[HairyMaclary]

And is it worth it? Ds1 has had good provision in show statement of one 5 week block of each of ohysio and oT per term. So one each half term, repeating all year, three blocks of each therapy. Plus extra time allowed for meetings and equipment changes. All hard fought for, all working ok except I don't think they make that much use of their time and ds1 hates coming out of lessons to do it. His TA is supposed to do 3x20 mins per week of exercises as well that has worked very well, but is not happening atm.

We are in the fortunate position to be able to afford some private physio, not for ever, but for now. If I disagree with the removing it from his statement, what can I do? I can accept the removal of OT if I must as they really didn't add much value, but physio does - or should do if they put a bit more effort into engaging him!

His AR is in a couple of weeks and this was the recommendation of the report produced for it, I have a good relationship with all the therapists and we had a meeting about it this morning. I ended up agreeing to it as long as we both pushed school to do the exercises and the physio kept an eye on them. (All quantified in writing, not as wooly as that!). However on reflection I'm not really happy to let the 1:1 physio therapy time be lost from the statement. We'll never get it back and DS needs to learn to integrate physio into his daily routine, as part of normal life.

What can I do ...?

You can appeal to SENDIST once you get the official letter from the LA stating that this amendment will happen.
You will need a report from the current or an independent therapist as evidence to state that DS still needs this therapy in order for it to be put back in the statement.

I was hoping that there was an easier way than an appeal on the way to tribunal! I'm. It sure it's worth that amount of energy.

Might have to work on the physios themselves then...
I can't believe it is considered acceptable to leave a child with a cerebral palsy diagnosis with no physio provision at all!

I've had to fight to keep OT in DS's statement. The NHS OT decided to discharge him despite him having acute sensory issues and fine motor difficulties. They are discharging him because they can't do anymore, not because he is cured. They said that the LSA could deliver his sensory exercises that he needs. Then the LA decided to take OT out of his statement. It's crap. I had to get the NHS OT back in to write and say that DS needs frequent, daily sensory timetable to be delivered by his LSA in order to stop the LA taking it out of his statement.
Luckily he is now in an indie special school and they have their own OT so he is getting help.

I htink it is always worth th fight to keep it in the statement, even if not currently effective, because it might, at some future point be absolutely vital, and it is a harder fight to get something put into a statement than to keep it, ime.

the separate issue is why it is not effective - that needs to be addressed, rather than swept under the carpet and the physio/OT removed because it is not effective . If it is in the statement (I know you know this), then you can push for it to happen/be effective. Cordial agreements, however pleasantly made, are a LOT easier to ignore, and then you don't have a leg to stand on.