please, advice needed: getting a statement for 3 yo with ASD diagnosis

[MeAndMySpoon]

We've just started this process with DS2 (3.5) who was diagnosed at 2.5 with ASD. He is still non-verbal (bar the very odd and infrequent word), doesn't integrate with other children, rarely follows instructions and has sensory issues (though mostly he's quite chilled and tends to seek out sensory stimulation, but there are things that really upset him). He also has a nice little collection of ASD stims and mannerisms. Less charmingly, he's getting increasingly frustrated and will bash his head on the floor (or my forehead) if thwarted. He's at MS preschool two mornings and lunchtimes a week and is happy there, he has 1:1 for all but one hour of the time he's there because of his diagnosis.

He has an Eysenit, and through her, we've requested to start the statementing process. (We're starting to look at schools for entry Sept '15, and if we can get a place, I think a SS is going to be more appropriate.) We had the preliminary meeting with EP and Eysenit at preschool a few weeks ago and have now received the first documentation from the Council. We need to write a supporting statement to say why we think he needs to be assessed.

DH is pretty chilled about the whole process: he knows DS2 is fairly severely affected and thinks this means he will automatically get a statement. I, on the other hand, read threads on MN and know it's not a done deal at all. But there again, most things I read about getting, or not getting, a statement tend to concern children who are a bit older, or children who haven't yet had a diagnosis. How likely is it that DS2, with a diagnosis of ASD, and with his current impairments, will not get a statement?

Sorry, I know there's lots about this on MN SEN but I'm feeling a bit lost in the jungle and don't know where to start on this. I'm presuming this initial statement we write is going to be very important - any tips? Is there a good thread I can read that's already gone over a similar situation to ours that anyone can recall?

Thanks for reading.

Hi my dd2 was diagnosed with autism at 2.10 , statementings was started at three and she started her fantastic sp sch nursery just before she turned four

My DS was also non-verbal and is quite severely affected and had a diagnosis of autism at 3.2. We were turned down for statutory assessment when he was 3.5. But we appealed and after a hard road we have a statement and a place at special school for high functioning ASD.

We knew that DS was very severe and all the professional reports supported the statement request and it was a shock when they LA said no. But they were wrong and were counting upon us not to fight it.

We cannot tell you the likelihood of your DS getting a statement as it depends on your LA, what kind of support and placement you want. What I can tell you if you have to fight it will be exhausting but ultimately worth it as it will benefit your DS. Good luck.

at a diagnosed, non-verbal child being turned down. Glad you persevered and got there in the end, JJ.

So will the LA have a different attitude towards your application, depending on what sort of placement you indicate you want? That's bloody appalling. All other things being equal, I mean. Transparently about money.

autumnsmum, did you get the statement 'smoothly' or did you encounter any significant bumps on the road?

It was a piece of cake , the borough suggested it when she was diagnosed as they said she would need to attend a unit or sp sch

It's generally cheaper for a LA to put a child in an MS school with TA support. If you want an independent specialist placement (i.e. where the LA pay the fees) based on the experiences I've read on here, the LA fight very hard.

They turned us down banking that we wouldn't appeal - 8 out of 10 people who are turned down for SA don't appeal - those that do almost 90% have the LA's decision overturned at tribunal or they concede before the tribunal.

DS has a dx of ASD with a severe expressive language disorder as well as SPD and spatial awareness problems. He's non-verbal, still in nappies, doesn't feel pain, hot, cold, no road awareness - but his needs could be met at School Action. However, once we got over the lack of assessment hurdle, getting the statement and the placement was a lot smoother.

That's not always true our la suggested a statement and offered a choice of sp sch or unit in mainstream

Hi, I lurk but registered as your DS sounds exactly like mine. We got a diagnosis at 2 and 1 month and he is now four. The LA were not interested in the statementing process until his pre school year. Luckily everything went smoothly, all professionals and myself were in agreement and we received the final copy last Saturday. He's off to special school in September much to my relief.

I think you should be ok. Just be very warts n all in your statement, I went into detail that he would be disruptive, he smears, gets violent through frustration and has no capacity to learn like a typical child. Good luck :-)

Hi martini sorry things are so tough but it's good to hear the statementing went ahead fairly smoothly nice to see you here

DS was dx'd at 2.7, we applied for a statement a month earlier (the dx was a done deal due to massive regression, speech loss etc). The LA turned it down. They told me when I applied they wouldn't assess as it was too early and DS had to wait until he started nursery the term after he was 3, have 12 months outreach and then (when nearly 4) would consider assessing. I pointed out he'd been in nursery from age 1 and was told that didn't count as it was a private arrangement and not a free place and the LA legal responsibility didn't start until term after 3 - total utter bollocks, which obviously lots parents fell for. They ignored everything I and nursery wrote and refused like they said they would. We appealed and LA backed down when DS was 2.10. I suspect that was because we were saying we would start ABA and they decided to bump up the 75%1:1 hours he was then getting at nursery to 100% to shut us up (while repeatedly telling us they never give 100% 1:1). they said as much at first meeting after backed down, the EP who came to meeting but hadn't seen him yet told the sen officer not to prejudge the outcome of his report, he then saw DS and said he def needed statement, and advised ABA (as we'd then started and was going well) or SS 'as a minimum'. LA ignored own EP and issued a mainstream statement with 100% 1:1 but then withheld 25% funding on a completely spurious ground leaving nursery out of pocket. We had to appeal again and went for ABA and won that at tribunal when DS was 3.11, 12 months after the EP suggested it! My LA obsessed with every child going to failing in mainstream for at least 24 months before offer SS and delaying statements until school age. The LA told us DS didn't count as severe and complex and couldn't go to SS because 'that was only for kids with a feeding tube or who had no cognitive function at all' . Outreach TA said when we looked at SS 'why do you want to put him with those children 'they're really severe . Massive massive gatekeeping of statements here / actively put parents off SS. The SS nursery had no child under 4 when we visited, I did hear of 2 children who got in after DS one was very aggressive and one was family from overseas and had no support in uk and didn't accept child had autism, I think even my LA realised they had to step in and help that family. It is really a postcode lottery.
DS had 2 functional words (lost all other speech), no social interest, head butting, self harm, shunned all children and staff at nursery, constant repetitive behaviours etc etc. At 7 he still has full time ABA including in mainstream and very obviously needs a highly specialist autism specific education. A month after we won at tribunal the NHS SLT decided to mention he had a severe language disorder for the first time having supported her mates in LA that he would be absolutely fine in mainstream with termly 'advice'. Most LAs have in house criteria for who gets a statement and it depends on amount of places etc and I suspect very little on what you write.