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Original poster

Meeting with senco to discuss NIL - any advice

19 replies

bjkmummy · 02/09/2014 13:08

Meeting her in Thursday - pointless I know as appeal already lodged and hearing in January. Plus NIL no longer exists under the new system although the LA have said it still stands until it is 'reviewed' although where they found that info from I have no idea!

I'm meeting with the teacher/senco to see what they can /can't provide. Given nothing is specified or quantified I'm not sure where this will lead. I am going to ask how they will provide specialist teaching, 2 hours of salt and 2 hours of OT a week from their delegated funding budget and see what she says.

Is there anything else I should be asking given this is heading straight back to tribunal? Or should I just avoid them completely? Just thought may be best trying to get what the schools say they are going to do without the La being there as no doubt that will happen as we head closer to the hearing.

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Ineedmorepatience · 02/09/2014 13:27

Good question bjk I am waiting for an appointment with Dd3's new senco for exactly the same conversation.

I have a feeling we will be promised the moon on a stick but whether it will happen remains to be seen!!

Ever sceptical

Original poster

bjkmummy · 02/09/2014 13:52

I don't think I will be - think she will say no way - school in a different LA - last time when my LA mentioned the school were to provide 15 hours of support the senco said 'that's news to me ' and looked visibly shocked. They have to buy in the teaching and it's £100 an hour. Teacher said at tribunal and it's written in the decision that if we stop paying for it school would need to provide it. LA dispute she needs it of course so need to tighten up my arguments over that for the next hearing. But the note in lieu is rubbish - things like 'a literacy programme' and that's it - by who, what for, how many hours, how will they measure the outcome of it etc etc. How long is your note in lieu - my appendices are 107 pages long - then there's margos report of 35 pages - there's 17 things they recommend the school to do. They set it out like a statement and part 3 is blank! OT and salt in part 5/6 but got the la to admit that the layout is suggestive so it doesn't mean they are saying she doesn't need OT or salt.

OP posts:

StarlightMcKenzie · 02/09/2014 20:17

'I am going to ask how they will provide specialist teaching, 2 hours of salt and 2 hours of OT a week from their delegated funding budget and see what she says.'

Ha ha. Poor woman. She'll be so bewildered. If she can't answer then be kind. Say you suspect she's not yet had time to process it and though the provision should be in place immediately you understand how difficult this must be what with the new curriculum and SEN changes etc.

Say you are happy for her to write it down and send it to you over the next few days. Early next week send her an email reminding her that you both agreed this.

If she has any sense she'll contact your LA and get them to draft the response which will give you a huge heads up for the tribunal.

Original poster

bjkmummy · 02/09/2014 20:29

The sen governor spoke to me earlier in the playground and asked how everything is going -mentioned the NIL - she had no idea either what one is and said that the school need to provide x y and z which at that point she went white. I also explained she's been dx with autism which she had no idea what it was..... Then proceeded to ask my advice in how she names secondary placement on her sons statement as she has no idea.........

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Ineedmorepatience · 02/09/2014 21:05

Oh dear!!

2boysnamedR · 03/09/2014 14:52

Nil and sa sa+ still stands till April term next year, but nil = not enforceable

Original poster

bjkmummy · 03/09/2014 15:42

How are things going for you 2boys? Did you have a meeting with the LA/school?

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2boysnamedR · 03/09/2014 16:31

I'm always up the school! Lol. They will not take on his sensory or dsypraxic needs so I can't be arsed with the nil. Just concentrating on the appeal. However the lea have also assessed lots and found he's falling behind. Talk about shoot yourself in the foot!

Ineedmorepatience · 03/09/2014 16:41

Senco has emailed today to arrange a meeting to discuss the NIL on Friday!

Original poster

bjkmummy · 03/09/2014 16:44

im just going to do the meeting - expect a load of words then walk away and just get on with the appeal - we have our indie EP going in in nov. I know the school going to go on about her amazing progress but no evidence of that so far - shes still learning the first 200 high frequency words. I noticed earlier there are factual errors in the LA EP report as he 'borrowed' the scores from our report but hes upped her from low to average - high average - don't know how he managed to do that.he has played down the number of months behind she is by saying 'at least 30 months' in maths she scores less than 70 and in reading she scores 70 so shes miles behind and yet has an average IQ so no real reason why she should be so behind - ah well, heres to January and the game of 'what amazing progress shes making' over the next few months

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2boysnamedR · 03/09/2014 20:01

How long did it take you to get Margo to asses her? Ds pead is "thinking" about testing him again. Months of "thinking" yet not discussing it with me.

Original poster

bjkmummy · 03/09/2014 20:16

I enquired with margo in june she saw her in july so about a month and then a month to receive the report so 2 months in total - taken longer to see daphne keen who we see in 2 weeks time

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Original poster

bjkmummy · 04/09/2014 12:39

Well I'm back and senco says she gets 18 hours 1:1, small group work a week. They have no sen budget as such a small school so the whole sen budget is spent on TAs whom provide the above support so nothing in the budget at all for salt,OT or specialist teaching unless the LA fund it and give it to the school. Class teacher also felt that giving her he OT, salt etc would mean she would be constantly being withdrawn from the class which would cause more issues so agreed a specialist school would be best for her where it was in all in house.

She added that my lovely La seem to be continuing on their mission to be their own postal delivery service as they helpfully hand delivered the NIL to the school given that the school isn't even in the county and is in a tiny village in the middle of nowhere. Teacher also revealed the La were not very happy with her last performance at the tribunal where they lost so she doubts they wil call her again! Sounds like she said too much - ie told the truth!

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billiejeanbob · 04/09/2014 12:42

sounds hopeful for the specialist school place if u have current school on board. I would try and get that in writing before the LA encourage the teacher to say that she doesn't.

Original poster

bjkmummy · 04/09/2014 12:58

The senco then did break down in tears when she realised it would mean her having to board for year 7! She handed me part of the paperwork for daphne keen and the school views seem in part to contradict what margo said in her report but margo also did say that the school were ignoring her needs so may just be more evidence to back that up I guess

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BackToSchoolTOWIE · 04/09/2014 14:32

bjk - sounds like an "interesting" meeting. Especially this bit Class teacher also felt that giving her he OT, salt etc would mean she would be constantly being withdrawn from the class which would cause more issues so agreed a specialist school would be best for her where it was in all in house. Time for an email back to the CT, thanking her for her time and repeating her words back to her. Nothing like a paper chain so that if she goes back on her words, you've got something in writing

Original poster

bjkmummy · 04/09/2014 16:55

she also said that the LA were going to make me fight - she was quite candid because school not in home LA and she feels the LA wont call her because of what she said last time during the hearing. she also told me about another child who had a NIL which said he needed a scribe and reader which is what my daughters NIL says - the local academy refused to admit him because of this!!! I don't know which game to play - name this awful local academy and hope they refuse her which then shows again she needs a statement as with a statement they would have to admit her but then why send her to a school that doesn't want her - the other further away academy is now just as over subscribed - it wasn't last year! so if I name it as first choice theres a good chance I wont get it due to the distance rules - such a dilemma - next few weeks its the secondary viewings so will see what they say

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BackToSchoolTOWIE · 04/09/2014 17:24

At this stage, I would probably do everything to support the fact that she needs a Statement. So I'd name the awful academy - if they academy refuse her, then, once again you'll have evidence that she needs extra help via a Statement.

In all of this, keep focused on what you want as the ultimate outcome.

Stupid games we have to play!

2boysnamedR · 04/09/2014 20:38

Yes email her tonight and rehash what she has said. You wont get to appeal. They will drop it I'm sure of it. Phone ipsea and book a call back re academy. My lea told my senco who told me im had better have a good solicitor for sa then dropped it. They tried to scare me knowing they had zero chance. I have told my case worker this time I have Zero to loose so I will see him on the day even if I'm certain I will loose ( which I'm not) as I have nothing to loose but some of my day

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