Parental contribution - concentrate on recent stuff or entire history?

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

When I applied for SA I sent a very detailed history of DS from birth to current age (10), using the standard format for parental contribution. When I was turned down and had to appeal, I used the same format, but scaled right back on the early stuff and concentrated on the last couple of years. The LA conceded on the basis of independent reports, not my contribution.

I now have to submit my contribution to the SA process and have the choice of updating either of these documents, unsure which way to go with this, entire history or mainly last couple of years? Would appreciate any thoughts.

I did write our parental contribution using these guidelines

www3.hants.gov.uk/statutory_assessment_procedures_guidelines_2010.pdf

I concentrated on the most recent stuff but mentioned anything about his early years that I thought it was relevant to the case.

Every professional we have ever seen has asked questions about the early stuff so I did put it in but used lots of sub-headings so they could easily skip that bit if it wasn't needed. I think there was brief mention of family circumstances / early speech difficulties in Part 2 of their statements but not a lot of detail.

THank you, I've looked at them both again this morning and will go with the full history version I think. I'm just updating it a little, the main change is that in the part saying what outcomes I would like, instead of saying "a statutory assessment" I need to move it forward to the statement itself (or EHCP) and lift elements from his indie reports and put those instead.

I was in the same position as you WhoKnows - we requested SA, were refused, we appealed but then the LA conceded before tribunal.

I collated info from both my parental reports - the early history stuff went in again from the initial parental request, then I added in the more detailed account of DD's progress/lack of progress over the last couple of years and her current needs which I put in for the appeal. I added updates in italics at the end of some of the sections for the 3 months since I put in the appeal in and my parental views for SA.

You are right about needing to change the emphasis from arguing for SA to be carried out to the 'outcome' your DS needs from SA. I was careful to emphasis why I considered (and indi evidence backed up) that DD's needs 'could not be met in a mainstream maintained school from the resources usually available to such schools in the local area.' (DD now has a proposed statement which says LA are consulting 2 indi special schools.)

BTW having read a link posted on here (which I can try to find if you want) AFAIK as you began SA under the 'old system' you can insist on being issued with a statement, not an EHCP - the LA would have to have your consent to 'change over'. The LA have just tried this with my DS saying that as his SA 'result' was due after Sep 1st it would be an ECHP, not a statement or NIL. They backed down when I told them it wasn't correct - and the next day told me they are issuing a proposed statement. Mind you I haven't seen it yet so no idea if it will be any good....

Sorry, late replying. I've been advised not to put anything saying that I want him in special school at this stage (but can't remember who by!). I have got an indie special school in mind, but he hasn't been offered a place there yet and I'm not sure what my second choice would be if they won't accept him (hoping to get that decision shortly). However if I spell out what he needs in terms of SALT and OT input it clearly can't be met in MS. With the added complication that he is in Year 6 so it isn't his current school I'm mainly worried about but his secondary. A lot depends whether they try to fob me off with a NIL and I have to appeal, by which time he'll nearly be finished in Yr 6, however even if they do issue a statement I think I'll have to appeal the content to have a chance of SS.

I did know I can still insist on a statement, but not sure which way to go on that, will be thinking about it once I've got the documentation all submitted (got about 3 weeks till it's due in). I don't know what the benefit would be of insisting it's a statement (other than better the devil you know).

I never put anything in my contribution that isn't relevant to his needs now or the outcomes he needs now.

Me banging on about my pregnancy won't get him OT now, and it might just give them cause to blame his difficulties on poor maternal relations rather than poor educational support.