Received proposed statement today [confused]

[Thankgoodnessforcheerios]

It says if x attends a mainstream school, the LA will provide additional resources at the level of Band 3+ of the Authorities banding system in order to assist the mainstream school in meeting his SEN.

What does Band 3+ mean? Is this something I am supposed to know?

I'll be back with more questions no doubt as it all looks very confusing

Happy to read it, but I won't be able to look at it properly for 24 hours....

Thank you ugger, I have PM'ed you

Done, PM'd you back

One moment.... If you wanted a specialist placement, it's possible that they are hinting that it would be their preference for him? They're not allowed to suggest a special school, but sometimes write a statement that would fit better at a special school than MS.

It might be worth phoning and asking to speak to the statementing officer. Ask outright 'are you suggesting that you'd be able to allocate a special school placement?'

As I say, they're not allowed to presume it. They have to presume MS except for some very rare exceptions.

After that conversation you can delve into the particulars.

Thank you Ugger, that was very kind of you and very helpful and email has been sent now so nothing I can do about it.

Lougle, I did want a specialist placement, perhaps I still do, I have one more school to visit and then I need to make a decision. Although I think they are all specialist provisions really as the 2 mainstream schools we are looking at, one has a resource base for ASD and the other one has a language unit.

All schools we are looking at are within the LA and Council run so I don't see why we wouldn't get the school we feel is best for him.

All I wan t to do is ensure that the final statement specifies and quantifies the provision that my DS needs for wherever he ends up.

"All schools we are looking at are within the LA and Council run so I don't see why we wouldn't get the school we feel is best for him."

Well in theory that's nice. However, specialist provisions can normally be filled 2-3 times over and still not have enough space.

All I'm saying is that special school statements do tend to read differently from MS ones because so much of what is 'special provision' at a MS school is 'standard provision' at a Special School.

Of course you want it specified and quantified, but it may be too early to reject it as hogwash at this stage.

Thank you for your advice lougle. This whole process is so complicated and to be honest I am clueless so appreciate all the advice offered.