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Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

Original poster

Ineed an update!!!

97 replies

Ineedmorepatience · 09/01/2015 16:10

It was ajourned until May!!!

Panel were really good again and very knowledgeable but school made a massive thing about how well she is doing and how she doesn't seem to need support!!

I repeated numerous times that she is masking and starting to fall apart at home but the panel felt that because she is in a new school, they should have more time to gather more evidence!!!

Shame because I felt it was going well too Sad

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Bilberry · 09/01/2015 20:22

I am so sorry to hear this and echo uggers frustration with the system. I read the tribunal services response to SOSSEN's survey; nowhere did they acknowlegde the children and the fact that delay in getting provision was actually an issue! I was quite shocked! It seemed they thought as long as they got it in the end it was all ok not that they could have done so much better if it had started to years earlier and that families could be saved from stress. They also thought it great that they found in favour of families something like 75% of the time and not that this actually indicates a profound failure.

Try to forget about it all this weekend then set yourself up for battle! WineCake

2boysnamedR · 09/01/2015 20:41

It took them about 1.5 hours to adjourn ours. Not good is it?

Original poster
Ineedmorepatience · 09/01/2015 20:41

That is interesting about the SOSSEN survey bilbury can you do a linky please, I would like to read it when I have drawn breath!! Smile

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Original poster
Ineedmorepatience · 09/01/2015 20:46

No 2boys its not good, although I do understand why they did it, I guess when there is a new school involved everything could potentially change for Dd3 but we will see!

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bjkmummy · 09/01/2015 20:49

did you have any witness costs today ineed?

StarlightMcKenzee · 09/01/2015 20:50

That makes no sense. Her needs are her needs.

Home Educated Children can have comprehensive statements ffs. So can children of travellers and in the forces.

So sorry.

StarlightMcKenzee · 09/01/2015 20:53

'It seemed they thought as long as they got it in the end it was all ok'

This is also nonsense. Do they really think that a child raises concerns, LA and parents have a spat, there is a tribunal and all of a sudden child gets provision they need and everyone lives happily ever after?

Many families have to go to tribunal repeatedly. Either the LA provision changes, staff change, attitudes change etc. or most likely the child changes and their needs require further 'spats' and tribunals.

Then you have the fact that some families for genetic or just luck reasons have several children they are required by the broken system to go to tribunal for.

Why isn't this information recorded properly and answered for?

senvet · 09/01/2015 21:00

what was their excuse for not getting the evidence earlier? Did the Tribunal seem to buy it? I could understand if there had been some sudden change, but if she is essentially the same as she was in Sept....

Any chance you could have your expert visit the school and reassess prior to the re-hearing in May? Costly I know, but getting a spy an expert pair of eyes into school, looking at the DC's work, and the notes of incidents, the notes of the people who are supposed to be supporting her - can be very useful. And observing her in school, to take a view on masking.

Ideally (and now I think about it, maybe, essentially) the expert could then see her at home afterwards, to see how she was at home. Only you can permit an expert to assess/observe her at home so only you will have that evidence.

Do you have any friends/relatives/care-givers who witness her at home after school who could give some evidence as well? The expert can see your diary of home behaviour...

How long ago was your expert's assessment? Is it long enough ago to repeat it?

Original poster
Ineedmorepatience · 09/01/2015 21:03

Yes bjk I did! What can I do?

Thanks star I honestly really appreciate all the support everyone on this board and the few people in RL have given us.

We are not ready to give up yet. Dd3 needs us to be strong for her!

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Bilberry · 09/01/2015 21:03

I probably read that six months ago and I remember getting that impression quite distinctly so I hope I remember correctly Blush. Can't get on the sossen website to find the link at the moment. It was a letter rather than a full response to the sossen survey of parent attitudes to tribunals as the said they weren't given enough time. Wasn't impressed but won't say more until I've reread it.

Bilberry · 09/01/2015 21:06

This was SOSSEN's survey.

Original poster
Ineedmorepatience · 09/01/2015 21:08

Wow senvet lots of questions Grin I will have to answer tomorrow when am on the laptop. But the answer to the last one is no, it wont give us time to get a further reassessment but the same proff has assessed her twice and another one once and they all came out virtually the same!!

Lots to think about!

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bjkmummy · 09/01/2015 21:08

it just sucks ineed - that's my worry if im honest - there seems to be a pattern at the moment of adjournments..... all that stress and waiting to get to the tribunal hearing to then have it adjourned on the day with the costs that goes with it - ive got an indie EP and MS attending mine so will be very upset if it happens but like you say = what can you do???

everyone has known she started school in sept - why couldn't the tribunal have had a hearing via telephone before today and said think we should give it more time and therefore do the adjournment that way rather than the costs that today has now involved plus the unmeasurable stress to you and your family and the continuing stress it will bring.

Original poster
Ineedmorepatience · 09/01/2015 21:17

I agree bjk It was in my original appeal paperwork that she was starting the new school in September.

I really hope it doesnt happen to you, I was really lucky with my rep and witness they havent charged me alot but they could have!!

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bjkmummy · 09/01/2015 21:22

im hoping that now that I am fighting for her to have support pre secondary it will help but now sat here thinking what if they say 'lets see how she goes in secondary' Confused thankfully all of the reports say she wont cope in secondary - if they did do something mad like that im home educating her. its just such a lottery isn't it Hmm

Bilberry · 09/01/2015 21:24

Found it Here. Quickly scanned through it again. To correct my earlier post, they do say they recognise delays causes stress and the need to speed things up to reduce stress but they don't acknowledge the impact delays on the child receiving the support they need.

Original poster
Ineedmorepatience · 09/01/2015 21:25

Yes!!! Yes it is Sad
If Dd3 goes back to school refusal or daily meltdowns I will take her out!!

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Original poster
Ineedmorepatience · 09/01/2015 21:30

Thanks bilbury am on the phone tonight but will look tomorrow when I get the laptop wound up Smile

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senvet · 09/01/2015 21:44

Ineed hang in there. The adjournments are ridiculous - it is just an abuse.

Over the next weeks the one comfort, (apart from this website and your nearest and dearest of course) will be that every time DC has a difficult day, it helps your case, and every time she has a good day then we will all cheer for you.

By the way, if anyone doubts what you face at home, then video/a witness will put that to bed.

And if the LA has a chance to get additional evidence after seeing yours then you should be entitled to evidence in reply. Equality of arms/right to a fair trial/human rights etc etc. - but that is for another day too.

Was there a fat lady?
I'll pay good money to make her sing

reader108 · 09/01/2015 21:47

Even more scared now we go to tribunal 12th just to get him assessed. Do they frequently adjourn really need answers and a decent education was dreading Monday, but thought it would all be over then sounds like just beginning!!!

MeirAyaAlibi · 09/01/2015 22:04

Ugger - fancy being my rep next time Wink

Ineed, so sorry. And cross. The system is utter shte. Not just nice clean horse-shte either, more like diseased-rat-poop.

Make this work for you. Get to CAMHS ASAP, as well as the private psychologist. If the NHS backs up their private counterpart it'll be hard to ignore. If your dd will open up to both CAMHS and the private psychologist, it's much harder for the LA to collude with the NHS behind your back.

senvet · 09/01/2015 22:06

reader There is stuff that can be done - do you want to start another thread as I bet there will be lots of ideas

Original poster
Ineedmorepatience · 09/01/2015 22:06

Grin @senvet yes there was a fat lady!!!

reader we went to a refuse to assess tribunal last yr and won it!! No adjournment then!
Good luck for monday Flowers

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StarlightMcKenzee · 09/01/2015 22:25

reader It could be the beginning. But there is nothing like doing a tribunal to make you unafraid of tribunals, and angry enough to go through it again should you need to.

I kind of think that in this climate tribunals are often kind of inevitable in the same way smear tests are.

The trick is to pace yourself and to live your life whilst going through them, rather than putting life on hold until afterwards.

Original poster
Ineedmorepatience · 09/01/2015 22:36

Good advice starlight especially about living life not putting it on hold!!

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