statement annual review

[rainbows2]

DSs annual review is soon. It is the end of the first year of a statement and first year of school, aged 5. I have not been asked to contribute anything unlike when we applied for the statement. Should I be producing a report or at least putting my expectations in writing? DS currently has 20 hours of 1 to 1 support for SALT in mainstream school. Any tips welcome.

Yes you need to give your views in writing. There used to be a template on the IPSEA website but I'm not sure if its still there.
Just write about how you think things are going, what has gone well and why and what has not worked out. Put what you would like to happen over the next year and what could improve

Thanks for this. Should I be submitting this report in advance of the meeting. Who should be advising me of this school or local authority as I have had no notification. If I am not notified would the meeting have to be postponed or is it not a legal requirement?

School have to sort it all out and request all the professionals to attend. I think school have to give at least 2 weeks notice but I can't remember the exact timescale. I've always taken my report with me but I think the proper way is to submit it in advance. Hopefully another poster will come along and clarify.

Thanks. The meeting has been scheduled at a time my husband cant attend so I would be quite happy for a delay. There is still 2 weeks until the meeting but I presume if they don't advise me before half term there wont be 2 weeks notice afterwards. Is there no set paperwork as there was so much to generate the statement?

No each LA has their own paperwork for reviews.
I would chase up the new date otherwise the LA might say its too short notice for them. My LA won't attend a normal review unless they get 6 weeks notice

Would the statement not just have to carry on as existing if the meeting was delayed 6 weeks due to LA if they have not followed procedures?

Yes the statement will carry on but it has to be reviewed every year its a statutory requirement. Ds's review is due this month but for some reason school have dropped the ball and can't do the review until July. His provision will carry on as normal. School will jusy get a bollocking off me for the delay, im pretty sure my LA won't give a shiny shit when it takes place. The system isn't policed strictly by LA's ime, they just aren't bothered.

As we are fearing that DS will lose all 20 hours of support would it then be to our advantage for the review to be delayed?

If the school are already on with arranging it then you won't be able to cause much of a delay. They might move it to a more convenient date/time but I can't imagine there will be much difference.
Why do you think they will cut all of his hours? It's a massive jump from 20 to nothing. You need to write in your report how much the support has helped and how much more help he needs using that support. Make it really clear that he wouldn't have progressed without his statemented support. You can appeal if they do decide to change his hours. The sooner you have the review then the sooner you can appeal.

The date had been arranged but we have not been asked to produce a report. I have just found and read all the government guidelines and it specifies that parents must be asked for their feedback in writing and that all reports must be circulated 2 weeks before the meeting. These timescales are not achievable now. We have been told that there will be no hours because all targets are achieved and SALT help no longer needed which is correct as I understand he is achieving expected levels or ahead in all areas. However there is now a new totally different problem which is new and medical not related to the existing statement so I have no idea how this will be viewed.

If your DH can't attend the meeting and you haven't had reports circulated two weeks in advance, I suggest you ask the school to postpone to a date when you can both attend and remind them of the timescale for reports.

They can't just stop giving support when they feel like it. If they think what is in the statement is no longer necessary, they have to submit a report to the LA which has to consider it. If the LA agrees, it should produce a new proposed statement for discussion with you, and any reduction in hours can't take effect till the new statement is finalised. You can then appeal against the contents of the new statement. If they do take away support without waiting for any amendment, contact SOS SEN about taking steps to enforce the statement.