LEA Ed Psych reports

[maddiemo]

My autistic son is being educated in a unit attached to a mainstream school. Our LEA is now "repositioning" the units, which means reducing numbers and mainstreaming children classified as "moderate". In our borough educational psychologists are being told by the LEA that they cannot include the words "need to be educated in a small class setting" in their reports for statementing Instead they are told to write "should have access to small group teaching". The reports issued by the LEA Ed Psychs focus on what the child can do rather than look at their needs so if an AS child is academically able that is focused on but their social and any other problems are disregarded. The reports also use phrases suc as "within two years approximately" Ed Psychs are frightened to speak out for fear of losing their jobs.
Does this amount to compromising the professional integrity of the Ed Psych? Is this common practice? Is there an effective professional body to challenge this abhorrent practice?
At the moment parents are basically forced to get a private assessment if they can afford it and take their case to tribunal.
Sorry this is so long.

Anybody?

Now I'm pleased we moved! IME most statements that you get come full of stock phrases- written with the help of a universal computer programme maybe. At this stage- once you have recieved the propsed statement you can refuse to sign and start haggling. We had a meeting with ourt statementing officer and someone more senior and changed a lot of the wording.

The best way to go is look at the provision in the proposed statement, check the court cases on IPSEA's website and then quote the law at the statementing officer. This did work for us. Crap isn't it?

Thanks JimJams and DInosaur

Yep you can be pretty glad you got away Jimjams. We are currently in a consultation to make major changes in all sen provision here.

We have had meetings with senior LEA staff. They know so little about sen its terrifying. HFA? no idea. They have printed a consultaion paper which says it will mix SSCD/SLD and EBD.Parents have complained and at last nights meeting were told "don't worry it is a printing error we meant asd not EBD" They have muddled SPELD and SPALD provision up. They can't even get the names of the schools right.

Our statement is pretty crap and I think we will have to go to tribunal at the end of ks1. IT contains the phrase "requires access to" a lot.
Congratulations on the baby Jimjams. I find it great with four, we create such mayhem when we are out that people tend to steer clear and keep their mouths shut. I do still use a double buggy sometimes (even though ds3 is six this year) as I find he retreats into it when unsure and its handy at the park as ds3 tends to run for the pond and ds4 heads for the road

Dinosaur I seem to hear of a lot of hfa children without statemnts now. According to my borough they used to "over statement children" who are now able to have their needs met at action+. I have yet to meet any parents that are happy with this as they have no legal recourse.

Hi Maddiemo,

I'd contact IPSEA (www.ipsea.org.uk)as a matter of course as this is something that I am certain LEA's are NOT allowed to do!!!. They will be able to advise you further and will probably get involved in your behalf by writing to the LEA in question. This sort of ruse is not uncommonly seen.

They certainly cannot turn a statutory need into a discretionary one.