Got a knock back on my extra hours

[TeeCee]

Another fight on my hands!

My request for additional support (5 hours to cover playtime / lunchtime each day) has been declined.
It is the panels view that her support of 25 hours is appropriate and the school can use this support flexibly throughout the school week.

As it is they only fund an teaching assistant and the school have supplied a (can't remeber the term for it but) a NNEB (???).

They said I could compalin! Great, so they can file it under complaints and think no more of it.

I've asked for a meeting with the school and the SEN Assesment and Review lot.

Let the games begin!

OMG Teecee.

So how will Lottie manage in the playground anf lunch without support ffs?

I cannot believe what planet these people are on some times.

You must fight this one.

Good luck xxxxxx

They have buddies! Great, so slightly older children look after her. That's fair on everyone - NOT! And now she's trying to walk it's even less safe.

Gloves are on!

That's what I was thinking TC. I know Lottie has started to walk but surely she isn't ready to be left to it in the playground.
All the hustle and bustle of it all would me way too much for Lottie to cope with

When is her Statement Review? You can challenge the hours by going to Tribunal up to 2 (or it may be 3) months after a Statement is issued. So you should get a formal chance every year to tackle things like this.
With SNA/TAs etc they don't have to have any experience or qualifications, disgraceful really but then a lot of people who are good and have the right attitude/personality wouldn't get these jobs (plus the pay is awful). They should have a training/qualification and potential career progress at least after they start this kind of job, otherwise we just lose all the good ones.
Good luck, they won't know what's hit them!

I'd look at doing something official - ie taking them to tribunal as you said a compaint will probably be ignored. Have you spoken to IPSEA? Essential I think. You could also write to the head of the LEA, copied to everyone (stamenting officers, MPS and coucillors- more important that the MP) and ask how they are going to guarantee her safety as she cannot walk unaided. Explain that if she falls in the care of another child (a buddy) she might damage them as well. I find health and safety is a great angle to take, especially if you mention other children. Also you could mention that if she is kept in through safety fears because they are providing inadequate support then you will have to consider whether that contraveens the DDA.

Good luck, but start fighting. Look at the tribunal angle. I'm sure you would win if it got that far- and they probably know that as well. If you want Lottie in mainstream (or anywhere come to that) it is essential that she has the right support.

How does she go to the toilet when she has no assistant???

Thank you.

These extra hours were asked for as part of the review process.

Will ring IPSEA on Monday, thank you for the reminder.

Just read your posts out to DP and he thinks you all ROCK, BIG time

So will arrange meeting Mon am, then come home speak to IPSEA. Have that meeting with school to prepare for the meeting I'll make with the LEA before I take them to a tribunal.

Sound like a plan stan?

Massively good point re the toilet JJ. At the mo she is still in nappies. However a) we want her toilet trained and are trying, slowly. b) On fri the movicol took effect in quite an extreme way during lunchtime and therefore her 1-2-1 tacher wasn't there and wasn't able to get her onto a toilet. Therefore Lotbags had a nappy full to the waist and speant her lunchbreak like that, bless her
So a very, very good point you make about that and of course the danger a fall or soemthing could have on a nother child.

I'm actually looking forward to a fight, i'm so confident that i shall enjoy this battle and my victory!

I may need some little pearls of wisdom and encouragement now and then but I'm so ready for this

Thank you.

These extra hours were asked for as part of the review process.

Will ring IPSEA on Monday, thank you for the reminder.

Just read your posts out to DP and he thinks you all ROCK, BIG time

So will arrange meeting Mon am, then come home speak to IPSEA. Have that meeting with school to prepare for the meeting I'll make with the LEA before I take them to a tribunal.

Sound like a plan stan?

Massively good point re the toilet JJ. At the mo she is still in nappies. However a) we want her toilet trained and are trying, slowly. b) On fri the movicol took effect in quite an extreme way during lunchtime and therefore her 1-2-1 tacher wasn't there and wasn't able to get her onto a toilet. Therefore Lotbags had a nappy full to the waist and speant her lunchbreak like that, bless her
So a very, very good point you make about that and of course the danger a fall or soemthing could have on a nother child.

I'm actually looking forward to a fight, i'm so confident that i shall enjoy this battle and my victory!

I may need some little pearls of wisdom and encouragement now and then but I'm so ready for this

whoops, sorry about the double post.

You see I think the chance of Lottie falling and hurting another child are remote, I think the sitting in her nappy thing to be far more important, but the LEA bods will get far more concerned about the risk of her hurting another child accidentally than her sitting in a nappy. (One could equal sueing and a pile of hassle from another parent).

IPSEA are often very busy, so don';t worry too much if they take an age to ring you back!. Good luck....

Alos check out whether you have a parent partnertship locally (I think you should have); they can be helpful- the LEA should tell you.

Agree JJ, nappy thing makes me feel really sad and wants to wrap her upa nd not let her go. The falling thing, I jnow she'll fall and she'll get over it, whehter I'm there or a teacher, but all the same is a very valid worry.

I remember how long it took to get to speak to IPSEA before ( and how they tried to recruit me!)

The local parent partnetship does exist but I hold them at arms length, don't trust them as they are run by the LEA so on the same (wrong) side!

I can't help with the official stuff, but I can give you a big hug, my love - see you soon, I hope x x x

Yes you do have to be careful with parent partnerships. however many were started as separate entities, only starting to be funded by the LEA after a few years when other funding sources ran out, so often theyare still quite independent iykwim. Certainly mine twice told me not to go near our local mainstream school despite thier good SN marks in their OFSTED report (said they were horrified they had that as they had a reupitation for driving autistic kids out of the school). I think if you bear in mind how they are funded they are still worth talking to in case they can help.

Mine's definatley funded by LEA and I found them to be unhelpful last time around, but thanks for all your help and advice JJ and others.

I think Parent Partnership depends very much on WHO is working there, their experience and attitude. So might be worth checking out without any expectations.
About the nappy, remember to use words like "dignity" and "respect", they love all that and are also terrified of it! Very good point about using the risk of a fall and affecting another child.

Thanks Davros.

Wouldn't worry about the NNEB- all the teachinga ssistants at ours chool are. Plus my sister is, and I know how hard and in depth their training was- it was considered one of the biggest slogs of the courses available, and they were far stricter about admissins than to any of the other courses (my friend failed to get in and yet got a place on (at that time) RGN training )

Good luck with the rest- no experience at this stage of that. Sam's statement pane; 2nd feb but what with HArry and all don't think I'd be able to take on an appeal tbh.

Can't believe no one sorted out her nappy in lunch break, poor Lottie She definately sounds like she needs someone looking after her safety and comfort during breaktimes, her education is about more than what happens in lesson time, particularly at primary level. Good luck with the meetings TeeCee xx

Also, re. Jimjams point about the LEA only being interested if another parent were to complain, if for example, she fell on another child..... this is very valid, and there would be much unrest should a Movicol nappy explode in the lunch hall!!

Thanks all

dust down your battle dress, i'd lend you mine but i wear it all the time
as others have said go for the health & saftey stuff and the DDA. i would also push the toilet training bit in that she has to have someone with her to prompt/take her to the toilet.