Should I be fighting for a statement?

[bandit99]

Hi, I'm a new joiner to MN and have just spent the last couple of days reading messages on SN topic. It's so nice to find a group of people, who seem to be going through a similar experience to my own.

This has raised some questions in my mind and I'm hoping I can get some advice here.

My DS1 is 4 and due to start school in September. He has severe speech delay and may potentially receive a dx of ASD - just waiting for the paediatrician to do another assessment at end of Feb. He attends a SN nursery 1 dpw and a 'normal' nursery for 3 mornings. I am worried about him starting school, as he doesn't interact with other children much and it takes a while for him to bond with adults and talk to them, but everyone keeps telling me it's a long way away and things will just fall into place.... The SN nursery have told me that it is 99.99% likely that I will NOT get a statement for him. Should this worry me? Should I just pursue this off my own back? Or should I just trust the professionals that are involved with my child, and wait and see what happens?

Also, how do I know that this isn't just extreme shyness? Both DH and myself are extremely shy, so it wouldn't really be a huge surprise. He is talking loads more at home now and is affectionate, caring and loving with family. Or am I just trying to hang onto the thought that this will all just click into place one day and there is no problem there, just a bit of a delay? Is this a normal reaction to the announcement of a possible dx of ASD?

IMO, if he has a severe speech delay then that in itself, never mind possible dx of autism, will make school very difficult for him, and that he should really have a statement.

Hhhmm, I had a feeling that might be the case - do I need to get SALT etc on side then to get this process going?

Hello

My ds3 has a severe speech dealy and a provisional dx of ASd, he starts school in september. SOund familiar LOL?

The one advantage I have over you is that my DS1 is Aspergers and I have been through the statementing system (I am due an answer any day).

Yes you can geta statement, of course you can! No the school don't have to apply. You can do it, imo its mroe likely you'll get one if you apply yourself.

You have two palces open to you for advice, IPSEA and the National Austistic Society. Look at the websites for both, I would start witha call to the NAS as they have an answerphone and call you back- IPSEA are fab but notoriously hard to get through to. I tend to go with the NAS first,a nd then to IPSEA if I need more info.

If there's anything I can help with (having been here before) or you just want a whnge, click on the envelope on my messages and feel free to e-mail me

And welcome to MN!

Would concur with the response that Peachyclair has made to you.

Do not rely solely on the professionals to provide help - they won't readily do so.

Do not listen to the nay-sayers at the nurserty either; they're talking bollocks frankly. How do they know?. All this talk is designed to put people off applying.

Certainly also do not let the school apply for a statement; you are far better off applying for it yourselves asap infact This is important for two reasons; first off you know its been done then and more importantly you as the parents have the right of appeal if the LEA say no to statutory assessment.

My son was diagnosed with speech and language delay and he has a Statement.

There is nothing to stop you applying for assessment NOW rather than later when your DS starts school. As it can take around 6 months for a statement to be issued it is imperative that you get the ball rolling sooner rather than later.

You are your child's best - and only - advocate. You are in the best position to fight his corner, no-one else is going to do it for you.

IPSEA's web address is www.ipsea.org.uk. There are model letters you can use on there re making the initial request to the LEA (you will need to write to the Chief Education officer of your LEA).

i think you should start the statementing yourself, my three have statements and i applied for them myself, i would say its never too early to have a statement, i don't know anyone who regrets having one but plenty of people who wished they did have one, take no noticed of staff who say you won't get one they are trying to put you off.

Hi,
If nothing else applying for a statement will draw attention to your son's needs and make him known by the system. It may help to crystallise them in your own mind and help you to be able to communicate them to the school.

I would definitely say do what you can now to get him help in education. If he doesn't need it, it doesn't matter (the LEA will withdraw it pretty quick ) but it's not that long until September and these things can take ages. I would say it's worth considering which school he will go to and whether it will provide the most supportive environment for him (even if he is just extremely shy he may need additional support).

As he attends a SN nursery would you consider a place at a SN school? Or possibly a unit attached to a mainstream school? My son attends an "assessment unit" attached to a mainstream infant school. He didn't need a statement to get a place there as the point is that they are assessing his educational needs as well as helping him. I don't know what the provision is like in your area.

There is another discussion about whether or not to go through the statementing process going on here.

Thought it might be useful for you to all talk about the issues together.

Thanks everyone - I had a long chat with the SALT today and maybe I was wrong about there being no chance of a statement. They have been doing some assessments and he is scoring sufficiently badly that he has been referred to the Ed Psychologist.

As regards to schools, I need to do some research and see what is available round here. The local school that does have some sort of a special needs unit, has a fairly bad reputation and I'm ashamed to say that I didn't even consider it last November, without even going to have a look. Went for the most popular school, but now that DS1 has a place there, I'm not convinced that it is going to be the best environment for him. I'm going to go and have a chat with the other school and find out for myself what it is like.