turned down for statement....what next?

[aloha]

Obviously we shall appeal, but want to know how to go about it next time.
Am angry and feel frustrated.
As you may know, ds is 5, has Aspergers and is not coping at school. Is constantly being taken out of the classroom, we have been asked to take him out of school at lunchtime, he has learned nothing at all and in fact regressed in his ability, the school admits it can't cope, his paed supports a statement, but apparently a whole year in school isn't long enough to say he isn't coping, and because he is be 'prioritised' by the educational psychologist at the start of next year that is sufficient reason to refuse a statement. At the end of term there was nobody in place to help him in the classroom at all - which is just our worst nightmare. The ed psych is only seeing him because we went into the school all guns blazing and insisted on meetings, on changes (the school even resisted a home/school book), on greater classroom support, none of which is guaranteed for yr1.
Any advice?
I told the woman in Southwark SEN that I knew perfectly well this was a way of saving money, and that if they hoped that we'd be too exhausted, depressed and demoralised to appeal, they had another think coming. Because though it is clear they couldn't care less about another five year old being left to sink without trace in Southwark's education system, we weren't going to let that happen. And yes, it is exhausting, depressing and demoralising, but we have to do this for our son. Woman started muttering something about 'all teh children are fairly assessed' etc and I just found myself saying, 'yeah right! Yada yada yada'.
I actually attended a meeting about special needs policy in Southwark in which someone from the LEA actually said than they wanted to phase out statements altogether in Southwark, and there wouldn't be any need for them because the provision would be so good. Provision? What provision.
Bastards.

[aloha]

I am going to appeal, of course [gloom emoticon] but I think I will have to wait until he starts school again and is seen by the ed psych (though unless she's got magical powers and can remove his Aspergers) I don't see what exactly is going to make him function and progress in school when he has been failing to do that... I will see if any provision is in place for him too. I hate the fact that he not only has to fail, but fail for a really long time for anything to be done and all the time, he is slipping behind and accessing less and less classroom time.

[Peachy]

That's waht stinks, isn't it. Sympathies. Fortunately DS1 never left the classroom, but he had reduced access in terms of participation (he just stopped answering) and simply phasing out- ire removing himself from the environment.

IME Ed Psychs are pretty useless except as a ticket. I ahev never ahd any input in terms of strategies, support or whatever from one. Just reports stating X and Y. Thought about continuing with the Psych part of my degree in year one and doing Ed Psych but couldn't really see the point in terms of actually helping!

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Southwark, like many LEA's are devolving powers to the schools but this approach fails the children who need support the most. Also without a statement these children have no leagl protection with regards to their educational needs. If you look at IPSEA's website this is one area they are campaining about.

www.ipsea.org.uk - get IPSEA on board and appeal Southwark's crap decision. Do this asap, you do not have to wait until September.

Coppertop - unfortunately I am not at all surprised re SA plus. To my mind its not worth the paper its written on because no funding of any real substance is forthcoming to those on it and its also not legally binding.

Aloha- a statement for your son is the only way forward here if he is to progress. You may want to contact the NAS as well - they can offer advice and assistance with regards to taking Southwark on.

[Peachy]

If you're contacting IPSEA about Appreal btw youcan get straight through to them- last time I called they agcve a direct number for tribunal cases on the answerphone