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DLA with no support from school

4 replies

KokoLoko · 09/03/2020 18:45

Hi,
I hope I’ve put this in the right section and you don’t mind me posting here.
My DS, 7 Y3, is diagnosed ASD. His behavioural issues started in preschool and he started school with thorough communication between the preschool and school, although it was still quite difficult with meltdowns and extreme anger and occasional violence against other children. He is now in Y3 with a comprehensive Action Plan, which we review regularly, and is so much better behaved now.
So that’s the backstory, school and the Senco have always been great, on the ball and helpful.
But.. I have recently applied for DLA for DS and handed in my form to the school office to fill in their bit, but they just didn’t do it! The Senco claimed she couldn’t because she was part time and passed it onto the Head, who just left it in the office until I collected it because it needed to be sent back. I have sent it with copies of every bit of paperwork I could, his diagnosis letter, Ed Psych reports, the Action Plan and a form the school completed in Reception (I think) saying he was a ‘4’ on the scale of difficult behaviour (1-5 so pretty extreme). Do you think that will be enough or will they reject it because school haven’t filled in their part? Has anyone else had this problem?
Thank you for taking the time to read, sorry it’s so long!

OP posts:
Throgglesprocket · 10/03/2020 12:33

We haven't had this problem, and for our DLA application, our DD's teacher filled in that section of the form for us, as it just needs to be someone who knows your child - it doesn't have to be the SENCO, and IMHO your child's teacher would probably have a better understanding of your DS than the SENCO anyway.

If the claim does get rejected (which hopefully it won't) you can appeal, and maybe submit that section this time?

Sorry if I've not actually helped.

Borka · 10/03/2020 13:16

I didn't have anything from the school when I applied for DS and it was fine.

You've supplied plenty of other evidence so I'd be surprised if your claim gets rejected just because of not having the bit from the school.

dairyfairies · 11/03/2020 12:35

I never got school to fill in this bit. It's not obligatory and if it doesn't help your case, leave it out.

DD is severely affected and we had enough evidence anyways but senco was always so busy, I didn't want to add to her work load.

Sent the EHCP and any IEP is which show he needs extra support at school if you have any.

Otherwise leave this page blank.

Whattodo1610 · 13/03/2020 10:37

You don’t need school to fill it in .... just send your application with everything else you’ve got.

Fwiw - it’s not always helpful - on my son’s renewal, he’d moved to a new school, been there 6 weeks. DWP rang the new school who said ds was fine at school ... we lost his WHOLE award based on that 1 phone call! He’d only been there 6 weeks!

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