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Original poster

feel really worried and anxious

27 replies

blossomhill · 06/10/2004 20:09

Dd is currently in a language unit and has been for over a year now. I couldn't be happier.
Anyway had a meeting with the locum SALT to discuss a home programme for dd and to talk about why she is at the bottom of the list for SALT.
The SALT basically said that dd was the least needy for SALT and didn't think speech therapy would benefit her really. Dd can explain her needs very well and that there were other children in the unit that could barely ask to use the toilet. She felt that as dd's intelligence was way above average that she couldn't see why she was in the unit anymore. I tried to explain that the reason dd's language had improved so much was "because" she had the speech and language therapy.
I am so scared that dd is going to lose her place in the unit and go rapidly downhill
I asked her outright if she thought dd should be in the unit and she said no but that was only her opinion. How can a child who is one of the most appropriate placements July last year suddenly improve so much that she doesn't need the help. I seriously think she does. I would love more than anything to be able to say "yeah great withdraw the help dd is cured doesn't have any more problems" but unfortunately I do not think that's the case. The SALT feels that she has an isolated pragmatic language disorder but cannot test until dd is around 8.
I am at my wits end. Although this SALT is only a locum and leaves in 2 weeks I still feel worried. They are trying to justify her not receiving any SALT but I am worried that eventually they will withdraw the support altogether.
I feel so scared and panicky. God I am going to hit the wine big time tonight. I could cry so much I just don't want this to happen. Someone please reassure or advise me please

OP posts:
binkie · 06/10/2004 20:40

How clear is dd's statement, BH? - does it say (in terms) this girl needs a place in a language unit (sorry if I'm being naive about what statements say)? If it doesn't, is there scope for you to get that set in stone, so you've got an objective right to point to? (I'm a lawyer, hence (also possibly naive) belief in having stuff in writing.)

Original poster
blossomhill · 06/10/2004 20:46

Yes it does to a point but also adds that it needs to be reviewed yearly and if need be before hand. We had her annual review in July and everyone agreed the placement was still correct and everything would stay the same as in Reception for Year 1. Maybe I am worrying for mothing as this locum SALT is leaving in 2 weeks but it makes me think what has been said between all of the teachers TBH
They are also really crafty with the amount of SALT dd needs as the statement says "as deemed appropriate by the SALT" which at the moment is none
Binkie I would take further if need be as this is dd's future at stake!!!!!

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onlyjoking9329 · 06/10/2004 20:48

how old is you dd ? what does it say on her statement i assume it will have the language unit named in that if so i don't see how they can consider moving her, my son went to a autism nursery which had SALT three days a week . what do the staff at the unit say?

onlyjoking9329 · 06/10/2004 20:52

if they held a review in july i dont see how they can say just a few months later that it may not be appropriate for her, what age does the unit go up to?

Original poster
blossomhill · 06/10/2004 20:53

Onlyjoking - Dd is just 5 and infact it was the LEA who suggested dd should go there in the first place. I was dead against it at first as dd was at her db's school nursery. It was when the unit visited her and then told me how dd wasn't coping at all and that they felt she would benefit from being in the unit and she would receive regular SALT and specialist language teaching. Which she has and to be fair has made excellent progress. I just don't want the progress to stop or even worse go downhill. When dd was at ds's school nursery everything was awful infact it upsets me even thinking about how awful it really was.
Haven't actually spoken to any other unit staff and in a way I am scared to incase it puts thoughts into there heads. I have only spoken to the locum SALT about this.
I do know that the full-time SALT who left in February said that she would not be happy to see dd in mainstream unsupported as she couldn't see her coping at all.

OP posts:
Original poster
blossomhill · 06/10/2004 20:54

onlyjoking - She can stay there until she is 11 - year 6.

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onlyjoking9329 · 06/10/2004 21:05

i can see why you are worried she has a few years left there, i would not say anything for a while given that the SALT is moving on, i think i would be cross with what the SALT said and i'm not to sure that it was her place to say it either, surely comments about your dd going to mainstream should be coming from the school and if school have concerns then i should think they would have called a meeting.

Original poster
blossomhill · 06/10/2004 21:25

Thanks onlyjoking. That's what I thought.
It was such a hard decision to move her there in the first place (hence the reason I am on ad's) and to accept that dd needed it so for 1 year down to almost laugh about it and say "oh no I can't see why she is here" is almost making a mockery of the system IMO
Unfortunately it is all down to money. I should be happy that dd is prgressing but instead I am scared that it will the support is withdrawn. A thought that makes me shudder.

OP posts:
onlyjoking9329 · 06/10/2004 21:33

well if the LEA suggested it to start with i wouldn't worry, our LEA only suggests inclusion, my son went to autism nursery then on to mainstream school at five my dd's started at mainstream nursery which was a nightmare and they went to special needs school at five, all kids are different my three have the same dx but are all different.

Jimjams · 06/10/2004 21:41

Oh I hate it when they start discussing placements- just when I think ds1 is doing well. its the one thing guaranteed to give me a headache (and I have a meeting with some new ed psych coming up and just KNOW we are going to have the same old same old discussion.) HOwever having had this happen a few times - they say something about placements, I go into total panic, get a headache, have another meeting coming up, get myself wound up- I have then found that more often than not at the next meeting the possibility of moving isn't even mentioned and everyone seems 100% committed. SO much sympathy- but I wouldn't worry just yet.

We have a statement review coming up and I am going for hours of SALT specified in the statement- will let you know how we get on!

Original poster
blossomhill · 06/10/2004 21:56

Jimjams - I know I shouldn't worry as the review was only in July so fingers crossed we won't have to worry until next July. I always knew that dd would probably only need to be in there until she hits the juniors but that's nearly 2 years down the line. Infact I would be happy for her to stay there until she hits year 6! The more help the better I think!
It's so ironic as nearly 2 years ago I was dead set on her going there even the phrase "over my dead body" was used. Here I am with a large glass of wine thinking how devastated I would be if they moved her out! The only good thing is that she would definitely stay at the school just not access the unit. Fortunately the school has a high level of sn, I think something like 60% are statemented. It's just that the quality of education will not be as good.
Please do let me know jimjams how you get on with the SALT hours, I am almost thinking of doing something along those lines myself!

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Jimjams · 06/10/2004 22:02

well the head of special services in the LEA did make the mistake of saying to me on the phone that she "was of the opinion that numbers of hours of SALT need to be specified in the statement" hee hee and I made sure everyone knew that comment had been made. I may not be very popular with her though as shortly after that I sent a letter to her threatening to take the LEA to the local govt ombudsmen for not providing SALT (ds1 does have SALT specified in parts 2 and 3- but the number of hours input from an actual SALT is too vague- we had a big battle about it last year but accepted the wishy washy version- not keen to do that this year).

Do understand how you feel- the placement discussions get to me in a way that nothing else does- find it very unsettling. If they do start to talk about moving her perhaps ask for a part time place. The possibility of ds1 attending a special school part time for sensory work has been suggested and I'm all for that.

Davros · 06/10/2004 22:23

BH, I think you are MILES away from her being moved. It takes a lot more than a locum SLT to get a child moved. I really don't think you need to worry at all.

Original poster
blossomhill · 07/10/2004 09:26

Thanks Davros - that's what I needed to hear

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maddiemo · 07/10/2004 09:46

BH I know just how you feel. We had a review in May but have been asked to attend another in November. In our case ds3's needs have not really changed but the LEA is changing the criteria for placement in the unit. I am fairly sure that we are being pushed for mainstream as ds3 is so passive he will not disturb a mianstream class.

I would write down all your concerns about dd and if the locum SALTs comments come to light be ready with the bigger picture.

Good luck I really feel for you.

Davros · 07/10/2004 14:58

There's no harm in being prepared as Maddie says but don't worry so much (if poss) and don't rush into reacting, I'd keep schtum!

Original poster
blossomhill · 07/10/2004 15:42

I have infact got another meeting with the head of unit and SALT as the head has replied to the original letter I sent last week. Apparently the governors and everyone involved is taking my letter seriously.

OP posts:
Davros · 07/10/2004 17:24

I didn't know you'd sent a letter. In that case be prepared I suppose but just remember that she can't be moved without a full statement review and clear evidence that the placement no longer meets her needs and another one does which is quite hard to prove once a child is in a place. IYSWIM, its harder to get someone out of somewhere once they're already there and they have to take full account of what you think, then there's tribunal, appeal etc - all a long way off I think.

Jimjams · 07/10/2004 19:58

and something ds1's head said to me when we were discussing placements springs to mind "no-one can make you send your child to a school you don;t want them to go to" Parental choice counts for a lot.

Original poster
blossomhill · 07/10/2004 21:00

davros and jimjam - thanks again. You always talk a lot of sense and have managed to make me feel less stressed!
I will let you know how it goes on Monday as I am seeing the SALT again and the unit head.

OP posts:
Davros · 07/10/2004 21:45

I think you need to be able (if necessary) to tell them calmly and clearly why you think and WANT DD to be where she is. Don't act confused (even if you are )

Original poster
blossomhill · 09/10/2004 09:46

In dd's statement it says the following under Part 3 Special education Provision

A structured programme to develop receptive and expressive language skills devised and monitored by a speech and language therapist

Do you think I have a case on that alone as dd is not receiving ANY imput even to the point that the SALT assesses her and passes the work on an assistant. NOTHING at all, no contact and I am not being fobbed off. I agree that there are children with very serious speech disorders (as pointed out in the heads letter) but surely all of the children need some input hence the reason they are in a speech and language unit!!!!!
I would love to show you the letter but don't think I should incase it's recognised by someone, you never know!

OP posts:
Original poster
blossomhill · 09/10/2004 20:37

Do you think I have a case? If they still won't accept that dd needs input from a SALT where do I go next? I really haven't a clue what the procedure is. I just think I am being fobbed of TBH

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Original poster
blossomhill · 12/10/2004 18:42

UPDATE...........

Well had the meeting yesterday and feel so much better for going.
Had the head of unit, locum SALT for KS1 and the SALT for KS2 (who is also the head SALT).
They explained that dd has made so much progress and that 1:1 therapy is not appropriate for dd anyomre. She needs more group work and social skills as her difficulties are in the area of pragmatics which obviously means that it's her conversational/social skills that need the work. I agreed but said that I had been told that dd wouldn't have ANY input from a SALT which she disagreed and explained the set up in the unit. The assistants, salts, class teachers all work very closely together, having many meetings about each child on a regular basis. Obviously children with oral dyspraxia need far more intensive speech therapy that dd doesn't need as her sctual speech is really good and very clear.
The assistants that work with dd are highly trained in language difficulties and often do the work that the SALTs set and are more than trained to do this. Although dd is getting some input form SALT's and monitored all the time.
Got on to the bit where we were discussing my worries about dd being moved from the unit. The unit head really reassured me that this certainly won't be happening and if they did feel that dd could cope without the unit it would be a very gradual process taking months, probably years and they would have meetings and pyschcologists going in. So that was nice to hear! They agreed that dd is very bright but also agreed with me that she would go desperately down hill if the support was withdrawn.
Apparently the whole time dd is at school she is having therapy of some sort. Eg if dd is struggling to make a conversation at playtime one of the unit staff will intervene and help dd. I am really pleased that the locum is leaving though. Don't think she has a clue TBH!
It was a lovely meeting, very reassuring. I felt really emotional but managed to hold it in. Well as best as I could but my eyes kept filling up. I always feel like this when discussing dd with any one like that.
Thanks everyone for all of your help and advice it has been very helpful
Blossomhill

OP posts:
maddiemo · 12/10/2004 18:53

I am glad it went so well. It is very hard when you don't feel fully informed and easy to always expect the worst outcome.
Your unit sounds very similar to ours the children can attend mainstream lessons, when they are ready for it and with support. It is always done very slowly and at the childs pace.