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SN children

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Original poster

Statementing result

18 replies

Thomcat · 10/10/2004 15:35

Gad a letter back saying that Lottie is developing age appropriate skills in some areas, so in view of this and her age (she's 3 on 17 Dec) they have concluded that the best way forward would be to continue to monitor her progress through the early years service. The authority would then expect the early years service to submit a case for statutory assessment if this was felt to be appropriate.

Shall I appeal do you think or do you think to try again nearer the time she'll be starting at school, so maybe try again in a year or so?

OP posts:

lou33 · 10/10/2004 18:21

Do they give you an option to appeal at this stage? I would query it anyway I think. Sit and write yourself a list of areas where you think she is developmentally behind (walking for one), and then add them into a letter pointing out where you disagree. How is Lottie wrt getting in and out of chairs, toiletting , speech and language etc? All these things have to be taken into account.

Email me if you want someone to bounce ideas off.

blossomhill · 10/10/2004 18:33

Hi Thomcat. Personally I would appeal. A statement is a legal document and without you cannot guarantee that Lottie will get the help she needs. The earlier you get the statement the better IMO. My dd's development is age appropriate in all areas and above in some. She still needed a statement as her language is disordered therefore needs a slightly different approach to teaching. My dd got her statement at 3 and 3 months.

You are more than welcome to CAT me if you want any more advice. Blossomhillx

meea · 10/10/2004 19:13

We have had the same thing with ds2 who is 2y 6mon his development is fragmented some areas he is behind some he is in front and we have been told that there is'nt any point in trying as he would'nt get one. Would be interested to know how you get on as i would be happier if ds2 had support at nursey.

onlyjoking9329 · 10/10/2004 20:19

i would appeal IME it is much harder and sometimes impossible to get statements later on, my son had his asd dx at 2.6 and his statementcame through on his 3rd birthday, i think of statements as a back up plan if mainstream doesnt work then you can transfer without a statment you cant

rivers · 10/10/2004 20:50

My little girl is 3yrs old and her assessment for statement is just beginning andwill take at least six months and I have just found out that the schools in my area (Harrow) are only having one intake so she will start school next Sep instead of Jan.Because of this I am very glad I pushed for assessment as hopefully the statement will be in place in time for school! So I would say def. appeal as it is better it is in place rather than starting school without it.Good luck with it as I am already feeling stressed by it all!

Dingle · 10/10/2004 21:01

Tc, I know I'm being really ignorant here, but where are they getting their info from to back this up.
We haven't yet started the statementing process yet, it's on our list of "things to do!!"
We have just had a report back from our Paed. check up last month and I don't know whether to be pleased or not about her results of the "Schedule of Growing Skills II" assessment. It broke down areas of development into 7 diff areas and dd (who is 35 months) "scored" as low as 12-18months on 1 area with her best being 18-30 months.
This is the first time her development has been broken down like this and I don't know whether to use this to back up things like the mobility aspect of DLA and her statementing process.
Surely because Lottie isn't walking yet- that alone must count for something!!Good luck TC.

Original poster

Thomcat · 11/10/2004 08:56

Okay, I'll appeal. Rivers I'm in the Harrow area too, live in Pinner.
Here goes then!

OP posts:

lou33 · 11/10/2004 09:06

Good luck Missus

geekgrrl · 11/10/2004 09:19

good luck with the appeal! They're talking out of their tight-fisted derriere and it's just not on. Well done for not letting them get away with their money-saving measures.
We had dd statemented at 2, and whilst mainstream nursery were coping ok with her it made a lot of difference to me knowing that they were getting decent funding rather than a piddly £200 annually from the inclusion fund, and someone extra was being paid to carry dd or hold her hands on walks for instance, pester her to try more textures at mealtimes, do speech exercises with her etc., they also use the funding to have her in a group of three children rather than five when doing group work, that sort of thing.
And it's good to know that the statement is in place and just needs amending in time for school next September.

Davros · 11/10/2004 13:03

Agree you should appeal TC. Just because Lottie is young and therefore it less hard to see a huge difference between her and an NT child doesn't mean that gap won't open up without proper support. Write everything down, review messages here, anything you can think of to put it all down clearly. Good luck, we'll all help of course.

Original poster

Thomcat · 11/10/2004 13:23

Cheers Davros and all you girls.
Have left a message for her and emailed her and cc'd Portage in and told her I would like to discuss and appeal.

OP posts:

lou33 · 11/10/2004 13:25

They won't stand a chance with us all sticking in our two pence worth

Original poster

Thomcat · 11/10/2004 13:31

lou -
What would I do without you?

OP posts:

lou33 · 11/10/2004 13:34

Get more work done, instead of sneaking on here?

Original poster

Thomcat · 11/10/2004 13:35

Errr, yeah, talking of which!.........

OP posts:

snmum · 12/10/2004 08:51

sorry I am a bit late to this! Our dd was refused a statement too to begin with, but after alot of screaming from me was eventually given one. I personally beleive that any child with significant delays (ie. gross motor delay/language delay) SHOULD have a statement.

You go girl

RexandBen · 12/10/2004 09:23

Definitely appeal! LEA's never cease to amaze me. We were refused the initial ASSESSMENT and the LEA spent £10k on a lawyer at tribunal to prevent DS1 getting one. We won of course, but they WILL try it on - some will do anything to avoid statementing a preschooler

sinclair · 12/10/2004 12:57

Sorry coming late to this TC but wanting to add to Blossomhill and others' advice - keep pushing for the statement, it is the only way you'll guarantee getting one on one support at nursery/school. I know Brent for one are against statementing until they start school, but it is possible to get around these penny-pinchers! My DD got so, so much out of her nursery placement as the LSAs were brilliant but it's also the practicals - who will change her nappy or support toilet training, who will wipe her face after lunch etc that worried me. Good luck and hopefully someone on the board will have been through it, and can offer concrete advice xx

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