Applying for statement- how long is process?

[wooga]

My son (6yrs) got diagnosed with autism today after a very long time- I had to start the ball rolling through health visitor as reception teacher was no help to me-her personal view being against labelling-even though it can access needed help!
Now I am to start trying for a statement-luckily yr2 teacher had my son last year and is on my side but how long does it usually take?wooga.

I would say a yr, but I would also say, that I would do it totally myself, (I always say this) as I was once informed that education has to move faster when the statement procedure is started by the parent then on of their own, use the school to make appointments for you (but in your name) and every avaliable contact you have, but do not expect it to take less than a yr. Try these (or someone similar from your county) here

You are wise to start trying for a statement now.

IPSEA is very good at the whole process of statementing and I would suggest you look at their website for more information - their web address is www.ipsea.org.uk. They have model letters you can use for writing to the LEA in question.

When you write this initial letter you need to write to the Chief Education Officer at the LEA (you can obtain their name from the council) and you also will need to give them six weeks to apply.

Do not let school go anywhere near a Statement application - you as the parents need to do this for him. You have far more power than they do in this regard; school cannot appeal if the LEA say no to assessment. You as his parents though can appeal. The LEA may well refuse your request to have your son assessed so be prepared for that eventuality; you certainly need to appeal their decision if this happens.

If the LEA do agree to assess it can take around six months for the statement to be fully up and running and that is where there are no disagreements on either side. The LEA will seek reports from the professional people your son sees - e.g speech therapist, developmental paediatrician, OT etc.

Our statement application was up and running within nine months but you will need to be persistant with the LEA as they can try and wriggle out of their statutory responsibilities.

You are your son's best - and only - advocates. No-one else is in a better position than you to fight for his educational provision.

Any other questions just ask.

Thank you for info- will definitely push for it myself now i know it can speed up the process!

Get the ball rolling ASAP!! My DD has DS and was refused, even for assessment last Summer as she approached Reception in MS school. I fought, completed all the tribunal papers and the LEA backed down and agreed to assess the day before papers where submitted to the Tribunal Services.
Eventually after meeting and many amendments we got a statement in April, but the support still didn't start until September!!!

Good luck, it was a REALLY tough year, but so worth the fight seeing that now she is progressing so wel in MS school with support!!! Be strong! x

The shortest time for the statementing process is 26 weeks:

LA receives request

6 weeks to decide if assessing (or not) (parent have right to appeal)

10 weeks making the assessment - decision - yes statement/no statement. (letter sent to parents with a notice of reasons or "note in lieu" of statement if no)- parents have right of appeal

2 weeks writing the draft statement that is sent to parents

8 weeks finalising the statement (parents have right to appeal)

time limits may be extended because of school holidays, reports not being written in time, children not attending appointments, parents requesting extra meetings.

best of luck

Like Dingle, we were refused and had sent our papers off for a tribunal, KCC actually rang and asked me what they could do to stop me going through with the tribunal, actually the man in question even left his home number with me so I could think about my reply and answer him asap. My case might of been slightly different though, my SEN playschool had assessed him with having no SEN, ( why the f was he going then) and so my MS playschool looked at the forms the SEN playschool had sent to them and altered their opinions to doesn't need any help too. Quite ironic as SEN P/S was staffed
1 child : 2 adults and I payed for 1:1 at playschool, so no one from Education had even seen DS, so my answer was for someone to actually see DS. Luckily (or not) DS decided that school so traumatised him that he didn't/wouldn't speek for the first 6 months at school therefore only went 4 mornings a week. It took from the January to the January, we recieved comformation of a 30 hours a week statement in the October and it started in the January. Hard work though.

Some people have been so negative in past over even trying for help - thankfully I have met more positive people since son's annnoying reception teacher (once when trying to discuss my son with her she kept wanting to show me her sore finger and moan about it to me - what the....!?) his yr 2 teacher is lovely thankfully and taught son in yr 1 so knows him well.
I will try and if i get nowhere i will keep trying but Doc who talked about diagnosis was surprised that son only on school action and having to use another child's t.a. in class.Thank you for break down of how it works - i like stuff written down!

please go to my link for PwP as even if you dont live in kent they have some fab leaflets and if you ring them they might know of their counterparts in your county.
Good luck x a billion

Will go through stuff on your link- thank you - looks handy!

Also going to Earlybird meeting this week so hopefully meet some nice parents there and get good advice!Separated from my husband this week so a lot to deal with at the moment - know it can only get better from now on!

Tuftyclub!!! Where abouts are you in Kent?

can recommend parent partnership to you. i am in leicester and have used a lovely PP lady since i started having trouble with DS. We are 6 months from me applying for a statement for DS at the minute. Was refused by LEA and won appeal 4 weeks ago. Have been told today that a deadline of 6 weeks has been set for gathering of information and that if statement is granted we should look at it starting in time for next school year ie Sept 08 which is almost 14 months after initial application.