Is it always so painfully slow to get a school to provide help for SN child?

[alison222]

And is there any way of speeding it up except for endless harrassing them?

That's it really.

DS has Aspergers. - recently diagnosed. No statement. SA plus - targets completely inappropriate. SN school has outreach worker who has one morning a week for Mainstream schools. He has visited but who knows when we will get his report.
OT finished assesment at school today and will recommend he needs TA support in class.
Meanwhile more and more incidents occur at palytimes outside I had another call from the head today.

When will they learn that no amount of getting people in to look at him will change the blatently obvoius fact they need to provide support at this time.

Sorry I'm ranting but it is very frustrating. Is it always like this??

i know i totaly understand but you have to be patient try getting in touch with your local senco if there is a ta already at your childs school they be able to form a small group as he been statmented?

SENCO just wants to wait for all these reports to be compiled. MEANWHILE things get steadily worse in the playground while they dither.

can't they keep nim in until the end that he might keep out of trouble or maybe one of the dinnerladies might be able to keep an eye on hhim or maybe you could collect him at dinnertime i know senco take forever have you had a word with his case worker hope this helps

they make all the right noises but just dot actually DO anything at school.

For instance last July I was told they ran social skills classes one lunchtime. I have chased and chased on this one to be told the week before half term that they haven't yet employed a TA to do it.

His class teacher looks out for him when she is on duty - about once a week but the other teachers and TA's on playgrond duty don't seem to get it and they don't give the dinner ladies any special training do they??

no but you could offer even if it just 1 day a week at least you know what he is up to or maybe they could get helpin the teacher in the class does he have any friends?hgrin

Sadly I work 42 hours a week and can't much as I'd love to.
Yes he has friends who seem remarkably tolerant of him not knowing when to stop and hurting them - but he needs to learn and it will get to the stage where they have had enough of it - or thier parents will - he is only 6

do you have another member of the family that could watch over him at dinnertimes i know you must so worried but the school do know they have a job to do and they have to do it if that means keepin him in at dinner time so that he dosen't harm anyone or himself then they should do it

in my experiance it does take forever which is SO frustrating. My story is similar. My DS doesnt have a diagnosis but we are waiting for CAHMS to get him assessed. Pead reckons aspergers. Applied in May for statement and had to go to appeal. Won that and we start assessment 13th november. All this time my DS is really struggling at school. New school is great and head is very pro active but even she is frutrated that despite her yelling and screaming and pleading with LEA and other organisations she cannot get the help and support she needs. All the time my DS is struggling and slipping behind and the school are at breaking point and walking on egg shells with DS as they dont want to make him worse by not dealing with him in the right way!!!

Can you arrange for a meeting at your sons school and tell them that you are frustrated that DS is still lacking support and maybe ask when they feel they will be looking at asking for a statement. Dont forget that you can also apply for a statemnt and this may show the school you are not happy with what they are doing.

Alison 222,

You need to apply for the statement NOW because if school do it and the LEA refuse their request for assessment (which is likely) they cannot appeal. You as his parents have far more power than they do in this situation.

Also if you apply for this document you know its been done then.

There is nothing to stop you writing to the LEA asking for your DS to be assessed (you certainly do not need to wait for a load of reports to be compiled to make the initial request). You need to write to the Chief Education Officer of your LEA (his/her name can be obtained from the local council offices) and give them six weeks to reply. Mark that date on your calendar.

Senco at his school seems hopeless frankly.

If you want DS to have support at lunchtime then you're going to have to fight for that provision as well. It is rare for any extra support to be given at lunchtime if there is no statement (and even if there is such a document in place).

IPSEA are very good at the whole statementing process, would suggest you look at their website. There are model letters too on there you can use.

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

www.ipsea.org.uk