Statement proposal arrived today, could do with some advice please!

[cazcaz]

Hi, my ds2(4) has recieved his proposed statement today and for the most part I think I'm happy with it. He has been given 32.5hrs and most of what is written is accurate.

I remember being told by the Ed Psych (sadly not my best friend!) that even if we got SALT in the statement they weren't obliged to provide it. When I queried this with our SENCo she told me that they were obliged but it had to be in the correct part of the statement. My question is which part does it have be in to be met? As ds2's immediate difficulties are hearing and speech related it would be rather ridiculous for it not to be provided.

On another note, if you feel that some of the wording about your dc is not entirely accurate do you query it? For instance they have written that he has oral dyspraxia when I have been told by SALT, comm paed, cleft palate cons that it is not oral dyspraxia. Is that such a minor thing that its best left?

Sorry for waffle I just don't want to get it wrong! Also I'm quite surprised at how upset I am seeing all of his problems in black and white, how odd! It's not as if I don't know what his problems are I live with them everyday!

I would query any wording you are not happy with. Its important that its as accurate as possible. Its part 3 of the statement that is most important so you want the SALT provision put in there.

Its always hard seeing your child's problems in black and white. On a daily basis you tend to tey and focus on the positives but when it comes to statements, DLA forms etc you have to look at all the things they have difficulty with

Thanks dustystar, I will query the wording in a couple of places and the SALT provision is in part 3, so thats good!

Your right it is the seeing it all in black and white that it is upsetting, but I have given myself a good talking to about not focusing on the negatives and am feeling a bit better.

SALT MUST be in Part 3 although they may try to fob you off. (I'm a salt myself)
Look at IPSEA website.
A ruling in 1989 (called the Lancashire judgement) stated that 'We do not see how to teach a child to communicate by speech can be any different to teaching him to communicate by writing: both are clearly educationa'

Get a copy of Code of Practice (easy to read, Ed. dept. can send you a copy). This will help.

If you are not happy,send it back and keep changing it until you are.It's important to get it right.I was with someone this morning who did nine draughts.

Any provision laid out in part 3 must be really clearly worded too so that there is no room for different interpretations of what is written.

It's good that the SALT provision is in Part 3. Is is quantified, i.e. does he have a specific number of hours per week/month?

If it isn't, you can quote the following case law:
A High Court judge ruled in L vs Clarke and Somerset CC (1997) that:
?A requirement that the help to be given should be specified in the statement in terms of hours per week was not an absolute and universal precondition of the legality of a statement? however?in very many cases it will not be possible to fulfil the requirement to specify the special educational provision considered appropriate to meet the child?s needs, including specification of staffing arrangements and curriculum, unless hours per week are set out.?

Okay,
It says that he should receive input from a SALT weekly for four to eight weeks each term during term time. Each session lasting thirty minutes depending on levels of concentration and motivation. The sessions should be delivered as a combination of school and clinic based.

'Ds2 should also have three half hour sessions with a named adult each week to work directly on his programme. This programme should be updated termly by the therapist and teacher.'

It also says in part 3 that he will require some access to one to one and small group teaching activities throughout the day, but later in part 3 it states lsa staffing of 32.5 hours a week should be provided for him. The other thing I'm concerned about is that although it is written that the named teacher/lsa ahould be makaton trained I cannot see about being trained to deliver the speech therapy he needs.

Oh God I'm so bloody confused! I originally thought it all sounded okay but I'm not so sure now. Thankyou for your replies, it's great to have experts at my fingertips!

yep parts 2 and 3- preferably quantified.

We did have it in part 3 when ds1 was in ms (haven't bothered now he's in special) and when his SALT went on maternity the LEA did eventually pay for a private SALT to go in. We had to threaten hassle for that and find the SALT.