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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

Anyone gone through statutary assessment - advice needed please

57 replies

amynnixmum · 14/01/2005 15:48

LEA have finally agreed to give ds a statutory assessment and they have asked me if I want to write a report. I do want to and have read through the leaflets that they have sent me but I wondered if any one else had done this and had any advice. He doesn't have a diagnosis at the moment. I know the school think he has adhd or similar but tbh I'm not convinced. He's seeing the community paeditrician monday week so maybe we'll get some answers then (but I doubt it).

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JaysMum · 21/01/2005 20:39

Our parental evidence was like a bloody novel.....
but we both felt we had to have the oppurtunity to really explain about J's emotional and educational needs....afetrall we know him better than anyone else...and we know more about ASD than any of the health professional here....Paed's words NOT mine!!!!

amynixmum....J was dx with Speech and Language delay at 2..by 5 we were told he had emotional and behavioural diffculties associated with Dyspraxia...at 7 dx with ADHD and ? ASD...age 8 dx with Semantic-Pragmatic Disorder and now we are waiting for May 13th to come because we are having J assessed independently for Aspergers....he has been reassessed for ADHD and we have been told by 3 differnt professionals he does not have this....I could have told them that 2 years ago!!!!
J's behaviour was soooo bad at school...biting, physical assaults on other pupils, throwing chairs, massive meltdowns, running away from school etc etc

All this has stopped since we took him out of school...thank goodness. I am a strong believer that J was in the wrong learning environment...he was an alien in an classroom full of kids whom he didn't understand and they didn't understand him...hence the violent and irrational behaviour caused by his sheer frustration of being in a setting where his needs were not met...thankfully he has got a placement in a special school from Sept this year...so in the meantime I'm playing schools!!!

Original poster

amynnixmum · 21/01/2005 21:02

Jaysmum, It sounds like you've had a really tough time of it. Truth is that for me and dh all these problems at school have come as a complete shock. Ds has always been a lively and challenging child but we never considered that there might be an underlying condition. We just felt that he was a normal boisterous little boy. He was ok at playschool too - he could get a bit over the top but they dealt with it easily and were not overly concerned. He has had no developmental delays or anything like that. I knew he was going to have a few problems settling in at school because he is so young and boisterous but never in a million years did I imagine that things would be anything like as bad as they are. I know that the school think that he might have ADHD but I'm just not sure that's what the problem is. Reading some of the special needs threads I realise that we are really lucky that the LEA have agreed to assess him so quickly. Its all very confusing.

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Original poster

amynnixmum · 26/01/2005 12:56

Haven't posted for a few days as have been so upset about what is hapeening (or not happening) with ds. Having finally made the decision to ask for Ds to be moved to a specialist school we have been informed that the only EBD school in the area has now stopped taking reception and keystage 1. There is in fact no specialist provision for EBD for this age group anywhere in the borough and the only unit that does take them in the next borough is jam packed and has a waiting list. Apparently there are at least 4 other children in the borough of the same age and with similar needs that are in the same position. I can't believe that Ds is supposed to wait until he is 8 to get the help he needs. Saw paediatrician on monday and he says that ds does not fit any of the diagnostic criteria so he can't give a diagnosis and doesn't need to see him again. This is pretty much what i thought would happen but its fustrating as ds obviously is having problems and I can't seem to get him the help he needs. He is falling through the gaps in the system and there is nothing I can do about it . LEA told me I have 2 options. I can take him out of school and put him back in preschool until he is statutory school age but if I do that he will have to start back in sept in year 1 as they won't let him go into reception. My other option is to just change schools. Not happy about this as i feel ds needs to be in a specialist enviroment now as current school have messed things up so much for him. Don't have any choice though so will be traipsing rounds all the local schools for the next few weeks to try and find one that we feel at least a bit confident about. Sorry - I know this is a bit of a rant but I am SOOOO ANGRY and I can't seem to stop crying. My mum starts her chemo on friday as well and i'm really struggling to cope with it all today

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MeerkatsUnite · 26/01/2005 13:43

Amynnixsmum,

First of all (((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))).
Small wonder you are both upset and angry.

I am so sorry to read that you are getting all this crap thrown in your direction. My suggestion re your son having read your message is to phone IPSEA as soon as possible and ask them for their informed advice. Hopefully someone else will be able to help you in this regard as well, these ladies are top notch here.

I wish your Mum all the best with her chemo treatment on Friday.

Be kind to yourself.

Meerkats

ThomCat · 26/01/2005 13:45

oh amyandnixmum, so sorry babes. As meerkats suggest phone ipsea, start there at least. So sorry you're going through all this.

Hope everything is okay with your mum.

Thinking of you.
TC x

Dingle · 26/01/2005 14:21

Ohhh...thought reading this might help me clarify a few points, but I am even more confused than ever now!
I have been told that dd won't get a statement if I want her to attend a mainstream school. The SALT said last week that they do not have the resources and that they will not visit a child in mainstream after they reach Y1!!!
Where do I go, all this time I have been aiming for dd to attend mainstream and now I don't know what would be best. A mainstream setting with no help or a SN setting, I feel our goalposts are constantly being moved!
The whole system stinks!
Glad to hear that you are getting somewhere, as and when the time ever comes for us to get a statement, I will be back on here like a shot for all your advice!!

3mum · 26/01/2005 14:36

My 6 year old ds was expelled from 2 schools before his current (mainstream one)one. Like you we had not had any reported problems at nursery. He has a dx of ADHD and aspergers.

I would seriously consider moving your ds to another mainstream school because I think you have had a raw deal from your current school. My ds thrived once we got his statement through and he gets full time one to one help (but in class almost all the time). His school were very helpful in this process and whilst at one point I could only see home education as a likely place to end up I am now hopeful that he will be able to go through primary and at least part of secondary school.

I think you need a school with a more dynamic SENCO. If you want to CAT me I am happy to talk though with you in detail what we did and tell you what we put in our report.

FineFigureFio · 26/01/2005 14:36

Dingle thats crap, they HAVE to give her a statement in a mainstream setting.

I will ask the person i know down here who will help you locally to get a statement and i will ask my escort who has a son with DS as she is very knowledgable on these things.

I was going to ask you, they do a carers group in canterbury once a month and I wondered if you fancied coming along with me? let me know

FineFigureFio · 26/01/2005 14:38

oh and i was going to ask what is the SN setting like? Can you not get her in there with a view to her attending mainstream the majority of the time, or is it not very good?

Original poster

amynnixmum · 26/01/2005 14:43

Dingle, you can request that the LEA assess dd yourself if you want it done. Ring IPSEA (there is a link further down the thread). They were very helpful to me and I'm going to be ringing them again when I can talk about this without crying. Also contact your local parent partnership service. The women that runs the one in Poole is great and has really helped me stay sane these last few months.

Thanks everyone for the support. Am going to CAT you now 3mum thanks.

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Kittypickle · 26/01/2005 14:47

OH dear Amynnixmum, I'm so sorry, what a week I do understand where you're coming from that the school has caused so much damage that he needs to be out of the mainstream system for a bit, but if you are unable to get him out and he has to go to another mainstream school, I really have a gut feeling that he will settle, as long as it's the right school -It was very interesting reading 3mum's post. Have you made a list of where you're going to visit at all ? And can I help you wade through Ofsteds etc ? And finally, are you by any chance free on Monday morning to sit and have a good moan with me, Starry and Bunny2 about the whole school thing ? Take care and I'll speak to you very soon.

Dingle · 26/01/2005 14:48

Sorry, really don't mean to hijack! I will quote from Medways- Service guide to Early Years booklet! That I was given yesterday.
"Medway has delegated all the money that mainstream schools have available for meeting their special needs. This means that in most cases there is no need to start a Statement to provide support for a child that is going to attend their local mainstream school as the school already has the money. The main reason for starting a statement in Medway would be for a child who appeared to need a place in a special school or unit."
Fio, let me know what dates and times are and I'll see if I can make it!

Dingle · 26/01/2005 14:51

amynnixmum, thanks. I'll try to chase it all up. I'm feeling rather vulnerable at the moment too. My mum is also in hospital, had kidney biopsy yesterday after several attempt at dialysis.
It always seem to hit you when you are down!
Sending you hugs. Dingle.xx

Original poster

amynnixmum · 26/01/2005 14:57

KP thanks - got your email but felt too sad to relpy yesterday. Will try for monday - I'll call or email you later.
3mum - it won't let me cat you as it says you won't accept emails from mn.
{{{{hugs}}}} Dingle. It all comes at once doesn't it

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3mum · 26/01/2005 15:18

Whoops, sorry. Should be OK now, please try again.

Original poster

amynnixmum · 26/01/2005 15:51

Thanks 3mum

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starry · 26/01/2005 16:07

Sorry I don't have any real advice Amynnixmum but i really feel for you. It is all so stressful isn't it.
Hopefully will see you at pipkins and we can all hae a good moan and sob if need be! (I burst into tears at ds's school this week and felt a right moose!)

Original poster

amynnixmum · 26/01/2005 16:09

Hi Starry
Thanks {{{hugs}}} to you. Are we going to her house then?

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starry · 26/01/2005 16:10

I meant at Kittypickles house of course - she of so many alias'!!!

Original poster

amynnixmum · 26/01/2005 16:19

Yes I knew who you meant i just hadn't realised we would be meeting there. She emailed me but didn't say where you had arranged to go.

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MeerkatsUnite · 26/01/2005 17:10

Dingle,

Re your comment:-

"will quote from Medways- Service guide to Early Years booklet! That I was given yesterday.
"Medway has delegated all the money that mainstream schools have available for meeting their special needs. This means that in most cases there is no need to start a Statement to provide support for a child that is going to attend their local mainstream school as the school already has the money. The main reason for starting a statement in Medway would be for a child who appeared to need a place in a special school or unit."

I would seriously consider giving IPSEA a phone call about Medway's policy as I think they would be most interested to hear about this.

MeerkatsUnite · 26/01/2005 17:13

I would also add this:-

Devon County Council have given IPSEA an assurance that they will drop their plans to refuse statutory assessment of children unless their needs are "severe" and "lifelong".

Following a challenge from IPSEA that such criteria would be unlawful and would result in hundreds of Devon children not having their special educational needs met, the Council have agreed that assessment is necessary whenever it is probable that a child's special educational needs cannot be met by the provision available to their school - which is the current position in law and in the Code of Practice.

Davros · 26/01/2005 17:34

Sympathy to both of you Amynnixmum and Dingle. Not any new advice as there has been lots of good advice here already. I do agree that Medway's policy sounds illegal and that IPSEA would be interested. Luckily my LEA is not so blinkered as is (rather unusually) struggling to set up specialist provision for children with autism in centres based with m/s schools. Many of the m/s schools don't want them, don't have space etc and, of course, the money needed is hard to come by. But our Head EP has worked like a dog to get this going and I admire her even if I don't always agree with her!

heartinthecountry · 26/01/2005 21:10

Dingle - I am sure medway's policy is unlawful. Sounds totally like they are trying to dodge their responsibilities. The fact that they have 'allocated their funds' is irrelevant. I was at a talk on Friday and a leading barrister for SEN said that if a child has a statement the LEA must meet that Statement regardless of whether they have funding or not. So by not issuing statements they are trying to sidestep that. Not acceptable.

Your dd deserves the education that will be best for her. If you believe that should be mainstream with support then that is what she should get.

Bloody awful that you are having to go through all this. You too amynnixmum. When when when is this country going to sort out education for kids with SN? Grrrrr - makes my blood boil!

MeerkatsUnite · 27/01/2005 08:00

If you think your LEA is operating an unlawful policy with regard to assessments of children with special needs, please contact Brendan King, IPSEA's Campaigns and Complaints Officer on 01384 232225.

Dingle - if you do call him I would be most interested to hear their response.

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