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statement hrs

15 replies

Phoenix4725 · 18/01/2009 18:35

just wondering what kind hrs people are getting as i been warned were be lucky to get 12 hrs for my DSm, this is from the Ht nd the sencn tem t nursery we have 1-1 for 1hr nd 45mins of 2 1/2 session hes classed as band D, who starts mS in september he hs GD of about 18 month to 2 years , SLD totaly non verbal and receptive is about 18 months behind , also suffers with hypermobilty and poor muscl tone so eatings hard tends use fingers lot , caan not dress undress self , still in nappies hes not gressive in fct very passive ,he also struggling sociably with other children and imginative pl ,They dont think hes on the ASD but personly i think he welll might fall on it.

any idears what the minum i should be looking at

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daisy5678 · 18/01/2009 18:55

J started school with no dx of anything except tentative ADHD dx - had vvvvv challenging behaviour and was awarded 23 hours after initially being told he wouldn't qualify and then applying to Tribunal - LEA backed down. Was told I was lucky to get 23 - didn't feel very lucky, given that the nursery and I had said he needed 32 for health and safety reasons, but luckily the school upped it to 32 from their own budget (but didnt have to - was just lucky that they were co-operative).

J was then dx'd with ADHD and then subsequently with autism too and my repeated request that the Statement reflected the hours that he needed was finally accepted (after again applying to Tribunal and writing to MP).

He is now 7 and gets 33 hours of 1:1 in school and the school also get 5 hours of funded liaison time for all the liaison with outside agencies. Not that it will be used for that, but there we go.

IME, you have to push and push for the right amount of time. It seems to be harder if the child's behaviour is good BUT you ds has additional physical needs so I would push for full time if you think it is needed as you would have a good case, also with him being non-verbal.

The first stage is to refuse the proposed statement if you're still in the consultation stage. Ask for a meeting and set out why he needs full time. If they issue the final statement with too few hours, you can appeal to Tribunal. Your MP is also a good route - mine was excellent and always wrote to council with strong letter.

If you've already accepted the Statement and it has been finalised within the last few weeks, you can still appeal.

If it's past that, you may need to ask for a review and ask for amendments, but they don't have to agree and you may have to wait until the school ask for one or for more hours.

LEAs don't like Tribunals because they usually lose them so very rarely go that far if they're not likely to win them.

Ignore the 'lucky' comments - we got that. No, we are not f-ing lucky. We don't want our kids to have SN and these hours only go some way to make up for the fact that our children can't access school like other kids. If they say lucky, they mean lucky because the system's so broke that very few kids get what they need. But that's not your problem. Your ds needs the right amount of support for HIM and HIS needs, not in comparison to some other, unnamed, possibly underfunded children.

Be strong - good luck.

cktwo · 18/01/2009 20:24

Hi my DD sounds similar to your DS.

We were offered 10 hours support in the statement even though her SENCO recommended 12.5 (the maximum at pre-school). We asked for a meeting with the chap from the council. He kept saying 12.5 hours would be over-supporting DD (WTF?!) and his experts had recommended 10. Seeing as we knew the SENCO had recommended 12.5 we blew his arguement to shreads and walked out with 12.5.

I think it;s really imprtant to play hard-ball with these guys from the beginning because they're always going to look to cut hours as they have budgets to meet. If you stand your ground from the beginning they'll think twice in the future about cutting hours.

HecateQueenOfGhosts · 18/01/2009 20:28

Mine have full time 1:1 for the whole school day, most funded by lea, school puts in the rest. They both have autism, and ds1 also has erbs palsy.

We made no friends during statementing process but we don't care

TotalChaos · 18/01/2009 20:29

Not got experience of statements - but I agree with givemesleep and cktwo - go for what you feel he needs, not what they say you are likely to get.

preggydonuts · 18/01/2009 20:38

Took my lea to tribunal.
Have a 25 hour statement for my aspergers son.
It was a battle but worth it because it helps worth secondary school

Phoenix4725 · 19/01/2009 03:38

thanks everyone looks like i am going have battle on. time roll up sleaves.I am m not bothered about making friends lol sure going push few noses out of joint

cktwo,
we did not even have sencn or anyone on bord for playschol was done from a ep meeting , but sencan who deal with schools here etc re spinning me the oversupport line for anything more than 15 hrs at school.Though quite how there working that out no idea.Is your DD due to start school this year , they seem sso young hs only 4 in July then add in delay ,

hve you considered S@L unit i looked at one but since he has gd they wont take him

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notfromaroundhere · 19/01/2009 11:01

Hi, I'm not at the statementing point yet as DS1 won't start school to 2010 but I noticed you referred to sencan. Are you in Essex? If so I was given the details of Families in Focus (Essex) who may be worth contacting.

This is the website here

sarah293 · 19/01/2009 12:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

sadnog · 19/01/2009 12:51

Hi, My DD is in process of being Statemented, Is it normal practice to reject first offer? Am completely naive with all this, will the SenCo help me in determining how many hours she needs? DD is 8.5 but was assessed by Ed Pysch as abilities of 5.5, I know she is in need of plenty 1-1, but just how much?

sadnog · 19/01/2009 13:45

Sorry Phoenix, just realised I have completely hijacked your thread! Only joined MN few weeks ago, still not au fait with the correct procedures???

Clarissimo · 19/01/2009 13:53

Hmm

DS1 has 10m huors, we were grateful to get that tbh although we think he needs mroe

by the time we had ds3 statemented I knew the ways of the LEA (far more complex and ritual based than most religions LOL ) and automaticallly asked for it to e looked at agin: initial offer of 10 hours bumped to 16, which locally is max in MS schooling.

Clarissimo · 19/01/2009 13:54

well only read op but answetred sadnog also

Clarissimo Super SN, atcher service

cktwo · 19/01/2009 17:45

Phoenix - yes Dd1 does start school this year. We've decided to send her to special school and I think she'll fail dramatically in mainstream. After viewing the school it was clear DD1's communication will improve dramatically with constant use of signing and other portage type techniques.
It will also avoid the (possibly) yearly battle with the council over her stamented support.

Also, how anyone who is non-verbal, with poor muscle tone and limited play skills can be over-supported is unbelievable. I told the council that if DD1 was left alone she would sit against the wall and head-bang therefore needed the support.

Phoenix4725 · 19/01/2009 17:46

lol sadnog its np i often jump in on someone elses to.

he he got feeing my name could be cuss word at Lea very soon ,im going push for full 1-1 all week

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Phoenix4725 · 19/01/2009 17:49

notfromround here

yes i m in essex for my sins thanks for the link

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