Proposed statement - has anyone been happy with it and not rejected it?

[sadnog]

Hi, I'm currently awaiting my DDs proposed statement (deadline 5th July). Having read alot of the threads on SN regarding these, it seems that almost everyone is unhappy with it and there are plenty of horror stories regarding tribunals etc! Being new and very naive regarding Statements etc, I have to say I am extremely nervous and worried about receiving DDs proposed statement. Has anyone got any success stories to tell that might ease my anxiety a little?!! Should say that I am also hoping for SN school placement for DD, is that a precedent for a rough ride?

Best of luck. We have been fairly lucky re: statments and have managed to get DS into SN school of our choice twice (we moved so had to do it again).

Had a problem with the review once as the person writing it did not clearly understand his condition and although his problems were listed the support he needed wasn't. Fortunately we managed to clear it up before tribunal (but they do send you lots of letters to freak you out).

No point worrying till you know what it says and if you aren't happy let them know asap. Remember you know your dc best

Ours was OKI think the problem is that statements are drafted by staff without much proper training, so they aren't good at deciding which reports to ask forI'd listed all DD's hospitals and therapists and they requested reports from absolutely everyone, even though there were more than 20 and some she clarly hadn't seen for ages. Then they managed to obtain an OT report, but ignore it, and therefore the statement didn't say anything about the help she needed with fine motor skills.
When I pointed out the error, they were fine, and changed the level of support she was being offered without any problem at all.

I received the proposed statement which I made loads of changes to. I went to a meeting today expecting a fight for an SN school but it was agreed and so were many of my changes. Infact it has been suspiciously easy when my LA are b***ds usually, so Im sure I've overlooked some sort of get out clause.

Thanks everyone. Sorry if I sound a bit stupid here, but being a virgin in the world of statementing, how do you know whether you should make any changes or not to the proposed statement? Should I ring Parent Partnership and ask them to go through it with me?

You can ring parent patnership but they arent completely neutral.Instead ring sos:sen or Ipsea and there are a couple of others you can call.

You need to make sure that it:

1. describes your dds problems fully and acurately.
2. meets all the needs specified.
3. isnt vague or ambiguous- everything specific and quantified.

4.Any therapy is listed and quantified and in part 3 of statement if appropriate.

1. offers enough hours of appropriate support.

I had a couple of niggles with DD2s but when they clarified them I was happier. For example they didn't specify exactly how much SALT she was to receive, but when I spoke to them they expained that as SALT is health and not education they can't dictate the hours in a statement (this may well vary between LEAs but that's what ours state). So it's up to me and the school to push for it, which we have done.

Her statement didn't allow for lunchtime assistance (crucial for DD2) but they said that the statement provides for LEARNING support and lunchtime cover doesn't have to be provided as an education provision. But they agreed to add 5 hours per week of non-educational support at lunchtimes.

All in all I was fairly happy with it once it had been explained.

just that you lot have got that far, i was refused an assessment to start, even tho it states on refusal letter "...it is apparent that DS5 has severe and complex needs..."

good luck with it tho! hope it comes back better than you expect.

sidge if your in the uk it has been prooven that speechis education do not let them fob you of .we have Salt in parts 2 and 3

sadnog

We agreed with DS's Statement but only after we had previously met with the LEA staff themselves.

Some PPs are not fully independent of the LEA and can tow the party line with regards to them. The PP I know of works out of the same building!. Not ideal at all.

I would talk instead to someone fully independent of any LEA like IPSEA, ACE or SOS;SEN. Their advice would be more impartial.

Now several years on I am awaiting the content of DS's revised statement after his transitional review. This won't be received until October at the earliest.

If I don't agree with Parts 2 and 3 it will certainly go straight back to them no question.

Sidge, there is a legal ruling that SALT is an educational need and not a health one. It is mentioned in the SEN code of practice how communication is fundamental to learning. LEAS trot this out as an excuse and my daughter's old HT did too. I think there is info on the IPSEA website. The legal ruling is called the Lancashire judgement.

Thanks Phoenix and vjg - we do have SALT specified, just not how much and how often (I can't remember what the statement says but it's something fluffy like "regular".) They did say that is is part of her educational provision, but is provided by Health. Luckily her school has a Language Unit and are very dynamic so have supported us in pushing for more frequent SALT - it seems our local authority SALT provision consists of 2 people who only work when there is a Z in the month...

Thanks to you all for your advice. I am told I should receive proposed statement by 6th July so I will be back to post then and let you all know how it goes.

Hi all, My dd is changing school in September, so her statement is being redone and updated. Her statementing officer is coming out to my house next Thursday to go through my concerns with me - I was really shocked about this, but quite impressed she was taking the time.

Our concerns were the old questnuts like the statement not quantifying stuff, and bits being written in the wrong part (3 not 5, or the other way round, sorry, I,v not got it in front of me)

Good luck

I've

Hey sadnog. I feel for you... I remember the frustration involved in getting the damn statement... and getting it in time. My son went through the statementing process last year, and we had all kinds of problems getting the process started, and then it looked like it would be too late to influence which primary school he got a place in, but in the end, after loads of phone calls and going round to see the preson writing it, and then talking it through with DS's SN teacher at nursery, I was happy with it, and he got the place at the right school, and all's well. And then this year, his teacher asked for a review, and his support level was increased. Brilliant! Really, I had thought it was all about saving money and the chance of an increase in support would be non existant, but I was proved totally wrong. I hope it gives you some hope! we live in Hackney.. I hope your borough is as good to you x

Hi everyone, received DDs proposed statement on Saturday morning. Have spent all weekend reading through it and all the reports attached, very upsetting to see in writing how severe her learning difficulties are. It does seem to indicate however that specialist provision is required, so I have decided to go ahead and request a place at special school for her. I notice alot of you mention quantifying the help they need. Statement says 20 hours per week of teaching assistant support (if in mainstream school) but this is the only quantifying statement. There is no mention of allocation of SALT, but in part 2 it says "DDs receptive language skills are delayed by approx 3 years". It does however say under "Appropriate facilities and equipment" - "Those available within a special school", does this mean she will automatically get SALT provision if she is in special school?
Am on my own, so have no-one to discuss with at home and am finding it all very confusing.