pre-school panel? First stage for statementing?

[thederkinsdame]

hi,

I've bieen told that we should wait for PSP meeting as statementing process will follow on from this... Is this right or not? I am a bit dubious as we do not have the most supportive paed in the world...

Also, any tips for letters of support for PSP team - what should we say?

HELP!!!!

Sorry when I say statementing, follows on, I mean that it is the first step in looking to get a statement IYSWIM

Absolutely wrong! You can apply yourself. We did, & just last week our LEA wrote to us agreeing to assess. Crucially, you get right of appeal, the school don't.

Go to IPSEA to get the model letter. Send it off ASAP. They then write to you & preschool, asking for your reasons. They have 6 weeks to make a decision and inform you.

Can you say a bit about your DC? Might help re: your letter for PSP

Thanks Lou! I asked for loads of posts taken down after DM-gate, so have been a bit cagey since then. Basically, DC has ASD (mild) but has been struggling at MS nursery with additional support (not 1:1 tho). Due to start school next Sept, and we are having to apply without any way of knowing what level of support we can expect (if any). I think we may get a statement, as there is a tendancy to lash out when stressed. Does that help at all?

Portage/nursery intervention team told us we should wait for the PSP meeting. This could be cos she knows we will get a EP and put forward, but I feel very confused by the whole process...!

Thederkinsdame

Apply for the Statement yourself now and ignore folk who say wait for PSP meeting. You will need to write to the Chief Education Officer of your LEA and give them six weeks to reply.

IPSEA have model letters you can use. Read their website and get as much independent advice as possible. Parent Partnership can work very closely with LEAs as a whole and are therefore not fully independent of them.

Yes, that helps.

What you have to remember is that once you send that letter, the LEA have a big clock set off "Tick tock, tick tock"

-6 weeks to decide whether they assess
-10 weeks to gather all info
-2 weeks to decide whether to issue statement
-2 weeks to inform parents
-8 weeks to issue final statement.

That's 6 months. Even if you write the letter tonight, and everything goes smoothly, you won't know what provision your DS will get until 22/04/2010. If you wait for the PSP meeting, that could be the end of May, June, July... too late, IMO, especially for a runner.

Re: letter. Be clear, be precise. What impact will no support have? Stress safety for your DS and other children.

Thanks for your advice. We just feel so confued by everything. PSP is in 3 weeks time, but we will be pushing for statementing.

If it would help, I'd be willing to let you see what I submitted to justify my request of an assessment?

I know that preschool wrote that DD had hit staff - it is important that they are as "real" as possible - no positive spin.

Thank, you Lou, I may take you up opn that. Are you on TTR, by any chance?

Sometimes, but can mail on lou031205 at googlemail dot com

Thanks for all your help, everyone. i think we are going to take a deep breath and start the process off. Lou - I will defo e-mail you!

I know what you mean, starlight. it's completely crap and as far as I can see everyone seems to be interlinked department wise, so you never really get impartial advice IYSWIM. Someone gave me a link to ipsea today, so i'm going to call them in the morning :-)

Will let you all know how we get on. Expect lots of wailing and gnashing of teeth over the next 6 months or so...!