I'm so angry! DS's place at the language unit is to be reviewed!!!

[mysonben]

Got a letter from SEN early years provision back in early october saying : your DS has been offered a place at ....language group.

Great i thought...
Then a further letter saying a meeting on 9th of november at the unit to discuss with SALTS DS' s admission in details.
I was told he could start basically straight way on the 11th, and that children were expected to attend the unit for a minimum of two terms.

In the meantime, things have moved a little forward re: DS's asd dx assessment with Camhs, meaning we are now refered to Camhs to start assessments in about 3 months (that's the preent waiting times), the unit is aware of this. They have seen paed's and EP 's reports.

They told me it wasn't a problem , that as long as DS didn't have a formal asd dx he could continue to come to the unit, and only yesterday they were telling me he was doing well and had settled in nicely.
We even joked with one of the SAlT saying "there's always some delays or waiting lists so DS would have probably finished at the unit before he gets any sort of dx..."

Anyway, today i get a letter from SEN provision telling me DS 's place was only an assessment placement! WTF!!! And that "his place is to be reviewed in 4 weeks and a decision will be made about whether B continues to requiere the special provision offered at the setting"

I'm fuming to say the least...and i suspect this is to do with the asd issue.
It is out of order , i have tried calling them to demand an explanation but no one answer the phone of course.

DS has been under Salt since he was 2 years old, and all they have ever offered is :

• one initial assessment when he was 2.

(we had to wait months for sessions to start)

• 6 sessions of salt when he was 2.8.

(more waiting for over 10 months)

• another lot of 6 sessions.

And that's it in 2 years! Due to DH ringing salt offices every week and complaining to salt back in july that it wasn't enough and that he wasn't getting the help he needs, they finally offered the place at the unit.
Now it looks like another deception as i can feel the place is be taken away.
What can i do??? Any advice appreciated.

i have no advice at all, but i can understand your anger!

Its appalling that they give it and within a couple of weeks want to take it away again, and your poor son! he has settled in nicely, but whats it going to do to him to have him shoved pillar to post?

i reallly do feel for you, what an awful predicament.

Hopefully someone with some useful advice will be along shortly.

Thanks Misscutandstick.
I'm and at the same time.
The SALT provision for DS has been so little that it never had a real impact on his language in 2 years.
The slow progress he has made so far, have been down to us and his MS nursery and DS' own will working together to try to help him communicate better.

Yet on one of the report SALT have sent to us and paed, they had the audacity to say "with salt input B is making positive progress,..."
Grrrr... they have done next to nothing for him in 2 years.
This place at the unit was the only good breakthrough that was hopefully going to have a big impact on his speech, and it could well be withdrawn so soon.

It is so unfair! DS has had a verbal 'mild asd' dx from paed, and his reports speak of 'autistic features' but he hasn't got a formal dx as of yet! So why would they want to take his place away....and even if he does get an asd dx in the end , why on earth shouldn't he benefit from the place at the unit. He is such a gentle boy, yes he tantrums and struggles socially but he is quite passive he hasn't got any 1:1 support at his MS nursery and he copes quite well, they all like him there. Why should he be outcast! He isn't a monster...
I was told 'the setting wouldn't be appropriate if he is dx with asd!'....

Sorry for rant...i'm just so upset.

I think with regards to your sixth paragraph re ASD issue I think you are correct. I would certainly be asking them why you were not originally advised that your son's place at the language unit was an assessment placement only.

I'd be running this past IPSEA or SOS:SEN and get their counsel on this matter. At the very least you need independent advice from some such organisation.

I would also now be applying for a Statement from your LEA if you have not already done so. Having no statement in place to my mind will continue to leave such provision vulnerable.

(by the way here in this part of Essex a Statement is a mandatory requirement for admittance into a Language unit).

Thanks Attila, i will try to get in touch with IPSEA or SOS:SEN.

About the statement issue, i'm so weary...
EP says DS will manage fine on Action+ and she will not back up statementing procedures for DS, she added that "statements are only for a small minority of children with severe needs very different to DS's needs" his teacher will not answer if yes or no in her own opinion based on how DS manages at MS nursery she thinks if he will need a statement at school (not at liberty to say apparently !!).
I don't know who to trust , who to believe tbh.
And of course DS isn't formally dx with anything as of yet.
So i have no backup from anything, i was hoping that the eventual dx he will get will help with the statement issue.

Feeling angry for you too, when you get something that is working and they try to take it away.
did it say in writing he will attend for 2 terms? It may be that because he is making progress the place will become permanent but as you will not see Camhs for about 3 months he will stll not be dx.
I have done a bit of reading up on SLI (not much) and in severe cases it can come with autistic traits and if i remember correctly your salt said the same thing.
This is why i dont want ds1 dx with asd as he will not get the help he needs because of the label.
Like attila said i would seek advice on this and let them know that in 4 weeks he still will not be dx'd and they will have a fight on their hands.
I would also start assessment process, swallow what you really think and agree with every comment they make about salt helping so hopefully the will get in their thick heads that is the help your ds needs.

Hi,

They are relying on you being weary not to fight!.

EP is talking bollocks!!. School Action plus is not legally binding (unlike a statement) and can only offer a limited range of support. Have a look at IPSEA's website for more information.

EPs are employed by the LEA and are under pressure not to issue statements. Her other comment that statement are only for a small minority of children..... is utter bullshit designed to put people off from applying. I don't know how such people sleep at night honestly.

It all goes to prove that you are your child's best - AND ONLY advocate.

In your shoes I would be applying for the Statement for your son now. Again IPSEA os good for this and will have lots of information on applying. You do not need a formal dx to apply for such a document. His time in Reception and school generally may be better for having such a document in place in advance of his arrival there. I am a bit further on from you in the school system but I do feel very strongly about that. Early intervention is vitally important.

agree with attila, speak to one of the advisory lines about this, although language units seem to tend to cherry pick kids, i think they are on dodgy ground applying a blanket policy such as no kids with ASD dx. I would also take your teachers refusal to comment as a hint as well - as she probably would feel happy to say a definite no to statement being needed iyswim

Sounds familiar

DS3wasleft tofester in MS becuase Paedwanted LU and LU said no,possible asd

Fuming on your behlaf MSB

Thanks ladies for advice.

I have just spoke to SEN provision office, they have confirmed it! It is because DS is now refered to Camhs for asd dx sessment.
So i argued the points : he is ONLY refered for assesments. He isn't dx yet! And he may not get an asd dx after all. So why does his place has to be reviewed already?
I was told "it's policy! And it is the language unit who contacted the SEN provision regarding the asd assement issue! "

Argggh! Only yesterday the salt at the unit was assuring me , the fact that Camhs is to be involved didn't matter, as long as the eventual dx wasn't asd he could stay.

So i did get through to SOS:SEN who were very surprised to hear that DS' place was in jeopardy since he hasn't got a dx yet, and they have taken my details and will contact me again in a few days with info and advice.

What a palaver1 It just isn'nt right, is it.
In the space of 24 h, we went from DS is doing so well at the unit, no trouble at all! ...to he may be autistic after all so he may not suit the unit !

Oh MSB I am FUMING! I can't believe it I really can't. It is no wonder parents feel so abandoned and let down by the system.

Feel like I want to come over and deck them for you....what day is best for you

Anytime you like! I'm ready..

It's not right is it!

OK, you are on. We can roll up our sleeves, put on our arsey mummy faces and kick butt....

No it is soooo not right. I just don't know what to suggest that everyone else hasn't said. Don't give up because as Attila says thats what they want.

Sigh....your comment to me the other day was so spot on - ignorance was bliss

Sodit, yes i read your thread about the language place for your DS versus the asd dx.

It just isn't right, they would be content to doing nothing about the language issues if our DSs are asd then!?

It's total b*ks really. I know that even if my DS is found to be asd in the end, he could benefit greatly from salt at the unit.
He has proved it by settling in well ....(as they told me yesterday singing his praises!)

It is simply senseless.

Sodit, yes i've got a standard letter (i mean it's not written specifically for DS) but it says in black and white that children are there for a "minimum of two terms".

Plus they have twisted things about the nature of the place.
First letter before he started was; "he has been offered a place"
Letter today: " he has been offered an asessment placement"
That's two different things imo! And an assessment placement is not what he was originally offered iyswim?

RE; the sli , yes his usual salt (the one he has had since age 2 says in her last report DS has moderate/severe sli.
And she told us at the very last session at end of july that DS has receptive/expressive problems, and that some children children with sli often present with asd traits and that caution should be applied re: asd dx.

Mysonben
sorry to hear about this latest development.

I'm a vetran of fights with my local SEN Dept so can only advise that no matter how many phone cals you and your DH make to the SEN Dept always write a letter with your well-formed arguments. They must respond to a letter - they can ignore/deny phone calls. It will also give you a written account of your complaint.

Then I would initiate a formal complaint against the SEN Dept for misinformation stating all the reasons you mentioned in your OP, and copy it to your Local Councillor.

Thanks for advice Wetaugust, i will do that.
And i'll make sure the letter is sent recorded at that.
Will have a 'chat' with salt at language unit too, on monday when i drop DS off.

The whole affair is very two-faced ....they tell me one thing and go behind our back to inform the SEN office themselves....who in turn jump on the wagon so fast to try to take the place away or so it seems to me!

I'm hoping the SOS:SEN people get back to me quick.

Cheers anyway.

what f*ing s**ts , makes your blood boil that ridiculous. can't believe, they would do this after you have been so open and honest and for them then turn it against you. i'm sure if the system did not waist so much time trying to deny the parents help for there children which we will fight for they could do so much more.

good writing..

Is this some kind of sick joke?

After all you've been through, I could weep for you.

Is he in the right place just now? Is this where he needs to stay? If so, battle stations....could your MP help?

also - consider getting legal advice about this - it will need to be someone very specialised.

I wish it was in my field because I would so take this on for free.

The only thing I can "see" is that you must not accept this "assessment" place notion. Your case is that he was offered, and has accepted, a place. Look up the criteria on which they could withdraw such a place. Do not play on their turf - the letter saying it is an "assessment" place is a unilateral statement that you haven't agreed to.

If this is really the right unit for him and if it's necessary, withdraw from the DX process.

See if you can talk to a teacher off the record. You cannot be the first person there this has happened to.

bollocks this is all so insane.....

How are you feeling today MSB? Any news?

Hi

Things have moved forward positively a little,
phoned the language unit this morning, spoke to teacher who said "absolutely, DS 's place was not an assessmenr placement' and she couldn't understand why it had been changed, further to my concern about the review and the 'asd assessment issue that seem to be a problem, she said she would speak to salt.
(i phoned them up during my break at work...)

So Salt phoned a while later and spoke to DH, it seems the lady who sent the letter is 'new' at the sen office, and some misunderstandings have happened...
Salt said atm they are happy with DS' behaviour in the setting, and he is doing well, so his place is safe ....as long as there is no formal asd dx.
However if and when he gets a dx, should it be asd then his place will have to be reviewed at that time.

As long as they are telling us the truth, hey!
Feeling a bit more relieved, salt said she was sorry for the upset this had caused, and she will speak to me again on monday when i drop DS off.

Linglette, thanks for advice.
Yes if DS' speech starts to flourish and the camhs team wants to see him "too soon" (sounds unreal after all the waiting we have done to get there!), then we will withdraw from dx process indeed.
As it stands we have been told by consultant paed that they have waiting lists of about 3 months and that the whole dx process takes about 6-8 weeks.
So at the earliest DS wil get a dx mid april, probably a bit later as things always take longer than expected.
So by thaen he 'll be near the end of his placement at the unit.
And in any case, it isn't definate that he will receive an asd dx as 'his case' isn't clear-cut.

glad things are looking up

Make a full written record now of those conversations. Then confirm it in writing - but do it in a non-confrontational way so that they let it stay on the file without feeling a need to come back and contradict you. In this way it will become a neutral piece of information you can refer back to.

I am glad there is an element of mere cockup here (we hope)

Linglette, do you mean i should write a little piece on what has happened and what we have been told , well the whole affair, and send it to all concerned ie: the language unit and the sen office ?
I suppose it would be wise as words are only words and we can always refer back to a letter.

Usually i am very at believing people when they say there's been a misunderstanding iyswim.

But for this one time , i would tend to believe it as the first letter we got dated 13th of october clearly states '...pleased to inform you that a place is available for B...'(DS started officialy at the unit on the 11th after a visit there on the 9th to finalise admission details)
And the second letter dated 16th of november states '...pleased to inform you that it has been agreed that Bshould be offered an assesment placement and a start date of 11th of november has been agreed...' and then it goes on about it been subject to a review.

I just couldn't get it, why the second letter sounded as if they had never sent me the first one as if i hadn't been already informed before that he had been accepted there( language unit even rang me back in october to say he had been offered a place), plus the dates were a mystery? why send a letter to inform us that he had an assesment placement dated 5 days passed his original start date.
Made no sense.