any advice on requesting statutory assessment

[Saker]

We have got to the first bit of the process - having requested statutory assessment from the LEA. We have 29 days in which to send them all the stuff (which they have mostly) but also to give our views. Any advice on how much and what sort of thing I should write / not write here to give us the best chance of at least getting an assessment in the first place?

Hi saker - I sent in about a 3 page letter which clearly set out what I believed dd's special educational needs were rather than going in to what she now could or couldn't do as I felt this was covered by the other reports.

I would be happy to send you copies of the stuff I sent if you feel that would help at all - just CAT me. Some of it may not be relevant though.

I read it, it was very good so say yes!

Yes!

Seriously, that would be great, thanks ever so much. I take your point that there are already about 100 reports and the main reason that they will refuse is on the basis that the school can already provide for the needs rather than that they are disputing the needs. I will CAT you later if possible. Ed Pysch coming to see Ds2 in a moment.... and write another report.

No problem.

How did it go with the ed psych?

Quite well thanks. He has already been to see Ds2 in the preschool where he described him as "egocentric" and not interacting at all with other children. Apparently he had also ignored the ed pysch most of the time when he was there. However at home the EP saw Ds2 interact a good deal with me and his brother and also respond and talk to the ed pysch. He said we had done well to stave off a diagnosis of ASD (which is hovering over us from the clinical pysch) because he didn't think it was at all appropriate. I appreciated him coming to see us at home because I think Ds2 is different in that environment, partly because we are used to his bad articulation so we can understand what he is saying. I think he gives up talking away from home sometimes because no-one understands. The ed pysch is very supportive of our application for Ds2 to get a place in the Infant Assessment Unit and is going to phone up to find out how that is going. It's possible we won't need the statement if that gets decided.

Sorry gone on a bit, you really wanted to know all that .

I have CATed you, thanks again for your help.