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need some advice/support school/statutory assessment

12 replies

starfish71 · 06/02/2010 07:27

Hi I have posted a while back and have continued lurking on site but now I really need help on how to handle two big issues concerning my 2 DS's. My eldest DS 11 has dyspraxia and some social communication difficulties (under assessment for ASD). He is bright and has done well in primary despite lack of much support from school. School have finally given him use of laptop and done an IEP (which i feel is only being done now as he will be going to comp in september). But there you go I guess at least some extra help is in place. DS1 does not have a statement (never applied) have visited two secondary schools - one which is a bit out of town which was as far of Senco etc goes was very good (she knew what she was talking about!). The other local one was fab until I meet the Senco and he was living in the dark ages - honest - when I asked about DS1 using laptop in class and in exams he looked at me like I had 2 heads! So although it is going to be more tricky to travel to it has to be the school further out of town.
{blush} sorry this is very long. My main question with regards ds1 is do I apply for statutory assessment now to make sure everything goes smoothly or have i left it too late and should wait until he starts his new school?

Now with DS2 6 he is waiting for assessment for ASD and although happy at school does have more difficulties than ds1. I met with his teacher after school yesterday and I am so {angry}! The ed physch has started her assessment on ds1 but he is not a priority and i shouldn't expect things to be done and dusted by the end of this year. None of the strategies the outreach teacher reccommended have been put in place (she won't be back in until april). He told me that there is no 1 to 1 for ds2 and even with a statement i prob wouldn't get any 1 to 1 for him!! I asked him how did he feel ds2 would manage without any extra help NOW as he goes furthe up the school and he said - well the expectations for ds2 would not be too high!!!! AM SO CROSS! I feel as though this is the dark ages. I have told him I am applying for statutory assessment and said i hoped the school would support me. I have been holding it together for a couple of months (prob longer) but after the week its been- doctor appts for DS1, school visits etc I have had enough and feel like screaming.

Now i do agree his teacher is lovely with ds2 and he is making some progress but come on this attitude can't be right can it? How do I find out who to request my request to at the Education department?

Am really losing the plot - thank you if you have read this and any advice will be welcome xx

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 06/02/2010 08:53

I would apply for the statement now for both your children, and be prepared too for a battle to get them statemented (particularly your eldest).

Re the statement application you will need to write to the Chief Education Officer at your LEA (the council offices will tell you his/her name) and give them six weeks to reply. Mark that date on your calendar.

If you make the request yourself you know its been done then, also you have the right (unlike school) to appeal in the event the LEA say no.

It can take around six months to set up a statement; I would be making the requests asap rather than leaving it till later in the year.

www.ipsea.org.uk have model letters on there you can use re assessment in case you are wondering what to write initially.

Hope this helps and good luck!!

starfish71 · 06/02/2010 10:25

Thanks very much Attila - the school are going to love me aren't they! Am going to do both letters this weekend and send them off monday. I take it I should give a copy to the school of the letters I have sent in? It just hit home to me yesterday when talking to another mum at school - her son got diagnosed with dyspraxia after ds1 and he has got a statement she is claiming DLA and he will have transport to the school that I am sending ds1 to! God I have been stupid not sorting this out earlier.

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StarlightMcKenzie · 06/02/2010 15:05

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 06/02/2010 15:28

No starfish you do not have to give copies of the assessment letter to school. You also do not have to have their permission to do this besides which you're better off applying personally for the Stat Assessment anyway for the reasons I outlined earlier.

Get the letters in asap and be prepared for a dispute with the LEA in question.

starfish71 · 06/02/2010 16:22

Thank you starlight and Attila I have done the two letters and they will be in the post Monday morning. I feel really drained now but actually a little better as I know I have done something constructive if that makes sense.
Hope I will be able to get advice here if as you say they probably will dispute the need to assess.
Thanks again x

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StarlightMcKenzie · 06/02/2010 16:47

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starfish71 · 06/02/2010 17:05

Yes Starlight I know actually what you mean - I have done the self-pitying thing for a while and it hasn't done me any good. Am glad DS2 teacher was so rubbish yesterday really and when he implied that DS2 wouldn't have too much expectation put on him as he went through the school that was it for me - no one is going to write off my children. According to him only ONE child in the school gets any 1 to 1 support (for any hours) he must think I am really dull.
Sorry rant over x

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sugarcandymountain · 06/02/2010 19:09

Well done for getting the letters written starfish, if you have any reports to support you, you can send those in as well.

I'd recommend sending them recorded as well, just to make sure they don't get 'lost' in the post!

starfish71 · 06/02/2010 19:32

Thanks for the tip sugarcandy will do that! Have just done copies of the boys reports to go with the letters. looking forward to actually posting them now and getting the long process started.

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starfish71 · 08/02/2010 18:38

I have posted the requests for statutory assessments for both the boys! Had sent an e-mail to DS2's Ed Physch just informing her of what I was doing and had a reply saying that ds2's report and referral will be sent to CAMHS by the end of the week! She did confirm that school have not prioritised ds2. Well they have to do it now don't they? No idea what happens next but have got a meeting already booked to see senco on wednesday where I am sure she will tell me how useless it is to apply for ds1 and probably also for ds2.

But I have at least done this part and am now off to bed with a lemsip as my throat is killing me and leave DH with the boys for a while...

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StarlightMcKenzie · 09/02/2010 16:50

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starfish71 · 09/02/2010 18:24

Thank you Starlight - am finding the support and advice here very helpful and much appreciated. Will keep updating on progress xx

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