Evidence for SA

[PouffeGalore]

Ds been on SA+ for almost 4 years now. Awful time at Infants has resulted in him needing to have counselling for the 'trauma' suffered there ( CAF recently completed to access this help). At Juniors things improved briefly in Yr4 but now gone downhill again -anger issues,literal interpretation causing difficulties with teachers etc. Attended Social Comm clinic hoping to get diagnosis but despite background history pointing to AS no dx made as he does not present as expected and now needs to go in queue for Ados test,sensory testing. Have to make secondary school choices in Oct so am thinking of requesting SA now. Senco & Paed however state that not worth doing now as there is not enough evidence. Is this correct? Should I wait for months or try now as I thought that if SA was agreed then these tests would be undertaken as part of that. Am I just being too optimistic? Would school 'trauma' help our case at all?

'Senco & Paed however state that not worth doing now as there is not enough evidence. Is this correct?'

Nope. Education Act 1996, Section 323 and 324 says something like lack of information is not a good enough reason to deny SA.

In fact, IMO it is a rather good reason to go ahead.

'Should I wait for months or try now as I thought that if SA was agreed then these tests would be undertaken as part of that.'

Yes, exactly. I would get a move on if I were you. There are strategic reasons at this stage why the LA will most likely refuse your application so you need enough time to be able to appeal.

Am I just being too optimistic? Would school 'trauma' help our case at all?

Yes, but get yourself a copy of the Code of Practice if you haven't got one already and when YOU write off your request try to use the wording in Chapter 5, Paragraph 42.

Use the model letters found on the IPSEA website.

hth

Thanks SMacK - that is helpful. Think I will request SA after hol's now. Don't want to fall out with Senco though as she has been v helpful so far.

If you will be making secondary school choices in Oct, I'd start making appointments to look at secondary choices now. Sounds like your DS has had a terrible time at school already and things are often much more difficult at secondary level for children with sensory difficulties - noise, crowded environments etc. It will take time because often you'll want to visit some schools a few times, make appts with SENCOs to see how supportive/experienced schools will be. You may want to look at special schools as well as mainstream, even if you're not sure he'll get a statement or if he's severe enough for special school.

I'm advising this because I requested a proposed statement at about the same time when DS was in Yr 5 and had to cram in a lot of school visits at the start of Yr 6. Most people already with statements will have already thought about secondary placement by the end of Yr 5. At the time I requested SA, I wouldn't have considered DS would need special school, but the severity of his needs came out during the SA.