Another statutory assesment thread (sorry)

[trunkybun]

Just a quickie!
How much detail should you put on your application letter? I have downloaded the letter from the IPSEA website, but really don't know how much information I need to put into it. Also would you send any supporting documents with it (ed psych, OT reports etc), or does the opportunity to send all of that stuff in come at a later date?
And are there key phrases you should use to ensure the LEA take you seriously?
Many Thanks

You can say that you believe your child 'probably' needs a statement to access the national curriculum. You can suggest that the school is trying their best but just does not have the resources (staff, training, experience, rooms, stimulation level, communication skills etc) to meet his needs. They are two quite powerful arguments.

If it helps, I wrote:

"
I am writing as the parent of the above child to request an assessment of her special educational needs under the 1996 Education Act.

DD1 currently attends XXXXXXXX. However, she is due to start school in September 2010.

I believe that DD1?s special educational needs are as follows:

1. DD1 has Global Developmental Delay a) Gross Motor delay and a degree of ataxia, causing trips, stumbles and falls (Blue Badge holder). b) Fine motor delay with weak hands. c) Speech and language delay/disorder with social communication disorder/difficulties. d) No sense of danger. e) Poor concentration and attention span.
2. A recent brain MRI scan has revealed that DD1 has subtle but extensive cortical dysplasia, with widespread abnormality.
3. DD1 has been diagnosed with Epilepsy.
4. DD1?s behaviour is challenging, and she runs away if not restrained when outdoors.

My reasons for believing that the school cannot on their own make the provision required to meet my child?s needs are:

DD1 currently attends preschool with 1:1 support. When preschool attempted to restrict 1:1 support to funded levels, the trial failed, and DD1 had a number of accidents and regressed in her ability to participate. This led to an application for enhanced funding and a swift return to full 1:1 support.

DD1 has no sense of danger & an obsession with water. Without significant additional support and supervision, she will be a danger to herself and disruptive to the progress of other pupils.

Without significant additional support, DD1 is unable to tackle every day activities. She does not understand instructions easily, and will need significant input to participate in class activities. She finds it very hard to learn by watching what others do and needs individual guidance.

Unless substantial and significant support is available to DD1 throughout the school day, including lunch breaks, I believe her placement at school will fail both in terms of safety and education.

I understand that you are required by law to reply to this request within six weeks and that if you refuse I will be able to appeal to the Special Educational Needs Tribunal. I look forward to hearing from you as to the next step."

I don't know if all of that was necessary, but our process was very smooth, with the Final Statement issued in week 20 (standard timescale is 26).

Having said that, nobody could look at DD1 for more than a minute and think she would be anywhere near approaching OK at a mainstream school without major support strategies. She is in fact going to special school in September.

No need to send extra supportive documents with your initial letter - you will get a reply asking for your input anyway.

The key is that you show significant support is needed for your child to access the curriculum, and without it either your child will be failed, or other children will be.

I would send the supporting evidence with the first letter, personally. I sent some reports with my first letter and then my LA asked for my input. But they sent the refusal before they'd received my additional views and further evidence! So they clearly didn't take any notice of that information.

I think it depends on how borderline your case is - lou's DD1 sounds like she would have got a statement regardless, but my DS doesn't appear to have difficulties at first glance and he's academically able.

I would also recommend sending the letter by recorded delivery (and always doing so when dealing with the LA).

I sent copies of reports and a supporting letter from the school with my initial letter requesting SA. I also included quite a lot of detail. My request ran to four pages. I listed what I believed were my son's special educational needs (and elaborated with examples; and backed up where possible with a quote from a professional). I then listed what the school were currently providing in terms of support for my son, and how this was inadequate / not enough / not the right type of specialist support.

I was told by the school SENCO that the IPSEA standard letter would not result in the LEA agreeing to SA in my borough. Some tight arse boroughs just do turn down a first request for SA as matter of course, and will only agree to assess once you appeal (in which case you would need to give more detailed reasons for requiring the SA, anyway). So, I just gave the details first in order to give us the best chance.

The LEA are currently doing an SA of my DS, btw, and I am now getting together evidence for the SENDIST tribunal, which I know will happen, because our LEA will definitely not agree to the sort of support I want for my son

p.s. also agree - send it recorded or hand deliver it. Photocopy it first (or back up computer copy to disc).

I'm not a cynic, or anything

Yes, agree with sending everything recorded. Also keeping copies of everything.

When you do give evidence, be absolutely explicit - do not assume they know anything about anything. Spell out the impact of your child's difficulties on a) him b)the teacher and c) other children. Make sure they 'get the picture'.