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Any tips for TAC meetings?

13 replies

mel1981 · 02/07/2010 22:36

not sure if everyone has these? im sure I remember SEN co ordinator saying that not all areas do it yet...but maybe youve had something similar? (meeting where you and all hopefully professionals involved get to discuss your DC)

Anyone have any tips or advice?
My DS4s 1st one is in a coupple of weeks and feel like I should be prepared/have a long list of questions but my minds gone blank except a handful of basic questions.

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2shoes · 02/07/2010 22:36

what does it stand for?

mel1981 · 02/07/2010 22:47

Team about child...if that helps

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2shoes · 02/07/2010 22:50

thanks
I have only ever had the multi disciplinary review

cornsilk5793 · 02/07/2010 22:51

Is it the same as a CAF?

SmellyBill · 02/07/2010 22:53

We've had 2 TAC's and have another one on Monday. It really is about discussing what you want to, so our last one was about statementing and school transition as DS1 starts school in Sept. The idea was then for each of the professionals involve to agree to doing certain things (e.g. Specialist Teacher to make appt with school to sort out transition sessions, the preschool to get school kit to try and get DS1 to try some on etc).

mel1981 · 03/07/2010 00:05

sorry im new to all of this whats a CAF & multi disciplinary review?
Thanks smellybill- as I said its all quite new we have no real diagnosis yet so im guessing its going to be more everyone saying their piece on ds and how he is atm & how to possibly help in the future.

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roundthebend4 · 03/07/2010 07:30

hmm make sure you get ev eryone to sign say whose there nad then draw up some very quick buller points whow is going to do what and get people to sign there and then

tribunalgoer · 03/07/2010 08:53

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ReasonableDoubt · 03/07/2010 10:53

Write the minutes. Take someone with you to write them if you can't write/speak/listen at the same time. Listen very carefullt oa ll that is said. Don't do too much talking.

Bear in mind the following:

TAC are supposed to be a chance for all professionals involved in a child's life to get together, be across developments in that child's life, and make concrete plans to meet the needs of that child. Note the 'concrete plans' bit. It isn't a big chitchat free-for-all. Every professional should end the meeting with something to do - some action to take that will improve your child's lot. Have a look at this to get a better idea of what TACs are supposed to be.

TACs are also usually a chance for the parent/school to assign a lead professional to co-ordinate all support for the child. In theory, this should mean that one professional takes responsibility for chasing up the others to make sure they do what they need to do. In practice, this doesn't work very well in my experience. Unless the parent has some reason that they cannot co-ordinate support (ie. mental or ill health, poor literacy etc that mean that they cannot chase up appointments, make sure people are sticking to doing what they are supposed to do), the parent is always a child's best advocate. I insisted that I was assigned 'co-ordinator' . You can do the same if you wish.

TACS usually go hand in hand with CAFs. A CAF is a great big long document which outlines all the needs and issues of your child, which professionals are involved, what their role is etc. In theory, this is supposed to ensure that all your child's info is available to all professionals (usually on a computerised system), that you don't have to constantly retell his/her 'story' to new professionals that may come on board, and that professionals involved in supporting your child are kept abreast of developments in his life. They are extremely helpful in a small minority of cases. In many cases, they are used instead of a more time consuming and costly statement (in my experience). If a CAF is proposed, get the proposal and reasons for suggesting a CAF in writing. Then you can consider whether you think it is a useful step or just a time wasting exercise to appease you and make you hold off going for a statement.

Finally, remember to use it to your advantage. Make a list of all of your issues and questions and ask them. You've got everyone around a table, so use the opportunity. I used our first TAC to get CAMHS to say what they thought the school were doing wrong. They would never have done it in writing or an official report, but I teased it out of the CAMHS guy and then BAM - it was out in the open, the school couldn't argue with it and I had recorded it all in my minutes

Good luck.

mel1981 · 06/07/2010 11:19

Thats great thanks for all our help and advice. everything is just so much to take in atm lol will definately get someone to write own minutes.

Being thick now but whats a statement? & whats it for?

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mel1981 · 06/07/2010 11:27

your

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tribunalgoer · 06/07/2010 14:32

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mel1981 · 07/07/2010 13:13

Great thanks, its always handy to know these things and suprisingly people (ie professionals) dont seem to tell you unless you ask or they have to!

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