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jomica

Annual review - Update following meeting

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It's the dreaded annual review this week and, as always, the school SENCO asked us to provide our comments by a certain deadline in order to discuss at the review.

 

We spent ages writing our letter and so, it seems, did the SENCO in producing her report. There's also a report from the school medical officer and a speech therapy report which is - wait for it - three years old.

 

But there's lots of other people coming to this annual review because it's the Y5 transition review. NONE of them have produced a report to the deadline, so the first time we will see/hear their views is at the meeting itself. This includes - occ therapist, ASD service and the statement support service (the transitional team).

 

Does anyone know whether there are any hard and fast rules about this? I hate being ambushed at meetings.

 

Thanks for your help ....... >:D<<'>

Edited by jomica

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I am sure that the Code of Practice states that all paperwork should be received at least 2 weeks before the annual review.You should have copies of everything.

 

Unfortunately,I'm not sure where I've put my copy so I can't quote chapter and verse.xx

Edited by CarerQuie

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Yes, I was just looking at the ACE SEN handbook and that says two weeks. Mine came today for a review on Thursday.

 

However, it doesn't spell out that everyone attending should send in a report. But if I'm given them at the meeting (which isn't unheard of!) do you think I have grounds for complaint or, if necessary, re-scheduling the review?

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You need to look at the following sections of the CoP:

 

5.66 through to 5.73

 

This look specifically at transfer from school to school and the process that should take place. They are already behind schedule as the CoP states (sect 5.72) that this particular review ?Must take place by 15th Feb of the year in which the transfer takes place.?

 

Then sect:

9.13, this clearly states that all those attending must be asked for written submissions from ?Parents, anyone specified by the LA and anyone else the head considers appropriate.? Then the head MUST circulate these submissions asking for comments including from those who are unable to attend the review.

 

Hope that helps.

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Yes, I was just looking at the ACE SEN handbook and that says two weeks. Mine came today for a review on Thursday.

 

However, it doesn't spell out that everyone attending should send in a report. But if I'm given them at the meeting (which isn't unheard of!) do you think I have grounds for complaint or, if necessary, re-scheduling the review?

 

 

Yes, you would!

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I think it's the final statement that has to be produced by February 15th in the year of transition so this Y5 review should look ahead to the support needed for secondary as well as the support for Y6.

 

A friend of mine went on a Network 81 course recently - her advice was that it is advised that all paperwork is provided 2/52 before the meeting it isn't, unfortunately, obligtory. You can ask for reading time at the meeting if they suddenly dump a couple of reports on you - otherwise you could ask for the meeting to be re-scheduled to give you time to read and digest the reports ... depends on how many people are involved and what their diaries are like to get them all together again.

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Thanks Phasmid, CarerQuie and Ultramum. Now I'm armed (with knowledge) and distinctly dangerous!

 

Wish me luck for tomorrow!

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Just wanted to say that the annual review went very well in the end.

 

Although the statement review people didn't submit a report in time for consideration prior to the meeting, they didn't try to introduce one at the meeting either. In fact, they kept fairly quiet except to be supportive of the things we were asking for. It was quite a revelation, in fact!

 

We came out of the meeting with some specialist 1:1 support from the ASD service for self-esteem/relationship/anxiety/social use of language type activities, a programme for introducing independent travel very gradually prior to transition (he's in Y5 now), touch typing lessons, an Alphasmart, and a very positive discussion about the future.

 

To say I'm gobsmacked is an understatement. In the past we've had to fight for every last thing. :dance:

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Glad it went well for you. Fingers crossed they will realise it's better to get it right in the first place then to make you fight for it.

Hi - just hijacking your thread a bit.... Our son also in Yr 5 has not had an annual review as statement only issued last Sept. Unfortunately his senco has had to leave unexpectedly early on maternity leave and I'm wondering if I need to be a bit proactive and find out if anything has been booked for him. We badly need advice on secondary schools etc. Did they give any help on this or have you had to do all the legwork yourself?

 

Sorry to butt in!

 

Thanks - AV

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You will have to do some leg work to start with. LEAs will (or should) give you a list of schools that they run which is supposed to help with the process of selecting a secondary school but they won't give you a feel for what they are like or if they will suit your child. There's only one way to do this properly. Habe a look on this thread. I posted up the advice sheet for transition I wrote for my dissertation on it. Hope it helps a bit.

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As Phasmid says, you will have to do some of the legwork yourself. The LEA rep asked where we were considering and, although she wasn't allowed to comment one way or another, her facial expressions said a great deal!

 

We've phoned around some local schools where we've heard good reports from others and booked appointments with their SENCOs. They don't seem to think it is too early to be looking now, so we're getting organised. I think the school has to be named in the statement by mid-February, so you actually get to know a bit before the usual 1 March date as you have to have time to appeal the draft statement before school places are notified to other parents on 1 March each year.

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