Mother in Need

School keeps saying my son has seperation anxiety disorder, and that is why I can't get him to go to school. As there is nobody else who ever cares for him, I can't honestly say if he has this or not, but what I do know is that he doesn't want to go to school because school is such a place of stress for him. Does anyone have more information on this subject? Would this anxiety come out in other ways as well?

Very interesting indeed Nellie! Thank you very much! This will probably be my next course of action....

Yessssssssssssssssss! 'believe that a statutory assessemnt is necessary as D may have special needs requiring support additional to that generally available in school' We're on to Stage Two!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you Gavona, and welcome to this wonderful forum! I think this place is the only reason I'm still sane (oh well, somewhat sane I should have said) By now, several other people have sent me their representations (THANKS) and parent partnership has indeed helped as well, though initially adviced me to write about 2 pages worth.......well, after all those brilliant examples I'm afraid that mine became a total of 90 pages including my own report and lots of other reports including those of 'the experts', letters, emails, whatever else could help me make those points. LEAs deadline to respond and let me know whether they are rejecting or accepting is on Tuesday, so am getting a little nervous here....

And what pressure might that be exactly Nellie? Are we talking court cases here, when they don't follow their own rules? Legal aid doesn't stretched that far, and I dare say they damn well know it!

The only thing is, did she write all that on the LEA form? Because if she didn't then the LEA might get the message that your child does not have any problems and hence they don't need to do anything? If she did, great!!!!!!

Thanks HH, I've told him your comments and he is ever so pleased! Being only 15 and having to deal with his AS brother as well he has done extremely well. For anyone thinking to make their youngster create artworks on the spot for it, please make sure that they are either in a square format or a rectangular one like an A5 or A4 size; don't worry about the exact dimensions though. Large artworks can be used as well (some of the ones we produce cover entire walls) but as these are difficult to transport I would then have to ask you to photograph the artwork; remember though that the quality of the photo becomes the qaulity of the cards, so the better the better. Am I making sense here?

Tex, Good Luck! <'> Your parental advice was very very good (you sent me a copy remember, and I have taken quite a bit out of it and adapted it to my sons situation.) I'm sure you'll keep it all up till you get the best for your son! My school is also not playing ball, and they are the ones who have been asked to supply more information in our case; and I have no idea what they are going to say... LEA's deadline is Oct 11, so I should receive some mail soon...

There is another forum who is discussing this Home Education funded by the LEA, if your child is excluded or cannot attend school for medical reasons the LEA has to still give the child their education. The title is Home Tuition, off school sick on medical grounds, but all this applies to your son as well till he is given a suitable place. Check it our HH and see if it may help you to 'tick over'.

mmm, probably should not be saying this, but as a single parent there is no option of sharing, and of anyone else having my AS son, so every so often I keep my youngst NT son home from school (as off sick) so we can spend a bit of time together. He loves it, the only thing is he is now trying that bit harder to 'be sick' if you know what I mean.... Haven't found a way to make up to my eldest yet though, other than sitting down and watching his favourite programmes once his brothers are in bed, though he does not like all their interruptions, which seems to take it all away again...

Seeking-Sanity and Bluejean-genie, they have approached my son's school and I am dreading their comments...it's so stupid how schools are just not able to see the problems our children face on a daily basis

I was wondering if anyone was interested in having their child's artwork printed as real greeting cards? I am a greeting card publisher and thought it would be a nice idea to offer this to you. I have had so much out of this forum, I would like to give something back! As Christmas is coming up, these could be used as Christmas cards, but as they are blank inside they could be used at any time. The artwork of the child will go in front, and a thumbnail of the picture and a little bit of personal information (if you want) on the back. I am more than happy to send anyone interested a sample card so you get a good idea! If you go to Tamar Valley Art you can see how our cards look like; your child's card will be of the same quality. I have to show off the website, my eldest son (NT) has created it and I am so proud of him! Due the process of creating/making them, I can only do them in larger quantities. Prices are �69.99 for 50 cards (which comes down to �1.40 per card) and �109.99 for 100 (�1.10 per card). Postage and Packing of �6.99 needs to be added to that. If you are interested, let me know and I'll send you a sample. I can then also explain the other details (how to get me (an image of) the artwork, sizes suitable etc).

Oh yes, my AS son is also extremely strong and not only when he is in a rage. When he doesn't want to do something or go somewhere he'll just stand there, or hold on to a door handle or whatever, and there is no way I can budge him at all.........those are the moments when I could really use a blue badge....

Tyler's Mum, I haven't experienced anything like this, so don't quite know what to say. Hope someone will come along soon and help you out here. Irrational fears do often happen with our kids, and once they're 'on fire' (non-intentional pun here) they can't control it. My son's psychiatrist was comparing my son to a firework with it's wick lit. Once the lit has burned all the way to the firework, it goes 'boom' whatever you try to do, whether you try to put it out (diffuse the situation) or whatever else, it will go off BOOM. The trick is too catch the fire before it gets too close to the firework, and also to try and make the wick longer (improving the ability of the child to cope with the distressing situations). Hope I've been at least of some help here.

Tez, sorry to read about your struggle. Isn't it interesting how they suddenly realised you're there... Are 6 hours of tuiton per week enough to compensate for the 25.5 hours kids in school get? My eldest is preparing for his GCSEs and although extremely bright there is no way he could do all that masses of work in only 6 hours.... I would keep the fight up and make sure you get the full provision you should get.

LKS, do your son and mine go to the same school by any chance?Too many similar problems...

:lol:

My son goes to school by schoolbus (well, only when I manage to get him on it in the first place that is ). Last week he actually jumped the bus (got off at a further stop) and walked home. Fortunately he actually walked home, but he could have gone anywhere and anything could have happened ... I wasn't even rung up till 10 o'clock (nearly 2 hours later) so I created a BIG fuss. They are now looking into a taxi service for him, but if this succeeds it won't be till after Xmas . I was also told that if this happened again they would ring up as soon as the bus arrived AND that if any child wasn't in school and not registered they'd ring the parents. Well, yesterday I couldn't get him on the bus and was ill so couldn't drive him in as I usually do. SCHOOL NEVER RANG TO TELL ME HE WASN'T THERE. What if I had sent him to the bus and he hadn't gotten on and hadn't gone home for whatever reason? I wouldn't have known till 15.35, a full 7 1/2 hours later............... I'm still ill and could barely walk to the busstop this morning, but didn't dare let him go alone because of the above Not that he would have gone alone... Someone told me that there is actually a law regarding this notification of parents when they don't arrive at school? Has anyone got any info, as I would very much like to make the school aware of this .......*putting boxing gloves on* Another question is, if I were to refuse to drive him in when I can't get him on the bus (as this is highly inconvenient as I have to get his brother to school also and a business to run) and he then ends up not going to school like yesterday, who is responsible? Will this push the school to get that taxi for him, or will they just say that it is my duty to get him to school and hence they can prosecute me or whatever?

HelenL, I can't find much re the Section 52 Budgets. The only thing I could find was that the overall SEN budget for ALL schools in the whole county was only �782,000 for this school year, but nothing re indvidual schools.

Jomica, I'll remember that

This poll is linked to DLA, did you get it or not, and at what rate? but goes more into the process of applying itself, and how hard we all have to work to receive what is supposedly our right

I'm getting more worried by the minute, reading that, KarenT I have heard similar things before as well though, which is why I started this poll. So far (but then we've only got 24 votes so far) nearly everyone has received it. I'll add another poll, re how many tries before people receive it. So watch the next poll!

Gosh LKS, doesn't that make you sick I wonder if there is an honest MP out there (do the two words go together?) who might be interested in all that's been said on this thread and would like to take some action ...This surely should all be against every single guideline and many laws?

Wow, thanks Phasmid!!! I am still only on Stage One so don't want to stir up anything at this stage, but it is good to know I can find out when I need it. Surely though, this info should be freely available, one should not have to go through all what you have just told us? I was hoping to have a clearer idea from the start, but it doesn't seem I'll get that. How much support is given on the highest band?

Malika, I am sorry to hear of your experiences. Surely you could re-apply now, or is there a time limit between applications? Could you please add your vote as a 'I did not receive DLA' so we can get a clearer picture? It'll be interesting to see how many people have been refused it.