Athena

DD has one joke - "Why did the chicken go to the doctor? Because it wasn't feeling very well!" She then laughs hysterically! DD just doesn't get jokes!

Last week I received a newsletter and questionnaire from a local political party and their prospective parliamentary candidate, going on about.......a really important local issue of burning importance...........POTHOLES!! Had we seen any? If so, please report them, how big, how deep, which roads are the worst? 2 pages of A4 all about ruddy potholes! Personally, I don't really give a stuff about the state of local roads, my concern is getting my DD a proper education. Anyway, it made me think, the LEA is part of the County Council, which has elected Councilors....(who only seem to be interested in potholes!), but with the local elections next month, maybe now would be a good time to contact my local councilors and ask them about SEN funding in the County. In general terms, to raise awareness. Has anyone any thoughts or experiences to share about "political" lobbying, either at local or national level? Or is it just another one of my mad ideas?

The school have asked me to write a letter in support of their application for a statutory assessment. I presume that I need to list the reasons why DD needs an assessment, e.g lack of progress at school, often on her own at playtime all her problems. Do I also need to fill out the detailed parental contribution infomation, e.g what she was like as a baby, when we first thought something was wrong. E.c.t. Just not sure how much detail I need to go into at this stage, but I am bearing in mind that I will go to appeal if the request to assess is refused. Thanks! A xx

Hi Kathryn, I am going to press the Ed Psych to assess at home too. I am not that impressed with her previous assessment, it just reports DD's behaviour, without comment, and no tests were carried out, such as IQ, or diagnostic tests for autism. I am just learning about all this, and I am starting to realise that the Ed Pysch's report makes no mention of ASD, she told us in a meeting and on the phone. I have also just discovered (through the wonders of Google!) the National Autism Plan for Children, March 2003, which recommends that a multi-disciplinary asessment should be carried out in 17 weeks. 17 weeks!!!! If only!!! A xx

Hi Kathryn, thank you for replying, I have just voted on the "passive" poll, DD bottles everything up at school, which is very stressful for her and when she comes home she exhibits her more of her "unusual" (can't find a better word) behaviour, which seem to comfort her, particularly the chewing! I didn't realise that the Ed Psych may visit her at home, that would be a good idea. During the school holidays, she visibly relaxes, and exhibits much less chewing, clapping, flapping. So the Ed Psych will be asked to carry out an assessment as part of the Statementing process? That is useful to know, will they want a new assessment, or will they accept an older one? Sorry for all the questions!

The Ed Psych wants to assess DD, but the assessment will be during the Easter holidays. DD is so MUCH less stressed during school holidays and as such, displays less of her "unusual" behavior, such as hand flapping, hand clapping, chewing her hair, her clothes, (chewing anything at all really!) humming, laughing to herself, the 1000 metre stare into the distance....to name a few. Do you think that it would be better if I explain my concerns and ask for the assessment to be re-scheduled for during school term-time? Or should I just rely on the Ed Psych being experienced enough to realise that children like DD are much less stressed when not at school. And that this means that their behavior will be different. Bearing in mind that this is the LEA Ed Psych who will not give a firm diagnosis of ASD, that has told me that a diagnosis would not be helpful, but that nevertheless has advised the school that they should treat DD as if she does have ASD... I was just going to be honest with the Ed Psych and suggest that it would be better to observe how DD behaves at school, which will not be possible to do during a school holiday. Or I could just say that we are away that week.... It is further complicated by the fact that we are applying for a Statement, and if I turn down this appointment, it will probably be AGES before I get another one.... The again, maybe it would be better to wait, rather than to have a report from the Ed Psych that states that DD is coping OK with school, when she isn't, and finds it very, very stressful. Hmmm.....would do you think I should do? Starting to think that I am becoming paranoid, or maybe "they" really are all out to get me!

That is great news, our school are going apply for SEN too. Hope that it all goes smoothly for your. A xx

Thank you for your advice chris54 and Kathryn - I will let the school apply and keep an eye on the LEA to make sure that they stick to the deadlines! As I will still have the right of appeal, then I am happy for the school to apply. I am just a bit of a control freak, and our school SENCO only works part-time, so doesn't have a lot of time, but I can see the logic of an application from the school being more favorably considered. Chris54 - good luck, do let us know how you get on! A xx

The school have offered to request a statutory assessment of DD; I would rather apply myself then at least I KNOW that they application has been sent off and I can be "pro-active" in relation to chasing it up, making sure that the LEA stick to the deadlines, e.t.c BUT would it be more likely to succeed if the request is made by the school? Any advice/experiences of the school applying would be very welcome! A xx

Thank you daniels-mum, I am still at the info gathering stage at the moment, but hope to get my request in shortly - good luck to you, do let us know how it goes.

Thank you for your replies, my "gut" feeling is to get an independent assessment for DD. After what I can only describe as an "interesting" conversation with the Ed Psych, I have come to the conclustion that as they work for the LEA, there is a possibility that maybe they are not as impartial as you would hope that they would be....

Thank you for your helpful replies - JSMum, you are so knowledgeable, I await your advice with great interest! A xx

I have a similar problem - due to DD's lack of communication, what goes on at school is a total mystery to me! I have asked for what I think is called a home/school book, but this hasn't been done. I resort to writing messages in her reading book. It is so frustrating as I have no way of knowing if she is even getting the meager support that was promised at School Action Plus.... I don't want to pee-off the school, because the SENCo seems to be supportive and has promised to support our request for statutory assessment, but I DO want to know what is going on!

Hi Sally, wishing you the very best of luck! I am just about to request a Statement myself, the school are supporting my application, so I will shortly be asking them to write a letter in support. I have the letter from the IPSEA website, but I don't know how much detailed information I need to send with my request. Do I send the Ed Psych, Paediatricians and OT report now or later if I have to appeal against a refusal to assess OR should I keep them for when they do assess? I do find it all very confusing! If my understanding is correct, you apply for an Assessment of Special Educational Need, the LEA can refuse to assess, you can appeal to SENDIST, the LEA then HAVE to Assess but can then refuse to produce a Statement and so you have to appeal to SENDIST again? And you can also appeal against the contents of a Statement? So confusing and time consuming and appears to based on a confrontational approach with the LEA, rather than parents and LEA working together for the best interests of the child. I was also thinking of witness statements, of people who know DD very well, e.g her childminder, volunteers at the youth group she attends. Would these be helpful? Should I send them with the request or save them for later? Hope someone can advise me! A xx

DD is on school action plus and gets one and a half hours of 1 to 1 per week, with the Teaching Assistant, which is woefully inadequate to meet her needs.

DD is currently being assessed by a multi-disciplinary team, paediatrician, educational psychologist, occupational therapist. So far, all I have in writing is that she has specific learning difficulties and it has taken 10 months to even get this in writing. ALL of the team have verbally told me that they believe DD has ASD, and ADD and sensory processing problems, but none of them have, as yet, produced a written, formal diagnosis..... Her school have told me that they have NO money in their SEN budget to provide the one-to-one that she desperately needs and that we should therefore apply for a Statement, but that without a formal diagnosis, our chances of obtaining one are very much reduced. Should I push the school further on their SEN budget - how much, how it is being spent and why they have no money to meet DD's needs? I don't want to alienate the school, as they have said that they will support/provide evidence for me to apply for a Statement, but I also feel that they are making ME responsible for obtaining the funding for DD's educational needs. So, I was thinking of going to see a private, independent psychologist, to obtain a formal diagnosis, but I don't know where to find one or even if it is a psychologist that I need! It just breaks my heart to see DD struggling and I just don't yet know enough about how the System" works to help her!

Welcome to the forum Whizz, from one newbie to another! I notice that you are in Herts like me. From reading on here, there seems to be lots of members who have experienced problems with our LEA and their approach to SEN..... I have been reading so much helpful info on here. I am in awe of anyone who home educates! Wouldn't know where to start! A xx

The summer school holidays are a nightmare! DD misses the routine of going to school and then we she goes back it is all different, different room, different teacher, different routine, which is a complete nightmare for her. Last September, she had toileting regression, which was awful for her at school and a terrible worry for me! I am planning ahead for this summer and I have already put her name down for activities that are run at the school, so far I have 9 days.... She doesn't have any real friends at school so arranging "play dates" (hate that phrase, can't think of another at the moment though!) so that she keeps in touch with the other children is very difficult...

Hi Kathryn, thank you for the welcome! Yes, I have heard that my LEA are, to put it mildly, not exactly the best when it comes to SEN provision... I also understand that they were challenged by IPSEA in 2007, but I haven't found out the outcome of that, if you have any info on the current position regarding the legality of their SEN funding, maybe you could send me a message - I don't want to get kicked off the forum for anything that may be construed as libelous... I didn't realise that the Ed Psych couldn't diagnose, so I have learnt something useful already and it is only my first post! Is it only our LEA that uses "Exceptional Needs Funding" then? When the SENCO described the process to me, it did sound very much like a lottery and pure chance if the District Group agree to the funding. As I understand it, the school can apply for a Statutory Assessment, but it is better if I do it myself, with the school's support, as I would have a right of appeal to SENDIST, but the school would not? I have been trying to do my homework! But I do realise that this is going to have to be a very steep learning curve, it I am to do my best for DD.

NickyB thank you for the warm welcome and thanks to Smiley for sharing your experiences, I shall certainly keep banging on doors, although I also feel like I want to bang heads together too!

Hello, Introducing myself, DD does not yet have ANY formal diagnosis of ASD, but we have been told verbally that by Ed Psych and Paediatrician that they believe she has ASD, as well as AD and Sensory Processing Disorder/Dyspraxia. My gut/parent feeling is that she does have ASD, although she has good eye contact and can empathise with others she is very social awkward and although she wants to play with other children, doesn't seem to know how to, even when other children come round to play - especially as they don't always share her enthusiasm for lining up rows and rows of toy cars! She is on School Action Plus, hasn't met any of her IEP targets and the school have suggested that she needs a Statement of Special Educational Need. They are also going to apply for Exceptional Needs Funding, as they have NO money to pay for the 1:1 classroom support that she needs. BUT, without a formal diagnosis, there is no funding! What is the best way to "push" for a diagnosis? Should I chase up the Ed Psych or the Paediatrician? Can the school press for a formal diagnosis? I am just so frustrated that the school agree that DD has severe and complex learning difficulties, yet there is no money available in the SEN budget to provide the help that she needs. If I have posted this in the wrong place, then Mods, please feel free to move it!