Annea

Hi Mel, Reading this made me feel so sad, because s many of feel the same things... Like Jo Jones I got to the point where I realised that I was hurting myself... I had so much anger and hatred, I couldn't sleep and having an incurable illness this was very definitely making me very ill. I am also a big advocate of writing things down... BUT I have also tried to go one further.... I now try to win the games they play.... I have a daily diary that I use just to document all my emails (I also keep copies of all sent and recieved emails as well as read receipts) I documnet all phone calls along with times and duration and brief content. (If a person says they will ring me back at a certain time, I document this and whether they did or not) I also document all conversations I have with anyone from the LEA or school, any meetings I attend I insist are minuted, I always take someone with me who takes my notes and I always go through these minutes before I allow anyone to walk out the door... It might seem a bit mad, but my notes have helped me no end, and pick up lies and inconsistencies very quickly! It also takes very little time! nd is just a case of being organised! we are nearing our second appeal the first for diss discr which we won against the school the next is appealing against part 2, 3 and 4 of the statement and we are asking for a named inedependant school. This year for the first time in 10 years I feel I am being proactive... it dosn't alwys stop those feelings of fury... but now I can let them go and just get more determined to get even.... I think you have to find out what works fr you, and there is no same way that is right for everyone! I do hope you find a way through this..... it is certainly like climbing everest backwards and blind folded! Nigh on impossible at times! anne x

mel, I am not sure about this bit you have written.... To suggest that the school can't be discriminating against your son is incorrect.As we all know each and everyone of our children are different, have different needs. SO in a way, if the school are only choosing to take some children for whatever reasons, this makes it worse. It certainly doesn't mean they are not discriminating against him. In fact, at our disc hearing the school pulled out a huge wad of information about how they don't disciminate because they do XYZ for certain children. The chair of the panel asked them how this information related to our daughter and the case that was being heard. They said again that it proved they didn't discriminate against children with special needs... She told them in no incertain terms that No, actually it only appeared that those children wern't being discriminated against, at that time and in that situation and bore no relevance to my daughters case!!!! So, I would still ask the school why your son was not asked to go on a trip, that was suitable for him and his difficulties, in time to fully prepare him, and with any support that would be deemed necessary after risk assessment had been carried out. If you are not happy with the answers, then discrimination action maybe the way to go.... If you are not sure, take advice, but don't presume that they can't be in the wrong because they have taken some children. It might be that they have just messed up numbers, messed up support, or have another reason for him not going, but it is your right to find out what those reasons are! Anne x

Hi, Can I ask if the primary / secondary school have not created a transition plan??? This annoys me, as the school know which children will be attending the school plenty of time in advance and know what provision all the children need. To suggest you have to wait a couple of weeks for a meeting with the SENCO is ridiculous! I would ask for this meeting to be in within the first couple of days. As for the 1-1 - I believe that if 1-1 is not specified, then it will probably not happen especially in secondary when resources are so thin on the ground. Maybe someone else can be of more help, but like you say, you have fought hard for the statement and for his education to be still in a planning stage at this point and it is wrong that you are being kept in the dark. Good luck with it all.... Anne x

Mel <'> I am absolutely incensed at your post... because my daughter was discriminated against last year too! I have posted about her experiences elsewhere on here... It is ILLEGAL to discriminate against children who have a disability!! We sucessfully took our daughters school to a dis disc tribunal and won.... the school were slammed for their disgusting attitude to some of the children and the lack of policies and trainign within the school.... All I can say is... FIGHT them.... it is so hard for our children to be treated like second class citizens... we all KNOW how secial our kids are, and it's about time that others stopped this. If I was you, I would contact IPSEA who helped me bring a sucessful claim against the school, there are time limits on when you can claim, so look into it soon... It isn't easy.... but you can do it for your son!! I would start off by asking the school in writing for a full explanation as to why your son has not been included in the trip, if they say that he could have gone to Dreyton Manor, then ask them what extra provision they had arranged.... Schools have to document all this and you are entitled to see the risk assesment they will have carried out on you son as a child with special needs.... If they find that there is need for extra provision, then they have to provide it as long as the provision is realistic, they can't just decide he can't go! One days notice is not acceptable for a child with A/S to be prepared for a trip to such a busy site with all it entails! Funnily enough that was the trip that was highlghted for my daughter too before she became a school refuser, there is no way she could have coped with it. As for the change of site, this is a seperate issue, it seems awful that your child will effectively be segregated by being put in a class full of children who can not communicte with him.... I would maybe ask IPSEA about this too? Maybe others have some other opinions, but good luck with everything...... 5 years on we are still fighting for the correct education for our daughter who is now going into year 10... it is a very long haul at times!!! Good luck! Anne x

I am preparing to take them to court right now for neglecting their duty of care Not sure it will stand up, but I'll be blowed if I will be intimidated!

As many of you know, we have so many fights on at the moment but at least one is drawing closer to an end. We are appealing against sections 2,3 and 4 of our daughters statement and have secured her a place at an independent A/S conditional upon LEA funding. We put in papers to the tribunal about a month ago but had to wait for section 347 consent, in the end it took over a month for the consent to come back and the tribunal couldn't lodge the appeal until they had the consent back. We realised that with the time constraints we would not get a hearing before the end of school year and I got very very upset as this would jeopardise her place big time. We have now been allowed to have the hearing in the school summer holidays and are hoping that the appeal will be heard early July. I am however still trying to get the LEA to not oppose the section 4 part of the appeal so that we can just get on and start to prepare her for her new school. I am very very frustrated with the LEA because they are opposing a specialist placement, saying she can be somehow re intergrated back into main stream school yet they have NO evidence AT ALL, to suggest that she could cope once again in mainstream. We now have expert reports from independant, ed psych, SALT, OT, as well as a psychiatric report and a report from her Paediatrician. All of these different people stress her sensory difficulties and her spiralling anxiety levels. The LEA 's Ed Psych saw my daughter 11 months agao and created a report based on a short meeting and an ed psch report that was written 4 yrs ago!!!!! This is what they are basing their decision to oppose on. I now have requested help from the minister of education for wales to ask her to put pressure on the LEA to drop their opposition of section 4. I am still very concerned that we are getting nearer and nearer to September and it will be such a rush to get my daughter prepared for a boarding place at independant school, if we only have a week or so to prepare her! It is so frustrating, when I asked the Ed Psych about how she felt she could get my daughter back into mainstream, she said: " Well I will need to meet with her, get to know her, and then work out an action plan!!!!" GRRRRRRR Everyone knows her problems!!! the only reason the Ed Psych doesn't is because she hasn't bothered to see her properly for 3 years!.... And this is the person whose evidence stand between my daughters education and staying at home for another year if she loses her placement...... It is so frustrating..... Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Anne

Hi Jen, Just saw this post, I am so sorry that you didn't get the result you so wanted! <'> We have just lodged our appeal against sections 2,3 and 4 and the LEA have nothing so I am expecting some very dirty tactics too!!!!! A few days have passed now so maybe you have got over the shock a little and have a better idea of where to go from here! Good luck for the next step along your journey! Anne x

Hi Esther, we have a placement at a priory school that takes girls for our nealry 14 yr old with A/s I was very very scared at making this choice but she is not actually at school at present and even struggles with lessons 1-1 with her hom tutor so I know she just won't be able to go back into mainstream. The school we have chosen, has bent over backwards to keep us infomred, we have been on several trips there and dd has had an assessment with a further overnighter booked for later in the month. I was extremely impressed with the family atmosphere but of course still have worries... who wouldn't these are our kids! I honestly believe this is the only way my daughter will get enough social education to help her cope with life..... Good luck with your own decision.... Anne x

Aaaahhh didn't you know that the law is selective???? Our LEA only abide by the bits of the law that fit with their budget! AM gonna write our progress soon... but it is very complicated!!!

LOL Karen just noticed your post after writing my rant!!! I too believe I am a member of the same club!!!! <edited because : oops to clarify..... my eldest daughter with A/S is no longer in school> Do we get a badge?? Maybe one for the most unpopular parents too??? Anne

My daughter recently saw the OT at school and she made some recommendations regarding special equipment, one of which was a wedge shaped cushion for her to sit on. My daughter told me Yesterday that she had a cushion but was very unhappy using it as she felt silly sitting on a normal house cushion. Apparently she has had this for some time! Toay I went into school and asked about why this was happening and the secretary almost laughed in my face and said..... She is wrong! She then went off to check with the head and then came back and said, it was definitely a posturepedic?sp cushion. I said that if this was the case then someone needed to explain this to my daughter as she was convinced she was sitting on anormal cushion! Anyway after school my daughter proudly told me that she had been given a special cushion today <an half hour after I spoke to them!!!!> She HAD been sitting on a normal cushion until today!!!! I am furious....... Apparently much fuss was made about presenting this cushion to her and I wonder how much of this happened to be because the inspectors are in school today!!!!! I am fed up with the utter disdain they show me..... I can't believe they not only lied openly to me, but also practically laughed in my face! And they think I am a stroppy parent??? Just wait till tomorrow! Anne

Hi Flora, I didn't make myself clear, we are going to tribunal to appeal against the content of sections 2,3 and 4 so this will be sorted in tribunal and will be based on eveidence supplied. Going to tribunal to appeal against decision not to statement will only order the statement not (as you rightly say) the content. <although I believe they do make recommendations?> I was thinking it would have happened a lot sooner because in our case, we got close to tribunal date then they dropped out, then we had to wait for them to write the statement and now we have had to go through all the stat time frames again! If they had sorted it out immediately the finer details would be sorted by now. Sorry am tired not sure I have confused myself even more! Anne x

It's not a case of dropping out as such as deciding not to oppose the statement, It can be a stalling tactic in itself. My daughters appeal was dropped, we then had to wait for the LEA to draw up the statement which was rubbish so we are back to square one now and waiting to go back to tribunal as we are appealing against the various parts of the statement. If it had gone to tribunal initially, the finer details would have all been sorted back then! I am not sure about multiple times either but assumed it was different children? Anne x

Its the opposite with my youngest as yet undiagnosed daughter... Se can't tell time, doesn't know days of week or months of the years, she can't even do her 2 x tables <she is on year 5> And yet she is apparently attaining all the appropriate targets! Anne x

As your report has gone in <even as late evidence> within the legal time frame, then it will be given due consideration along with all other evidence. At our last tribunal, the school turned up with evidence on the day and we were asked if we wanted it presenting, it actually strengthened our case as they had made a booboo, but we could have refused. You could refuse her report being presented and say something like, it has been put together in a rush, and that you have not had time to read it through to ensure it's acuracy and as such you don't feel it is safe evidence. The tribunal guidelines are very strict on what is and isn't allowed and they will make it clear that all parties have had the guidleines and should have abided by them. Late evidence is considered only if there was no way it could have been presented earlier. I doubt that An Ed psych doing a panic assessment to strengthern their case would fullfill the criterior. But even if it did I am sure you can still ask that it not be allowed. Your letter regarding the moving of your daughter from class to class could be considered late evidence because the situation is current and could not be foreseeen when the initail case documents were prepared. You might find they still drop out at the last minute.... Anne x

Hi Jen, We are having a similar situation.. we are going to tribunal to challenge sections 2, 3 and 4 of my dd statement and she has not been seen by ed psych for 11 months, even though the paediatrician stated she should be seen and my daughter is now a non attender. The ed Psych has suddenly decided she wants a series of sessions with her to assess her and create an action plan that will get her back into main stream < we have a provisional place at a priory school> SHe came to see her at home last week and my daughter refused to see her, then the ed psych gave two more dates both of which she has her tutor here so I have turned her down. The way I see it, is if my daughter wasn't high enough priority for her to be seen when we felt she needed it, I'll be blowed if she is high enough priority to be seen now they want to build a case against her getting independant placement. Because of the pending tribunal, we are so very busy with meetings and she has tutition every day in the afternoons, so if the ed psych can fit in with my dd, and if my daughter wished to see her, she can. If not then she will just have to explain to the panel why she has no current information on my daughter to present. Good luck with your appeal.... I maybe being childish, but I wouldn't bend over backwards to assist them in making your life difficult! If she has no report, then the panel will have to just take account of your independant report! Anne x Just to add as I didn't see your reply pumpkin, If Jen has an independant report, this will be taken into considerationw tih all other independant and non independant reports. My independant report states clearly what provision she should have in her statement, so just because the LEA psych hasn't made time to see her, then it shouldn't hold things up. It will just show her in very poor light.

Hi Simon, we have just got a stement for our 13yr old daughter but are preparing to go to appeal on section 2,3 and 4 . We were told it is very unusual in this area for children of this age to get a statement for A/S as they feel the schools in this area are able to meet the needs of children with A/S within a normal setting. <amazing how many people I know fo now in my LEA who say just the opposite> I think you maybe need to start gathering your evidence as soon as possible, keep diaries, school reports etc... If your son has seen any professionals over there, make sure you have the reports at the ready Is your son being schooled in Japan? Is he having difficulties there? You don't say how long you have been in Japan, or whether your son has been schooled in the UK previously, if so, maybe you can use old reports from the UK too, if he has had difficulties over here before. Remember a diagnosis of A/S will not entitle your son to a statement, it will only be given if you can prove that A/S significantly affects his ability to access education <I'm sure if this is not correct, someone will put me right!> Use all information you can get your hands on but be prepared for your LEA to use your 'difficult' circumstances against you! Our Ed Psych still drags up my divorce of 10 yrs ago as a reason that my daughter is so very anxious, so I can almost hear them trying to blame your sons difficulties on your relocation and not on an educational need! Good luck with everything, it is tricky enough trying to sort out everything when all is local, must be very hard when you are trying to make plans from such a distance. Anne x

Thanks Claire! Di30 I have pm'd you! Anne x

Well I can honestly say I wouldn't want to do that again. My representative couldn't help me out because he was ill so I had to go it alone. The panel interrogated me for 3/4 hr constantly telling me that it seemed highly unlikely that I did actually do the things I did for my daughter!!! It was awful and I was reduced to tears! In the end the appeal was upheld but she only got the lower rate care which I believe totally ignores all the night care i give and she was also awarded lower rate mobility. At least I get back pay from last Septemeber which will go toward a family holiday. Good luck to anyone else applying or going through the appeal process.... Ultimately every little bit extra helps! Anne x

Hi everyone.... I have my youngest DD's DLA tribunal tomorrow.... I have a man from DIAL helping me and he said he was amazed that it was turned down initially as we had strong medical advice. But because the school said she doesn;t have problems, then they threw it out!!!! He said that we shuld get at least middle rate care for her but who knows.... He also said that occasionaly they decide to send the child or a medical even though they have medical reports... If this happens I will be cross because all the experts have reported such as physios , OT, and her paediatrician... what can a doc who is not a specialist in ASD's have to offer!! Anyway... wish me luck, I am dreading it... Anne x

Hi all, can I just ask.... I fainlty remember last year when we were awarded a familiy fund award, that they told us we could reapply each year.. Can Iask do they send a form to you, or do they await a new application and do you have to wait a year before you reapply <thinking of the 6 month wait we had to get theaward> Am hoping to get a bot of helpt oward a haven holiday.. and if you don't book early you can miss out so can anyone help me out??? Thanks Anne

To Bid / Bard and others who are teachers or close to teachers. I am aware that there are good teachers, and I can understand what you say about the need for disruption Bard. I am also appalled when I hear some of the things teachers have to go through (I am a nurse / midwife and I too have been asaulted / insulted/ threatened) It's a sad life isn't it..... However for many of us on hear, we suffer daily at the hands of uncaring, unfeeling teachers who make our lives and our childrens lives as difficult as possible... Everytime I come in here I am saddened by the stories I read that mirror our own.... Todays schooling drives me mad, my daughter comes home regulalry to say that she has been in XY's class because her teacher had a dentist apt, her teacher had a meeting, her teacher had out of class time, her teacher had physio <all these were over a two week period> along with yet another teacher training day.. One day last week her class was 'taught' a whole day!! in someone elses class, that is 60 children in one class... and yes my daughters class had to sit on the carpet as their was obviously no room in the class.... Another day the whole of the class spent a day in the computer suite bening checked on by another teacher who was teaching her own children...... I then spot a report that was written by the school signed by the head teacher which had no less than 10 spelling mistakes in it!!!!! This same school then tells me that I am making up the symptoms I report about my daughter because they are not seen in school, and then have the nerve to ask me to sympathise when they go on strike! SO whilst I am aware that there are good teachers out their, unfortunately I don't get to see them very often in association with my children. And when i have the fall out from this strike action as I try to juggle everything at home and deal with the issues caused by my children being unsettled the last thing I am is sympathetic when they tell me they have had a jolly old time not having to deal with our kids! So I am sorry if my post is a rant, PLEASE don't feel I am attacking anyone personally...... It is the situation that makes my blood boil.... The governements stupid initiatives do have to be looked at, I am sure there is someone whose sole job it is to make policies about policies.. and then bring in another policy to deal with the issues that arise fromt he introduction of the latest policy.... it happens in Education, in the NHS well just about everywhere! As my earlier post said my issue is with the attitude of certain teachers..... and I am probbaly going to get really flamed for the next bit... but.... I left the NHS becauseI felt that policy was interfering with my ability to do a good job.. I could have fought, I could have stayed and become jaded and angry but I chose to mke my voice heard with my feet, just like thousands of others have over the years.... If a job is so bad, why stay in it???? If teachers just walked out then eventually people would take notice! or is tis me speaking through my angry hat??? Anne x

I requested a statement for two of my daughters, one was sucessful when we threatened to appeal <but we are now appealing against its content, the other was turned down and we are appealing against the decision> It always seems more difficult if there are no 'conventional' learning problems. My daughters are both bright too, and this has always been a sticking point whenever we ask for anything. Anne

Big Hugs and good luck with getting to the bottom of this. Some schools just take things way too far!!! The head teacher of middle dd's school rang up the OT and demanded to know where she got her inofrmation from that was contained in a report about our as yet undiagnosed dd. The head said... " I suppose the mother has told you she has all manner of problems? " WHen the OT told her the report was based on observations she herself had made during a two hour assessment, the head teacher had the nerve to ask her if she was mistaken!! Whilst your post makes me really angry, I am not at all surprised at what you have said..... I too would make an official complaint. It sounds like the paediatrician would support you too! Anne x

Hi Clare, I have only just seen your post too and it made me furious as my dd was in a similar position... The first theing I would do if you have not yet done it, is to request under the data protection act, a full copy of your sons school record , their is a sample latter of how to do this on the IPSEA site. As someone else said, you should also be looking to ask for current SEN policies, dis policies, aceesibilty plans etc.... <it turned out that my dd's school didn't even have these plans in place!!!> I think you are dealing with several distinct issues.... The lack of statement which you need to appeal against at tribunal ---- maybe speak to IPSEA about this? The discrimination issues, excluding your son from lessons and giving him detention and punishment because of behaviour that is associated with a condition that they are refusing to acknowledge is discrimination --- IPSEA can also advise you on this. There is also a very strong case for making a compliant against the teacher who assaulted you son! Are there witnesses to this? < from experience I know that lies will come thick and fast when you explore these issues> I would also say this to you, the single most important piece of advice given to me, was to not speak to the school by phone on any non urgent matter but instead insist everything is done by letter or email <ask for receipts of delivery> Also keep a diary of every incident, every remark, all upsets..... you will find these invaluable as you go further down the road..... Utimately I would aslo say, is there another school you can look at for placement? my dd's school had no special needs awarenesss and even though when we won our dis discr case the school was ordererd to implement staff training, nothing is changing because at the highest levels the head and chair of governors do not care... Sometimes it can take a school years and years to put the basics in place and meanwhile our children suffer.... so might be good to look elsewhere..... if you are going to appeal for lack of statement you can request a school in or out of your area.... you just need to prove that the education can't be provided at the local school he is at now... Anyway.. I always go on, still being in the thick of several battles.... I have my fight head on, but it infuriates me that so many of us are fighting the same battles over and over up and down the country.... Anne