Tez

Can I ask how the tribunal is run. Do you have to present your case like giving a speech and making all the points or do they guide you along by asking questions?

Fingers crossed it all works out.

Brilliant news Curra. I agree with your other comments. Why do children have to fail and spend 2 years failing before anything is really done?

Hi PSH Thanks for your reply. The tribunal is over the LEA's refusal to quantify and specify provision and is in September. I think in reality their case statement strays a little from the point and in some ways may be counter productive to their case when I think about it logically. I am asking for a minimum guaranteed number of teaching hours of 10 per week. They are claiming to be giving 11 (which is complete and utter lies), which they say can be increased if necessary but they want to retain flexibility in case A can't cope. So if they are giving 11 what's their problem with guaranteeing 10? Then there are issues over the subjects that A is taught - again a load of lies being told, but they say there is no problem with A accessing additional subjects when his health allows. It allows now so what is their problem with putting it in the statement? They have argued, "In arguing that provision is appropriate X LEA recognises that a statement should normally be quantified but argues that in A's case there needs to be flexibility in order to meet his changing needs as professionals together with the parents build on the successful components of the various provision through regular monitoring and review. X LEA believe that in making flexible provision it is complying with the recommendations of LAdy Justice Hale in the Court of Appeal judgment in the case of the Queen (on the application of IPSEA Ltd) and the Secretary of State for Education and skills that"...any flexibility built into the statement must be there to meets the needs of the child and not the needs of the system." We agree on this but they are using it against us and the flexibility that they have built in is to meet the needs of the system and not the needs of the child. Throughout there case statement it is quite clear that they are trying to force A back into school or a medical based PRU but they claim to accept that this is not possible at present but should be the ultimate aim. A is not ill. It's his SID that prevents him attending a mainstream school and how exactly do they intend to cure him of that?

I'm really sorry that you are being put through this. You really need to make sure that your disagreement with this is put into writing, you don't want anyone to be able to say in the future that because you didn't disagree you accepted what has been said. I'm absolutely livid on your behalf, but I think the implications of this are very serious.

I received A's case papers for his tribunal this morning and I know I'm naive but I'm so upset. The LEA in their case statement have told the biggest load of lies that I have ever heard. I don't know how I'm going to prove it, but I just feel so let down, I feel sick and I'm shaking and close to tears. The LEA maintain that they are providing A with 11 hours per week of home tuition. They are on paper providing 3 hours of home tuition and 3 hours of elearning. The deadline for submitting evidence has passed so I can't submit the paperwork that I've got that shows that the LEA are twisting the information (although, I am going to ask if I can submit it late in view of the LEA's statement) so am just going to have to rely on hoping the panel believe me. They are claiming that the school is providing A with full back-up but in reality they are providing nothing. The LEA claim they provide work and mark it. Reality they told me to buy text books and teach him myself. No work has ever been marked. The LEA have stated that they are going to get A's views via his home tutor and submit them late. She's already twisted things said to her to suit her own purpose and I think trying to ascertain them would upset A anyway so can I refuse to allow this to happen and submit A's views myself? What I find so difficult is that these people are so nice and agree with me to my face and then stab me in the back. I'm going to phone IPSEA for advice but I'm going to tribunal on my own without support and I really think I'm going to messs it all up. "Every child matters, working in partnership with parents." What a load of rubbish. Every LEA budget matters, blow the child. Any advice from seasoned hands on how I approach this?

Wow what an achievement. Well done and welcome back.

Hi PSA, It sounds like the appointment went well. A went through a period of self harming whilst he was in school and understanding his autism and accepting it was one of the things that helped to lessen the occasions when it happened. A has recently written a piece of work for English about his understanding of his autism and how it affects his life. I found it quite moving and also very informative. It is quite unusual for him to express things like this but he felt that it helped to clarify his thoughts. Hopefully, Like will benefit as well. <'> <'> <'> to you both.

I downloaded my forms from SENDIST's website. Here's the link.

Hi Viper, Yes, you can get Melatonin in liquid form both on prescription (A used to get his this way) and by ordering on the internet. If you need to order it yourself I can pm you the name of an internet company that I know others have used with no problems, but try asking Ben's Consultant first, A's is really very helpful.

Hi Keyholekate, Welcome to the forum. Hope you stick with us. In answer to your question. Yes, it is possible for Sean to do a reduced number of GCSEs and just stick to the core curriculum subjects of Maths, English and Science, ICT adding in one or more options if desired. For some children, at some schools, it's even possible to follow a vocational course and not take the National Curriculum or GCSEs at all (this is currently being tried at my son's school.) They also need to study PE, Citizenship and RE but can be disapplied from these. Other subjects are offered on a take it if you want basis. However, without a statement ,all this is subject to negotiation with the school and at the discretion of the Headmaster. If they won't listen to you and your concerns, would they listen if your son's Consultant if they were to write requesting a reduced GCSE syllabus and listing the medical reasons why this would be desirable? Have a look at these links:- Key Stage 4 Disapplication

Hi Kathy, Whilst I agree absolutely with what everyone else says, that your daughter is doing well, and that it is the child behind the results that matter; I also understand your point about your daughter's feelings. We have the same problem with A. He will only attempt something if he can do something well, perfection is the aim, and anything short of that is failure. He misses out on so many opportunities because of his definition of failure and fear of it. I understand that this is common amoung children on the spectrum. Got to say that this is very much part of my make-up also, so I really do understand. Being older than your daughter, A has worked out his own methods of judging his performance and now won't look at performance indicators from teachers, who he feels get it wrong in any case. How he ranks compared to others is of little concern to him, it's how he rates according to his belief of how well he should be doing. Failure. which in his eyes would be a B if he's been being told he's good at something, is not an option. He would rather not attempt something, than attempt it and not achieve at a high standard. Doing his best is not good enough and no matter how hard you try to persuade him that it is, he will not accept it. For us the solution to this problem is to ask the teachers to stop putting grades on his work and reports and to give just comments instead. This really took some doing but we had a letter from his Consultant at CAHMS expressing the same views to back us up. Those comments should be fair and accurate and reflect what is actually happening and give advice for moving forward. So for instance, A produced a really good piece of work. What was particularly good about it was....... To move forward and improve upon this work even further he should........A should be really pleased with what he has achieved, it is an extremely high standard of work for a child of his age. In the meantime <'> <'> for you and your daughter. I understand how you are both feeling.

Helen I've emailed the DfES SEN department but not had a response. We are going to tribunal in September and the LEA did ask me yesterday if I was prepared to go to mediation first (which of course I am) but just trying to find out if there is any come back on the LEA if A does suffer due to inadequate provision, need to know how much of a stick I've got to beat them with.

Canopus because A has a statement of educational need the school/LEA do have a duty to diverge from the National Curriculum and to conform to the legal requirements of the statement. A's statement quite specifically says that his curriculum should be appropriately differentiated to suit his abilities and special educational needs. The statement also quite clearly states that A has been identified as being gifted in Mathematics and that he will receive an education appropriate to his age and abilities. By law, the LEA has to supply a minimum of 6 hours tuition per week. On paper they claim to be supplying exactly 6 hours. In reality they are providing less than 3. Additionally A's school receives a sum of money that they are supposed to be spending to ensure that all children registered as being gifted meet their potential. They are supposed to use this money to provide a differentiated timetable and extension activities. Whilst he is being taught at home, A is still registered with the school. The school have said that he should be being taught to Higher Level GCSE standard. The LEA agree. However, the elearning company can only provide Maths work aimed at the very lowest standard of GCSE. Technically, and legally, the LEA have a duty to provide him with an education that meets his needs. They are failing to do so. The elearning company have put in writing to me that the coursework that they are providing is suitable for those pupils who are expected to get grades E-G. They have also put in writing to me that at present the work is insufficiently challenging for A and that they are not currently in a position to rectify that situation. It takes A less than 5 minutes per week to do the work set and he is getting 100% every time. Technically I'm sure that I could take the LEA to court for failing to comply with the provisions of the statement but I have neither the money nor the time in which to pursue this option. I have about 11 months to get A to the stage where he can achieve well in his exams. Whilst I accept much of what you are saying, I am not in a position to pay for private tuition for my child and my own mathematical abilities are really not sufficiently high enough to go to the sort of standards that he is capable of at A level and beyond. A does need educational support from a teacher, he is not yet capable of being a completely independent learner and there are occasions when he needs queries answering. I accept the limitations of the educational system, I am willing to help my son and not rely totally on the state system, but quite frankly at the moment they are taking the micky and trying to shirk their legal responsibilities.

Just a general query. Does anyone know whether an LEA can be held culpable for failing to provide an education suitable to the age and ability of a child? A has a statement of educational need and is educated at home by the LEA. He is on the gifted register for Mathematics and before being taken out of school was achieving well above most of his peers in this subject. The LEA failed to provide him with any tuition at all for 9 months and since that time have provided tuition aimed at the lowest ability Maths pupils,i.e. those expected to get an E-G grade at GCSE. A was expected to get A*. The situation remains unresolved, not because they think that A is only capable of this, but because this is all they can supply via the elearning company that they use. They hope to resolve the matter in September, but by then 18 months of noneducation will have passed. If A fails to achieve a decent grade GCSE due to inappropriate tuition, could the LEA be held cupable in any way?

I'm so glad things are working out for you both, hope it continues. It's really nice to hear a positive story as well, gives us all hope.

I find this all very disturbing and agree with the comments already posted that people are quick to judge and pass opinions on subjects that they know little about. When I read articles like this I am always reminded of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, add in Prozac for Soma and we have just about created the potential for the world he described (not I hasten to add that I'm against Prozac, have taken it and benefitted from it myself). The difficulty, as always, is where do you draw the line between the good that can come from it and the potential for misuse and abuse.

I sent a copy of A's statement together with copies of all the expert advice. They renewed his claim without seeking any further information from anyone.

This was exactly my fear and A's Deputy Head confirmed that this was what had happened when they'd tried this in the past. I agree though that general education about disability, acceptance and tolerance is important though.

Lauren I think that the reaction depends upon the school and the children. The EP wrote in A's report that this should happen in A's school if he was ever to return. It was incorporated into his draft statement. I was uneasy about this and spoke to A's Deputy Head about it. He too was uncomfortable. A's school has a very bad bullying problem and A himself was very badly bullied. The Deputy Head said that they had tried this with other vulnerable pupils and it had just made the problem worse. However, I also know of cases in other schools where it has been tried and worked well. It was also suggested to me that if the other children were aware of the difficulties and still bullied then, the school could come down hard on them because there could be no excuse. However, the school is very limited in what actions they can take and to an ASD child subtle teasing can be construed as bullying. Sorry, I know that doesn't really help, but I think that you need to go with your instincts on this one. How would William feel about others knowing? A made a few friends at school who he trusted and told about his difficulties. They were very supportive and were actually very protective of him.

Good Luck Lisa. Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly.

Bid <'> <'> <'> Sounds like a day of really mixed emotions, but you must be so proud of what Auriel has achieved. Hope all continues to go well for you both.

Had to start dying my because A doesn't recognise faces and was getting really upset at my rapidly changing hair colour because it made it difficult for him to recognise me. Now he moans because he hates the smell of the hair dye I must admit that although it was A's recognition problems that made me start dying my hair, I prefer it now it's not got a mallen streak at the front.

Melatonin is also used to this country in small doses during the day to manage anxiety and hence also behaviour directly related to the anxiety, I believe it is also a trial. A's Consultant says that she prescribes it in this manner and is very impressed with the results. She also prescribes it in larger doses to be used to "bring children down when they are climbing the walls" as she puts it ,or hysterical. She tells me that the worst that can happen is that they will fall asleep, but for the most part they are too hyped up for that and melatonin just brings them back to earth and relaxes them.

HERE is a report commissioned by the National Union of Teachers on coping with special needs in mainstream classrooms. It is not specific to ASDs and has a bias towards medical issues but does give some insight into teachers views on including children with complex needs in mainstream schools.