Cheyne

Hi there all, I attended the meeting and was amazed to find about 20 people there who were supposed to have some responsibility for my son's needs. I had never even met them or known of them before. I managed to make clear and evident how badly my son had been failed and I cited reports from the Ed-psyche and CAISTS which proved his level of need. I thought the meeting went really well. Yet after I had left the meeting I was told by someone that I had been far too soft and accepted far too little. Apparently they were not honest with me in the meeting. What they have agreed since is that my son will receive 5 hours a week one-to-one, be given a 'sensory trail', a 'safe' place for structured and unstructured time, an occupational therapy assessment, a sensory audit, visual aids and they will consider a statutory assessment. I know my son needs far more than this but I am going to try and be patient and strategic. My plan is: I have got together all the files: e.g. educational, social services, Asperger's clinic, medical e.t.c. and shall give them to the statutory assessment people to look at. If they refuse to assess him, I will take it to tribunal. If they still don't/ or do but give him too little extra help, then I will pay for private assessments to be done by recognized professionals. If I have still not got the help my son needs by the end of this year I will take him out of school and either i) home school him, ii) try to get him into a steiner school perhaps (they could give him individual support and would be less challenging to him) Thanks so much for all your fantastic help and information. It has really affirmed me and given me confidence. In response to all your great advice I have contacted the DRC and asked them to take my case and I and shall now go and look at IPSEA. Thanks so much, best of luck and all best wishes to you and your children, Cheyne

My ten year old son has a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome. He has been on School Action Plus for 5 years. All that has happened in that time is various agenices flitting in and out inconsistently and causing nothing but upheaval. Their recommendations are never implemented by the school. My son is ten and does not write at all. He is excluded from class activities and seated seperately from the class. He gets no one-to-one support at all. He is being threatened with exclusion for attacking teachers and he just can't handle school anymore. I hate sending him and he threatens to throw himself in traffic every morning. I complained to the school but the school complaints panel refused to consider my complaint saying that I was 'targetting members of staff'! - I have never done anything of the sort. I don't even speak to the staff and always communicate by letter (I don't personally ever pick up or drop off my son at school). Unfortunately I submitted my complaints about the Specialist Teaching Service, School, and Educational Psychology Service all at the same time - and this resulted in a huge white-wash by them of my son's needs in order to minimise the appearance of their failings. Today I received a letter from a peadiatrician asking for medical information on my son for the 'current statutory assessment'! I did not even know a Statutory Assessment had been requested and had certainly not been told one was taking place. It seems they are conducting a statutory assessment without my knowledge or involvement - is this possible? - and if so, could this be because of the white-wash going on? I have found out from the teacher that my son is being observed but she 'can't remember the name of the person observing'! It is not an Educational Psychologist. What's going on?!! I think I know what normal procedure should be and I know my rights - yet whenever I complain or state my rights I get ignored. The Headmaster never responds to me and he won't even give my son's educational file. Please tell me what I should do. I emailed my ombudsman today, attaching a 'complaint form' and also all the letters I have sent the school, as well as my chronological record. I have little hope though as I have no money for a solicitor, tend to make my letters too long, and never know what technical terminology I should use. I am worried that the number of letters and documents I attached (about 40) will make them dismiss me as obsessive or something. (It is five years though that my son has been on School Action Plus) The council have called a multi-agency meeting on Tuesday and I don't know what I should say/ask for/push for. I just want my son to get basic help in the classroom. I feel so sad for him.