helenl53

I have been told 11 weeks at the moment!

Hi Witsend - I was being thick - off course DS will have a statement - most special schools only take statemented children. I think you have less of a problem. The parts of the COP that cover admisssion to maintained schools for children with statements is covered at 1:36 & 8:80 onwards. Hope this helps HelenL

Hi Witsend - does your DS have a statement - this could make all the difference!. Regards HelenL

I was amazed at Sigourney Weavers uncanny resemblance to Roz Blackburn. Sigourney Weaver spent time with her learning how to portray an adult woman with Autism and having seen Roz in real life and on video, she got it down pretty well. I thought that the parents were protrayed very well and loved the young girl who played the daughters character. HelenL

Hi VS - we had this problem down south of the courses not being close enough. Contact NAS and ask them to put you in touch with the HELP! training office that is closest to you. I did this for our area and as a result, we have had lots of HELP! courses and more on the way - trouble is, there is never enough spaces for the parents that want to attend. If NAS know that there is a need for these courses in your area, then provided there was enough signing up, I am sure they would run them more locally to you. Hope this helps HelenL

Pheobe, The statement is legally binding on all parties!!! It is not for the school to be deciding what your child will and will not get. Get help from IPSEA. Perhaps the school don't want to meet your child's needs and are hoping you will choose somewhere else! HelenL

If you look at 7:16 it makes it a little clearer. There are different points of view, but I feel that the main thrust of the parental representation should be if they decide to statutory assessment. I was always suspicious that they would use the parents represenation at the request stage to show the school what the parent wants and try and encourage the school to put this in place without the security of a statement and so avoid statutory assessment and then a statement - but hey I am an old cynic. Helen L

Sorry Lisa - I have never understood this - I have just looked at the link Phasmid put up and I am still none the wiser! HelenL

Hi Lisa Bullet point 72 of the SEN Toolkit - Section 7 - 'Writing a Statement of Special Educational Need' There is a link up top to the sen toolkit. Hope this helps HelenL

Hi J's Mum The schools and local authorities are trained in how to deflect confrontational parents but they are not used to dealing with parents who approach things in a calm and controlled manner and by routes such as the appeals process. SMT2 was very good in the hearing and stuck to the main issues that pointed to the illegality of what they had done. They did try and bring in family dynamics and there were a few underhand cheap shots at her, but she ignored those and stuck to the facts and at the end of the day, the panel were there to decide on whether or not the exclusion was justified - that was all - they were not there to decide on whether or not they would believe the '###### mother' tag that the school were trying to pin on her. That was irelevant to the procedings. She had prepared very well for it and deflected attempts to find out what her case was for the Tribunal! How sneaky was that - using the appeal to try and information gather! She was a star and remained impassive and dealt only with the facts of the issue that we were there to deal with. Well done SMT2. HelenL

sorry to be cynical - but it may have been the SENCO who answered the phone:lol: (with apologies to those SENCOs who actually know about AS!) HelenL

me too! Helen L

There is very limited redress at appeal. They can order the child to be re-instated Suggest that the staff undertake training The can order the school to apologise. There is no financial compensation. For the child, a note is made on the record that at appeal, the exclusion was overturned. They could do it again and this is why parents should appeal fixed term and permanent exclusions when they are given as a result of behaviour that is attributable to the childs disability. It would be a matter of record and I am sure that under scrutiny, knuckles would get rapped. The more parents appeal, the less likely they are to keep dishing these illegal exclusions out. HelenL

But Darky was a bit greedy - she got two children statemented! She always has to have more - Love HelenL

Deedee Never mind the funding band - the Local Authority has a legal duty to specify and quantify statements!!!!! Contact IPSEA as a matter of urgency. HelenL

Hi Frangipani Sadly, on the same day this incident was being reported, UTube was talking about paying people to contribute their videos! HelenL

I am really ashamed of our town - the slogan is " XXXX a beautiful place" Not if you happen to have an ASD it isn't! I would say that for this lad, he probably has endured this kind of abuse throughout his whole school career. There is money available for 'parenting classes' but parenting is not where the problem lies. It is in the lack of approprate placements for our kids. HelenL

All I hope Stressed Mum is that you girls go and support other parents through the processes you have been through. You and the Rotty in training are really coming on and more parents will be helped by you guys. Love HelenL

Hi Lisa, Just to clarify, I was issued with a statement dated xxx and I asked for it to be finalised, and in the meantime they issued a further proposed statement, but I appealed against the statement dated xxx and the further proposed statement became a working document for Tribunal. Hope this helps Helen

Hi Lisa If you have already appealed against Final Statement x, then it is quite in order to continue negotiating with the Local Authority right up to Tribunal day. The Panel like to see as much agreed before it gets to them, but you would still continue with the Tribunal if you are still not happy. If they agree to everything, you can withdraw your appeal (I have heard of LEA's withdrawing the day before the hearing!). IPSEA will give you good advice, but you need to establish whether your statement has finalised. You can not appeal against an amended proposed statement. Best wishes Helen

Stressed Mum - why are you not puttingyour feet up! You have had a grueling day! Love HelenL53

Sorry, should have said that this particular parent was able to name a placement in her Case Statement - so from appeal to case preparation she had about 6 weeks which gave her enough time to find somewhere.

We currently have a local case going to Tribunal and at the appeal stage, they parent on the advice of the Solicitor asked for 'specialist residential' rather than naming a school. The Solicitor explained that it is better if you can name a school, but this parent did not have absolute confirmation that a place was available. In any event, the school she had been thinking of was deemed to be not so suitable for her child and she has now found a placement in a more appropriate school. I know that at Tribunal, you need to have a place ready - the Tribunal can not name a school if there is no place for the child. Hope this helps HelenL

It is horrible attending meetings. But sound advice from IPSEA. I am glad you have got some support from IPSEA - they are absolutely the dogs whotsies - I am anly as good as my own experience Keep us posted on how tomorrow goes. Best wishes Helen L

Hi Nellie ' Oh worshipful mistress' - the 'wide one'. You have been an absolute inspiration to everyone and a font of knowledge beyond compare. I will definately miss you - but I do understand that life moves in other directions. It goes withut saying that you go with all my love and affection. HelenL