Sallya

I cant believe it, keep having a look at the letter to make sure it really says that! Thanks again everyone xxx

Really pleased for you!! <'> Well done!!!! S XXX

This week, my case statement for the appeal went in the post. I had the support of the head and the SENCO at the tribunal, a letter of support from the middle school he will be going to, and a letter from a hospital paediatrian, the appointment came through a week ago, and he rushed a letter out in time for me to send off. This morning I got a letter to say that the LEA will assess him, and this is the first place to come to say thankyou to everyone who has helped, Nellie, Helen Kathryn ,Mossgrove, all of you are fantastic, and you have kept me going through the last few months. I know this is just the start, but at least Ive got here. Ive learnt my lesson not to give up.

Thats lovely news, it must be a great relief. Well done for all your hard work. lots of love Sally xxx

Have set a date because I dont want to have to wait until September xxx

Kathryn, I owe you a great big thankyou, for always saying the right thing. Its amazing what one phone call can do to turn your whole week upside down. Spoke to SENDIST, to let them know I would be sending dates we were available to them the next day; later SENDIST called me to say that the 2 weeks following 18 July were inconvienient for the LEA , and they were suggesting 4 or 6 July. Effectively bringing the tribunal forward by week and a half, limiting the days I can take the head. Waiting for the head to confirm if she can still make it. HH thankyou Sel, if I can do it so can you. I am the quietest, least confident person you can imagine, but at the heart of all this, is a little boy who needs help, and cant do it himself. So Im not taking no for an answer. I will do the best I can for him. And the LEA can stick their new funding system. xxx

going to tribunal, the head and SENCO are coming with me. Been a bit all over the place lately, but back on form now .

"Dad, can I have some of your chocolate balls?" (m*ltesers)

Hi Viper, sorry this is happening to you, <'> Sally xxx

I think I have to go ahead with the appeal, just so I know that I have done every thing I can, but I dont think its going to be a good outcome. Thanks everyone for all your encouragement. xxx

Found a document on the DFeS website, called "Removing Barriers to Achievement pdf" in the SEN section. Its worth a look.

Helen, the new funding is banded 1-10. D is a 5. Statements are being reserved for children who are severely autistic, Downs Syndrome, CP.. children who go to special school. Bands 8-10. Schools in my county are being given extra money for SEN , without having to apply for statements.. the funding has gone to the school, and they will decide what level of help he gets. The LEA EP wouldnt see D before, which is why I went for an Independant EP. The Lea have seen the report, and have decided that he does have needs, but the school will have the funds to support him. The LEA official is going to involve the LEA EP, to do this and is also going to say to the say without the help, Ds behaviour will deteriorate, and he will need at least the level of help he is getting now. But there will be nothing in writing as there would a statement, so no safe guard for children in the lower bands. Like Lisa says, its down to the goodwill of the school. The LEA official is going to oversee everything , and make sure that the middle school give D the support he needs. The head is arranging a meeting with the middle school next week to sort everything out. It all sounds good, but it means trusting the LEA to do what they say they are going to do. Hope I make a bit more sense now.

....down to the new funding system....the resources will be available to the school.....the LEA man is going to write to the middle school to make sure that they keep the 10 hours help he is getting now..... asking the LEA EP to see D.....previously decided not to..... Buger, thats all I can say.

Really pleased for you xxx

Thanks everyone, hi Suze, Still getting my head around all the EP had to say; very glad I had the assessment done now; it makes everything fit into place, why he struggles with schoolwork. I am glad that dypraxia and dyslexia have been recognised, especially with middle school getting closer. The school are giving him 10 hours from their own resources, so they are pulling out all the stops for him. I doubt very much that middle school will do the same for him.

Well done Simon, must have been a nerve wracking day waiting for the phone call. Really pleased for you xxx

Thanks Kathryn, I just want to say you have given me so much good advice the last two months.I am not a very confident person, and you have given me the determination to get the help my little boy needs, I have finally sent the appeal form off today in the post. The Head has continued to be supportive, however, thats not to say she hasnt put a couple of stumbling blocks in the way.The thing with the Independant EP, and trying to get imformation about the budget. The IPSEA man had to call her to explain why we needed it, and she has now done that. Hats off to her though, she has taken on board that D has dyslexia and needs to have OT involved with confirmation of dyspraxia, and has been looking into that to get the right help. Its not been an easy time, and Hubby has been as much use as a fart in a windstorm, Ive done everything. The IPSEA man phoned today, he has looked through all the paperwork, and said that he thinks the LEA will concede, and it wont need to go to tribunal, but that I shouldnt hold off on the appeal, to put the pressure on. Theres nothing else I can do now, except wait and see what happens. Thankyou again for to every one who has helped me get through this. lots of love Sally xxx

Good luck for Thursday. (Helen, the school applied for Ds assessment, and I have been able to appeal, maybe its changed?) Sally

I hope so as well Nellie Sally xxx

Ive done a printout, thanks Nelllie for doing this post. xxx

Its the final week before I have to get the appeal in before the deadline, and I have a few last things to do in the next couple of days that have happened over the holidays, the EP came last week,and has indicated that D has dyspraxia, and needs conformation from an OT, and has diagnosed him with Specific Learning Difficulties, Dyslexia. He is on the 2nd centile for literacy and is about two and a half years behind his peers in his reading and writing skills, so tomorrow I will send off the report to the LEA and hope that they will decide he needs a statutory assessment. I am going to see the Head in the morning to show her a copy of the report, just in case anything needs to be amended. D is already getting 10 hrs help from the school resources so he is getting more help than a child would normally be expected to get on School action plus I also spoke to someone from IPSEA last week, and I ended up doing a total rewrite of my reasons for appeal! Running out of time, I could do with a couple more weeks, those 2 months have flown past, and it feels like this has been my entire focus.

D s first obsession was trains, we live near a railway station, and when he was younger, we could never walk past without stopping to watch the trains go by. H loved T THE tank engine until he was 6 and a half, and then he found Star wars. He knows every character down to what colour light saber they have, he loves Horrid Henry books Scooby Doo and lately its been Ace Lightening, a citv series. Every now and then, he gets his trains out, he hasnt let go of them yet, and I think its going to be a long term interest. He also loves constucting lego. His biggest fear is meeting new adults, and he gets very panicky about homework, he hides in the toilet, I have been going into the school for 20 mins a week, to help him with it and its helped him feel less anxious about it.

Rabbit, I really hope you and hubby are getting over the raw shock of last week. You have handled everything so well, and your battles make mine look piddly. lots of love Sally xxx p.s I wanted to say more, but D is hitting me with a sock of lego.

Rabbit, how did it go today? Been thinking about you xxx

I was loaned a book called " Cat eat, Wont eat, Dietry difficulties & Autistic spectrum disorders" by Brenda Legge . It describes how a child with ASD is more than just fussy, and can be actually scared of trying new foods. I ts not just the taste, but the smell and texture of food. Its well worth a read. xxx