Hectorshouse

hi Sel, me again ... What area are you in? I might be able to shed some light when I know this. Thanks HHxx

Hi Kazz I am mum to a 14 year old (nearly 15) who is still a thumb sucker, thankfully now it is only in the privacy of our home, he used to do it school up to yr7 and then became aware of it and soon stopped when anyone commented. Also his father was a thumb sucker, and my sister is still and she's 45 (sorry sis she probably won't like me saying that but its true ... I've got the pic's to prove it) Try not to worry, generally it becomes a private pleasure. HHxx

Hi seeking sanity (love the name) IPSEA = Independent Panel for Special Education Advice - Offers free telephone advice for parents of children with SEN. You can find more about them at http://www.ipsea.org.uk I hope this helps, its sounds like you need some very good advice with your situation, also The Advisory Centre for Education might be another good port of call and can be found at http://www.ace-ed.org.uk again extremely impartial, and with the interest of the child with SEN in mind. They also have some really good publications that help explain the SEN process. And if you really want to get your teeth stuck in to the SEN process I can't recommend strongly enough getting the Special Education Needs Code of Practice from the DfES its free!!!! and it has all the legislation that schools and LEA's are meant to follow. http://www.dfes.gov.uk or phone 0845 60 222 60 I hope this helps, every child as the right to an education according the their needs. HHxx

The DfES code of practice points out that the provision should normally be quantified i.e in terms of hours of provision, staffing arrangements etc .. the LEA's must not, in any circumstances have blanket policies not to quantify provision. COP 8:37 If you can get hold of the ACE Special Education Handbook: The law on children with special education needs, it is really helpful in putting the COP into understandable terms. http://www.ace-ed.org.uk Don't let them fob you off, many LEA's rely on the fact the majority of parents aren't versed in the legislation. Hope this helps. HH xx

Hi Carole, I think this is a great idea and I hope Amelia gets the page space this subject deserves. SEN is failing children all over the country, children who need SEN are now at the mercy of budget orientated LEA's, this is the most vulnerable group of people, many parents of children who need SEN are struggling to cope with already challenging children and then having to cope with wading through a complicated SEN process which alleges to have the interest of the child at heart. If this was the case, then there would not be the horror stories that parents have and there would not be children excluded from school where inclusion has failed them. I have my own battle with the LEA for my son, and its hard for me, but I know I am only one of a much larger number who are in the same situation, when all we really want is for our children to be happy, have an education according to their needs, and an acknowledgement of their condition. I would be interested in supplying my own story to this and most of it can be found on my blog. http://www.asdfriendly.org/blogs/hectorshouse/ HHxx

Hi to everyone here, I'm mum to T (11) who has Asperger's/Dyslexia/Dyspraxia and is generally extremely quirky/frustrating/lovely etc .. etc .. I stumbled across this site quite by accident and it is fab to see such a large forum for ASD and with such great information on here as well. I am a hardened LEA battler, and still battling but hey ho, isn't life fun, more can be read about me and mine on my blog http://www.asdfriendly.org/blogs/hectorshouse/ I hope to get to know people here as well as other forums a frequent, as this seems another really fab place to visit. Looking forward to chatting with everyone here. HHxx