Fears over special needs funding

[nellie]

BBC Report - Fears over special needs funding

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6198634.stm

[JsMum]

"There's a huge amount of work on the part of educational psychologists that goes into writing statements - there are several days' worth of work that go into writing a report for a statement.

 

"This is time that could be spent in the school, advising on ways of adapting the curriculum, differentiating teaching methods and so on."

 

 

 

 

Do the educational system of sen not realise that to start for assessment of SEN statement all other areas of support and resources have been exhausted and still no progess on the child, the reason for SEN Statements was to allocate the educational funding to that spersific child.

 

I understand that schools are still forced to pay for SEN Statements under 15hours but again its the LEA who are again determining the criteria for banding on SEN children, certain banding will only allocate certain amount of Hours.

 

I am really worried that statements may be phased out because the assessment money isnt available, its very worring indeed and my child has a statement but for how long?

 

If this funding issue goes as it, then I cant see statements lasting, but I can see the health bill rising as a result of the crisis to come.

 

If the goverment cant see that by cutting costs now and cutting corners the price will be sky high later on when that child becomes an adult having other mental health issues.

 

I am learning fast though some schools are just as frustrated with the situation over funding as well, the LEA need tacling over the rules they are making on what funding is avialable to SEN children.

 

 

JsMum

[pumpkinpie]

Ive been trying to find out how much our lea pays for sen students compared to its statistical neighbour. iVE BEEN TRYING FOR AGES ON INTERNET - ANYONE KNOW OF A WAY?

[BusyLizzie100]

I have real doubts about this whole idea of putting SEN funding directly into schools to cut out the bureaucratic middleman.

 

Unfortunately for many of us on this forum, applying for Statutory Assessment and a Statement is a huge battle because schools fail to see the issues our children face. Getting an assessment is an important part of finding out what our children's needs are. Most schools are NOT specialists in doing this kind of assessing - we're lucky if the staff have done a day or two of ASD-specific training!

 

The Statementing process is designed as a safety net system to identify those children with educational need. Take that away and the system fails. Yes, I know there will stil be STatements issued for those with 'serious' needs, ie those that require more than 15 hours of additional support a week, but many (my son included) get less than that. That doesn't mean that their needs are insignificant.

 

Perhaps one way of saving money on the bureaucracy would be to stop refusing Statutory Assessment so much and just get on with it - many of us here have ended up at Tribunal (at huge cost to the LEA etc) and often the result is assessment followed by a STatement - albeit after a long and stressful battle. Stop wasting the money on saying NO and get our children properly assessed and their needs properly met!

 

Lizzie (very frustrated)

Edited December 3, 2006 by BusyLizzie100

[Kazzen161]

>>Ive been trying to find out how much our lea pays for sen students compared to its statistical neighbour.

 

Not all counties pay for SEN in the same way - but you can usually look at a school's budget on a County's web-site, and can sometimes work it out from that.

 

Karen

[Kathryn]

Found this the other day: here, on one handy page: links to the budget statement page of every LEA in England. (If your LEA isn't listed here, it's breaking the law).

 

http://www.dfes.gov.uk/localauthorities/se...ocument_368.xls

 

Interpreting the figures takes some doing.

 

K x

[dooday24]

i havealready been told that they r not statementing anymore but children with statements will keep them but that dosnt help reece as he dosnt have a statement but his school have been very good and he gets the extra help he needs but we will see wat happens!!!!

[UltraMum]

Ive been trying to find out how much our lea pays for sen students compared to its statistical neighbour. iVE BEEN TRYING FOR AGES ON INTERNET - ANYONE KNOW OF A WAY?

 

You may be able to find some info here: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/localauthorities/se...fault&ID=66

[JsMum]

i havealready been told that they r not statementing anymore but children with statements will keep them but that dosnt help reece as he dosnt have a statement but his school have been very good and he gets the extra help he needs but we will see wat happens!!!!

 

This is something the schools say to turn the parents away, if at the end of the day you feel that your child needs an assessment then you the parent can apply, and even if the LEA say they have no funding, it isnt nessacarily true, if at the end the day you can proove the childs needs are SEN then go all the way throw to tribunal.

 

Tribunal may be needed for assessment of statementing and then again if the statement is turned down so parents need to know that there is another route, Js old school said this but its not true!

 

Thankfully we didnt go to tribunal, but schools start to suggest that statementing is phasing out then they are wrong, I am worried though that they could because of suggestions that they are been phased out.

 

Children have a right to an education that meets their special needs!

 

Take away statements then that right is broken.

 

JsMum