Statutory Assessment

[Confusedmum]

Hi All,

 

School are going to apply for an assessment this term, Senco feels that we shouldnt have a problem aleast getting an assessment so fingers crossed.

 

My problem is that i am still unsure about the suitabilty of her current school, they have been great and really supportive. DD seems to enjoy going most of the time. However they dont have much experiance of working with children on the spectrum (but they are willing to learn) and the school is massive (400 plus pupils). She is coping so far, but im worried that long term wise this may not be the school for her.

 

So what i was wondering is when/if the LEA do there assessement, do they also assess to suitabilty of the school.

[angel77]

Hi

 

The school is covered in part 4.

 

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/School...eeds/DG_4000870

 

Good luck.

 

Angel.

[Kathryn]

Hi Confused mum,

 

Assuming the statutory assessment goes ahead, it will focus on your child's abilities and needs. It's not so much the school's suitability that is under scrutiny, although the school will have to provide a lot of information about how your child is progressing, and the way her needs are being met at the moment.

 

If at the end of the process, it is decided that the school needs more resources to help your child, then a statement will be issued, most likely naming the current school. The LEA is unlikely to say that the school itself is unsuitable, unless there's overwhelming evidence that your daughter needs a different type of school- i.e. a special school or a school with an ASD unit.

 

Looking a lot further down the road, if/when she gets a statement, you do have the right to express a preference for a school. So if you are looking around, and have a different place in mind, that would be the time to push for a change of school. The impetus would have to come from you rather than the LEA.

 

Obviously you are the best judge of this, but a supportive school, willing to fill in the gaps in their knowledge, is hard to beat - it may be worth sticking with them - a case of "better the devil you know" unless, after researching what is available, you find that there is an obviously better option.

 

Hope that helps

 

K x

[Confusedmum]

Thanks for your replys

 

 

Kathryn - There is another smaller school (170 pupils) which also has and Intergrated SN Unit. There is not question that the other school is the better (small class sizes, More staff ect, ect), but its not local but its only a 10 minute drive away(but out of our catchment). The school she is at now is literally across the road from our house, and alot of the children in her class she has known since being 6 months old. But she hasnt made any solid friendships.

 

Im lucky i know that she is currently in a really careing school im just worried that long term wise, that because its such a big school it might not be the best choice.

 

My decision will also be made more difficult because DD2 will start school in sept 2009 (along way off i know) and i will need to apply for her school place before the end of sept 2008.

 

So i need to make my mind up sharpish, i obviously i want them at the same schools but i dont think that DD2 would get into the smaller school thankfully she has no SNs, but she would do if she had an older sibling there if you know what i mean.

[Kathryn]

Hi Confused mum,

 

I can see your dilemma and why you're thinking ahead now.

 

Obviously, the priority is to get the statutory assessment ASAP, as everything takes time. So the school (or you) need to put the request in as soon as term gets underway - even assuming there are no hold ups or appeals, the process from the initial request until the issue of a statement will probably take the rest of the academic year.

 

In the meantime any evidence you can gather e.g. from supportive professionals, to say that your daughter would benefit from being in a smaller school with specialist facilities, would help your case later on. The school you want can probably give you advice on your chances of getting the school named on the statement (I'm assuming it's an LEA maintained school).

 

K x

[Karen A]

Hi confusedmum.I thought I would mention that it may be worth checking the situation in your local area re your DD2.

In our area if an elder sibbling has SEN and a Statement and obtains a school place at a named school on the basis of the Statement then younger sibblings without SEN may not be offered a place at that school on the basis that an elder sibbling with SEN is there already.

The situation may well be different in your area but it would as I say be worth making sure before you decide what to do about asking for the school to be named for DS1 if you are keen for both children to go to the same school..or if getting both children to different schools might be a problem.Karen.

Edited January 2, 2008 by Karen A