Questions re statement ?

[Clare63]

Yesterday I posted that the LEA panel have agreed that it is appropriate for Connor to receive a statement, have had a letter today confirming this and stating :-

 

~ Will receive 23 hours of support at his present school

 

~ Connor will benefit from a personalised programme to reflect his strengths & needs with a high level of 1:1 support

 

The next step is for the school and us to have a network meeting and if after that we feel he needs more support we can go bcak with evidence to the panel for consideration.

 

My questions are :-

 

a) Does this sound like a good statement (hours/support, I appreciate that they will have to be in detail of how & what etc., but does it sound reasonable ?)

 

I was hoping they would suggest specialist provision as Connor's problems are sensory and environmental rather than academic, do they usually state the school from where they go/went ?

 

c) Would the network meeting be just us and the school ? I have found them quite hard to communicate with in the past due to their lack of true understanding of AS and how it effects each indivdual differenty

 

That will do to start with, after yesterday's feelings of elation I today feel somewhat anxious and worried, I know i should feel pleased but I just can't see him returning to the same school which caused him the breakdown in thew first place, am I being unreasonable ????

 

Thanks in advance for any advice or opinions

 

Clare x x x x

[Karen A]

Hi Clare.

The easiest way to work out whether 23hours of support will be adequate is to calculate how many school hours there are in a school week.Then work out whether there are any times when Connor would not need support and deduct them from total.Add a small period of time at beginning and end of school day for hand-over.Basicaly is 23 hours full time if that is what Connor needs?

The other thing to think about is who will provide support and what experience and qualifications does that person need to have....23 hours of support sound wooly to me.Is it all 1:1 or could that end up being a TA around in the building Sorry to be cynical but have leaned the hard way.

If you feel that specialist provision is needed and do not feel that the present school would be able to meet Connor's needs...even with the support suggested then it is your right to state that.You do not have to accept the proposal made by the LEA.

The LEA should have sent you a copy of the proposed statement so that you are able to decide whether you are happy with exactly what they are proposing.Do not agree to anything until you have read the proposed Statement and are sure you agree with it.

There is a very good thread on checking the proposed statement...I will look it up for you.Karen.

[Karen A]

http://www.asd-forum.org.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=565

This is the thread I hope it is useful.Karen.

[Clare63]

Karen,

Thank you so much, apparently they will send me a draft statement in a few days and I will follow your advice and that of the above thread.

I guess its one of those bitter/sweet things, I have been working towards them granting a statement, yet now its finally happening I feel very sad and so very emotional tonight and really can not explain why.

Thanks again.

Clare x x x x

[Bagpuss]

Clare <'>

[Stella63]

Hi Clare,

 

You just made me pull out the latest statement for OJ out of the drawer! As you may know Surrey got pulled up for their 'woolly statements' and they had to redo them all recently. OJ's latest one states that he has 19hrs per week for individual, paired or small group support to; support social interaction skills, support his capacity to manage his anxiety and support access to the curriculum. Hmmmm, still slightly woolly wouldn't you say!!!!??? However, it is working for him, apart from p.e. (which I am on the case!) and it is down to the the school how they resource it - maybe soon you can think about applying for a place at .......???

 

Stella xxx

 

ps two full days for AJ and one bad comment in diary - not bad!!!

[Deedee]

Hi Clare I was just going to say the same thing as Stella about Surreys statements..Hopefully where they have been pulled about it they will be really aware of this when they write Connors..We can live in hope can't we!!

I found the thread Karen highlighted very useful when checking M's over.

Re the Network meeting (think they call it a multi Agency here) it usually involves all the Professionals who deal with your child on a regular basis i.e EP,Salt etc.

 

I also found PP very helpful when checking M's statement,our one actively encourages Parents to make them quantify hours/support she's great!

 

Dee XX

[Clare63]

Thanks ~ Baggy, Stella & Dee,

 

I sure needed that hug Baggy,

 

Great news re AJ Stella long may it last !!!! thanks for letting me have insight to OJ's statement & about woolie statements (made me )

 

Dee thanks for the encouragement, I have had a look at that thread and printed stuff ready to go when the statement arrives (just gotta go but my A4 pad, 2 ring binders and a pink & yellow highlighter !!!! as its suggests, I love it when they give step by step advice and I will encourage anyone else in the same boat to go read the thread and print off the links)

 

Clare x x x x