mossgrove Report post Posted March 16, 2005 (edited) We had the emergency statement review for our eldest son (Aspergers, 7) at the school today. We had requested it because our son's stress levels were becoming intolerable. Like Jan in an ealier thread, our relationship with the school had broken down entirely. The root cause of this was that the school felt we should be incredibly grateful for the help were were getiing, rather than badgering them all the time about the areas of his statement provision that they were not meeting. At a meeting with the school a few weeks ago (without the LEA present) they stressed repeatedly that our son was very demanding, that staff were finding dealing with him incredibly stressful, and that it was not reasonable for us to ask for any more, at one point waving the statement in the air and saying we can't possible be expected to do all this. It's here that we enter the kind of 'twilight zone' that often happens on these occasions. At the meeting today the headmistress started by stressing that the school were meeting the provisions of his statement, and our son wazs making excellent progress. An offer to go through the statement clause by clause was declined! I think what goes on here is that schools are terrified of being seen to have fallen short. In the end an agreed line was arrived at where we as parents acknowledged the excellent efforts by the school (Some way removed from our perception of the way the last year has gone!) and they in turn acknowledged that his difficulties were such that he was no longer able to continue in a mainstream environment. With the exception of the headmistress everyone (including the LEA statementing officer) was brilliant. The headmistress spemt her time grunting and scowling! It's leaves a bit of a sour taste as the eventual end product glosses over things that maybe shouldn't be glossed over, , but we got what we wanted, which is that he goes to the special needs asessment panel next month with a view to finding a specialist placement for next year. Simon Edited March 16, 2005 by mossgrove Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drift Report post Posted March 16, 2005 indeed! Well done, sounds like a brave fight fought and won -ish! Brilliant drift Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jan Report post Posted March 16, 2005 Well done mossgrove. I hope it is onwards and upwards from now on! It is trulyawful when the head makes you feel as if it is all your fault things are the way they are. We had all the stess levels of the staff conversation, she even told us the LSA in his class had gone off sick. Turns out she was having a knee op! Probably our sons fault! : We Have just had our annual review, it went better than we had hoped but only because it was chaired by someone who did not know the school and kept the head under control. No LEA representaion. It also looks as if whatever we said may not have been recorded, as I had the school secretary on the phone earlier asking me if I could put my comments in writing and let the Head have them to be inculded in the review! I shall do this, but I would be really grateful to anyone who can give me some decent advice on just what I should include. Can I go on about his unlawful lunchtime and PE exclusion? Any info on this one gratefully received because we do not want to miss anything out. Thanks, jan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Helen Report post Posted March 16, 2005 Hello Simon, Hope everything goes smoothly from now on and that you'll get a positive result from the assessment panel Good luck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Helen Report post Posted March 16, 2005 We Have just had our annual review, it went better than we had hoped but only because it was chaired by someone who did not know the school and kept the head under control. No LEA representaion. It also looks as if whatever we said may not have been recorded, as I had the school secretary on the phone earlier asking me if I could put my comments in writing and let the Head have them to be inculded in the review! Jan, As the minutes of the meeting were not taken you ought to consider writing to the LEA giving your interpretation of the review, state that as the review didn't include the pressence of an LEA representative you feel it is important to communicate to the LEA the outcome of your review. You could also copy this information to whoever was present at the review, if you wish to do so. It is very important that you provide the LEA with your interpretation of the review, as it will be recorded in your son's LEA SEN file. Your son's headteacher may disagree with your interpretation of the review, which will then give you the opportunity to respond to any of her comments. However, your comments will remain documented in your son's LEA SEN file - regardless of whatever the headteacher says. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Helen Report post Posted March 16, 2005 I shall do this, but I would be really grateful to anyone who can give me some decent advice on just what I should include. Can I go on about his unlawful lunchtime and PE exclusion? Any info on this one gratefully received because we do not want to miss anything out. Jan, Sorry, I don't know anything about exclusion... you can get some advice from ACE's exclusion information line: 020 7704 9822. Ace also has a publication's link, exclusion is mentioned and this information can be downloaded free of charge. http://www.ace-ed.org.uk/publications.html Or you can contact The Community Legal Service Direct for some free legal advice on tel: 0845 345 4345 (?not sure if the free legal advice only applies if the person is living in either Wales or England - phone up and check it out). http://www.clsdirect.org.uk/legalhelp/leaflet20.jsp?lang=en Once you've spoken with someone, you'll then have a better idea of what to include in your letter to the LEA/the headteacher. PS, forgot to say in my last post... if your sending any letters to either the LEA or to the school, use recorded delivery. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nellie Report post Posted March 16, 2005 Simon, Great news. I know just how difficult it is to win these battles, well done. I hope you get the result you want from the panel. Nellie xx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
helenl53 Report post Posted March 16, 2005 Hi Simon, Well done - you have struggled and hopefully the panel will make the right decision for your lad. It shouldn't be a struggle, should it. Nor should it be a political game. Can you tell I have been down at LEA today!!!!! Best wishes - will keep all sorts crossed! HelenL Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
annie Report post Posted March 17, 2005 Hi Simon, Well done It's great that after all you've been through you are finally going in the right direction. I know how exhausting and frustrating it is. We have our emergency review meeting this afternoon due to the same problems that you've had. I'll post our outcome later. Annie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sallya Report post Posted March 17, 2005 Hi Simon, great to hear your good news, xxx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
invent 10 things b4 breakfast Report post Posted March 17, 2005 Hi Simon, Well done, that sounds like good news. Glad you're outcome went well, as mine did. I completed my little bit to go into the review notes today, I was undecided as to whether I should be frank or not, and decided yes I would be, not sure if it was smart or not. But like you know if it's not documented then how does the LEA know what's going on? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kathryn Report post Posted March 17, 2005 Simon, Great news. Hope things continue to go your way from now on. K Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bid Report post Posted March 17, 2005 Go Simon! You're on your way! Excellent news! Bidx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elefan Report post Posted March 17, 2005 Well done, Simon. If only the battle wasn't so hard. You're almost there now though! Elefan xx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mossgrove Report post Posted March 17, 2005 (edited) Thanks for all the replies. There is still a way to go as we need to get all the professionals involved to have submitted their reports by the middle of next month as it's the last asessment panel before the end of the academic year, but things are moving in the right direction at long last. Meanwhile attentions turn to getting a statement for out 5 year old. He has recently been diagnosed as being on the spectrum a well, but we aare encountering considerable resistance from the school who are convinced he is fine because he doesn't cause them problems. (He is passive in the classroom and melts down when he gets home - sound familiar?) Luckily we have just recveived the report from the asessment unit he attended for 6 weeks or so earlier in the term, and that sets out his isues in clear and unambiguous terms. Not easy reading, but we are cautiously optimistic that things will proceed to a full assessment. We hould know in the next week or two. Thank god our 3 yo girl (NT) has taken to nursery school like a duck to water and our 18 month old is too young for it all! Simon Edited March 17, 2005 by mossgrove Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
