Devestated - where to go from here?

[shamu]

I am just reeling here and don't know where to go.

 

DS is 4 and a half, 5 in December. He has been in an assessment placement at nursery for the last year, and within 2 months of him starting we had his first annual review for his statement. At that time, the school (MLD school with specialist autism provision) felt that they were unable to meet his needs and suggested that the LEA considered him for the autism unit at the borough's SLD school. The LEA representative was a bit cagey at the time and asked whether he could remain in the school for the autumn term of 2008/09 if the SLD unit was full, but the school held their ground and said no, as they couldn't meet his needs.

 

At the same meeting, we agreed that the statement needed a complete revision as it in no way reflected DS's needs. I have yet to receive this document.

 

In January, as DS's behaviour at home was deteriorating due to the distress of being in a mainstream nursery environment (albeit on the site of a special school) I requested he was moved as soon as possible. No joy there as there is no fluidity in the system and a severe lack of spaces at the SLD school/autism unit. In addition, I was told that as they had to build the new classroom and recruit the staff they couldn't release James' finalised statement as they couldn't name the school.

 

Fast forward to last week and his second annual review - no LEA rep attends (what a surprise ). I still don't have a statement and I've had no news about his placement. A teacher from the proposed school attends and when I ask her what is happening she admits that there won't be a class for DS to enter in September!!!! I come home furious and talk to my case worker who says "we didn't want to worry you"!!!!

 

I met with the SENAS team manager yesterday who has basically said that I have no option but to wait until the school has a place. They are using the fact that he is not of statutory school age as a way of wriggling their way out of providing an education for my son. I am in pieces. He can't even go back to nursery so I will have to have him at home 24/7. And this could go on indefinitely unless they recruit very soon. At the best, it's going to be six weeks with no provision at all, not even home tuition (not that that would be any good). I am paralysed. I have requested that they send his paperwork through to our nearest NAS school which has a space for a child of DS's age, but they have as good as said they won't fund the placement even if he is assessed there. What am I to do from here? I can just see his behaviour deteriorating and my mental health failing and my daughter's opportunities for a few hours of "normal" life disappearing.

 

I've written to DS's paeditrician, our local councillors and our MP outlining the situation but can't see any way it's going to resolve itself. I am so so angry - everywhere the literature and evidence talks about "Early Intervention" and "Every Disabled Child Matters" yet the very people responsible for providing his education show no interest in him or me whatsoever.

 

Has anyone any ideas at all?

 

Thanks

Shamu

:wink:

[Kazzen161]

Call ipsea www.ipsea.org.uk and check out the under 5 thing. It doesn't sound right to me.

[purplehaze]

Hello Shamu, I really feel for you but unfortunately do not have an answer for you either. I'm in a similiar persistion with my 14 year old son. The appropriate schools are full and the one he is in is not appropriate and he is failing. I have called for a interim review so will see what happens in September. There just isn't enough school places for ASD children.

 

I think you need to get someone on your side, have you anyone from parent partnership involved?

 

Good luck X

[Kathryn]

I met with the SENAS team manager yesterday who has basically said that I have no option but to wait until the school has a place. They are using the fact that he is not of statutory school age as a way of wriggling their way out of providing an education for my son.

 

Shamu, this is appalling.

 

Although your son isn't of statutory school age, legally, SEN provision includes children from the age of two. The LA should not be using his age as an excuse to do nothing. Am I right in thinking you've been waiting over a year for a statement that everyone agrees should have been amended after the first review, let alone the second?

 

It sounds as though the LA are in breach of procedure in not issuing the statement, and therefore denying you your right to appeal. It's worth taking advice (ring IPSEA) on whether there is a case for judicial review, in your son's name. The threat of action may in itself be enough to stir the LA into doing the right thing. Usually you have to try existing avenues of remedy first, so if you haven't yet put in a formal complaint to the LA, this might be a good idea.

 

The politicians might help if you keep the pressure on. Is your MP any good? We found ours quite helpful in putting pressure on the LA in a difficult situation, and getting an answer out of the top man.

 

Chin up, keep fighting

 

<'>

 

K x

[Frangipani]

Hi Hun,

 

Just sending you lots of these <'> <'> <'> reading your post brought back lots of memories and teary moments of when my son was going from Preschool to Primary school. He had to repeat a year at Preschool because he simply wasnt ready and they were figuring out where they could send him.

 

It turned out none of the local schools could meet his needs. I had to move my family from the Northern Beaches to the North Shore 10 kms away to a be close to a suitable school. It was a bit of a merry go round but we got there. If you read some of my earlier posts you can read the whole story it was quite lengthy.

 

Just wanted to wish you all the best.

 

I was just recently had the ASD/ADD diagnosis a recent single mum and working full time - all my hell came at once. I had no one. A horrible horrible time in my life, but I got there, and gradually built up a wonderful support network.

 

For my sanity, we later relocated back to the Northern Beaches as I knew my kids loved it here. As I learned more about ASD/ADHD I managed better so didnt feel a prisoner to the fear of the unknown.

 

Many conferences and support groups helped me through. My lifeline, and good books they recommended.

 

A day at a time hun.

 

Take care

 

Love

Fran xx <'>

[shamu]

Shamu, this is appalling.

 

Although your son isn't of statutory school age, legally, SEN provision includes children from the age of two. The LA should not be using his age as an excuse to do nothing. Am I right in thinking you've been waiting over a year for a statement that everyone agrees should have been amended after the first review, let alone the second?

 

It sounds as though the LA are in breach of procedure in not issuing the statement, and therefore denying you your right to appeal. It's worth taking advice (ring IPSEA) on whether there is a case for judicial review, in your son's name. The threat of action may in itself be enough to stir the LA into doing the right thing. Usually you have to try existing avenues of remedy first, so if you haven't yet put in a formal complaint to the LA, this might be a good idea.

 

The politicians might help if you keep the pressure on. Is your MP any good? We found ours quite helpful in putting pressure on the LA in a difficult situation, and getting an answer out of the top man.

 

Chin up, keep fighting

 

<'>

 

K x

 

Thanks everyone.

 

Kathryn, you're quite right that the LEA are in breach of accepted procedures, but Parent Partnership advised me that they would use the "exceptional circumstances" as a get out clause - yup, the circumstances caused by years of inadequate provision and chronic underfunding that have led to fights over 6 places a year in the only specialist setting in the borough.

 

Just to update, the LEA have agreed to send his papers through to the NAS school but are also sending them to a nearby borough's SLD school. Whilst this school is very good, it doesn't have the specific autism provision that we feel is so essential to James' progress, so I wouldn't want him there long term.

 

They have also acknowledged that they need to release a finalised statement, albeit without the school named, as soon as possible in order to give me my legal rights, so at least things are moving forward.

 

Thanks for the support, it means a lot to me <'>

 

Shamu

[Lynden]

Good news re them sending the papers through. Also, I know how you feel about James being in autism specific provision but I think you might find that G surprises you, I'm assuming thats the other place they're talking about as I dont think Logans autism couldn't be better managed than it is there and they really have an awful lot of knowledge and expertise on autism within the school. Next year for example 5 out of the 7 in Logans class have autism, and the other two need the same sort of structure so it will be geared towards that.

 

Hopefully things will all work out and you'll get J in the place thats best for him though

 

Lynne x