Advice needed statement

[bluefish]

Hi,

My son has 15 hr statement and started reception in September. He has settled in well and all going ok.

This morning I was told his Lsa was off and there was no replacement! I was upset,school told me it is nothing to do with them and lsa has to be off three days before lea have to provide another....

I feel let down. I wanted to bring my son home but did not want to disrupt him as we were there.

I thought it was a leagal requirement for him to have the help?

I do not see how they can give no support today? I am sick of sen it is one thing after another.

Any advice PLEASE

my relationship with school is getting worse as I keep having to push to get things done.

Ohh yeah and I sobbed in front of the teacher

If I let him go in with no support surley It means they can get away with it? I thought that was point of the statement and not having just sa plus

 

hope someone can let me know

 

Thanks

[Suze]

When my son was at primary his LSA had a week off to go on holiday to italy , and no one was brought in to replace her, he was also statemented for 15 hrs.Hope you get some answers from your sons school, ours was useless

[Karen A]

Hi.It is worth writing a letter to the HT noting that the LSA has not been provided in line with the Statement as is a legal requirement.You could also phone the SEN department of the council to flag up your concern.If no cover is provided at least you will have documented that you are not happy in case this becomes a regular thing.

We have also documented our frustration re lack of cover for TA in our report for Ben's Annual Review.Karen.

[bluefish]

Hi.It is worth writing a letter to the HT noting that the LSA has not been provided in line with the Statement as is a legal requirement.You could also phone the SEN department of the council to flag up your concern.If no cover is provided at least you will have documented that you are not happy in case this becomes a regular thing.

We have also documented our frustration re lack of cover for TA in our report for Ben's Annual Review.Karen.

 

 

Hi Karen, thanks for reply.

I feel that if the lsa is not there and there is no replacement then surley my son should not atternd school until cover is arranged?

I want to do the right thing for my son and do not want to disrupt his routine of school,but also dont want school to think it is ok for him to go with out support if the lsa not at school. I am so frustrated

[zaman]

It might be worth phoning the NAS educational helpline to get their advise. My inclination would be to write to the Head/SENCo, asking them why he doesn't have the support. Especially if the absence of his TA was a planned one - it would have given them the time to line up a replacement.

[chris54]

Hi

As I understand the LSA is emplyed by the school and therefore it is the schools responsabilaty to make sure that cover is provided.

[Diane]

Hi

 

It is the schools responsibility to cover your sons hours. If a teacher was absent they would call in a supply. If your son is not covered and something serious happens (i hope it does not) I believe they would be in serious trouble.

 

You could look up your SEN Officer and give them a call as they are the ones who make sure that the childs needs are being met.

 

I am afraid that fighting with school is something we all have to do but really should not need to. What you are doing is standing up for your son which is the right thing to do. His education is not inclusive if he does not have the support of the LSA.

 

I would do what Karen a suggested and write the school outlining your concerns as then you will have evidence that they are not following what it says on his statement and also that you tried to get it sorted.

 

It makes me so cross when schools do this.

 

Good Luck with all of this.

[Karen A]

Hi Karen, thanks for reply.

I feel that if the lsa is not there and there is no replacement then surley my son should not atternd school until cover is arranged?

I want to do the right thing for my son and do not want to disrupt his routine of school,but also dont want school to think it is ok for him to go with out support if the lsa not at school. I am so frustrated

 

Hi again.I can understand why you feel your DS may be better at home until cover is arranged.Unfortunately it could have two negative outcomes

The school may contact the EWO regarding your DS being out of school without permission.Alternatively the school may be happy for DS to stay at home but may then think that they have an opt out option on future occasions when cover cannot be provided or your child may need extra support that is inconvenient.....exactly the message that you do not want to convey.

If you feel that the school is unable to provide a safe environment for DS without TA cover and decide to keep him at home for that reason then it is very important to write to the HT stating that that is the case and asking for a prompt response.When I withdrew Ben last year the EWO was quick to contact me. Karen.

[Kazzen161]

It sounds as though the LSA is provided by the LEA. If she is employed by the school, usually another LSA would be used to cover her (though she may not know your child very well, so it might not work very well). That's why it is good to have more than one LSA used to your child.

[bluefish]

Thanks for the replies.

When I went to pick my son up,I waited to speak to teacher and asked her if lsa would be in tomorrow, she simply said I dont know you could ask at the office! that was it . I asked at the office(btw I know staff well as I parent help at school and ds has been at the nursery since jan 07)The receptionist said they had not had a message so was not sure, the HT was in her office so she asked her, and instead of coming to speak to me told receptionist to tell me, no need to worry he was fine!!!!! and to say the HT had popped down to see his teacher and there were no problems!

I told her I thought it was a legal document and that he was supposed to have the help and asked why there was no cover, I was told" its not just you, we dont have cover when this happens and lsa has to away more than 3 days for cover to be provided."

Sorry if I am being daft here but I thought it the whole purpose of a statement was that the help was garenteed ?????????

 

I am really upset that school see me as a pain for trying to make sure the help my son is entitled to is in place.

I understand from an educational point of view as he is in reception, NO it was not the end of the world the lsa was off, but from the point of his safety and emotional well and need for stucture and routine it is important he gets the one to one each and every day.

 

Are school breaking the terms of his statement by not providing cover? They seem to think I am making a fuss about nothing

Thanks

[lynne]

Hi Bluefish,

 

Every time my sons LSA was off either short term for sickness or on courses, his school would always find cover. Plus they would also inform me of who would be covering.

 

Your childs statement is a legal document and the school should forefill that statement. The LEA provide funding and the school are expected to deliver.

 

If I was you I would write a letter to the headteacher, senco and your childs teacher also pp in your local LEA and parent partnership.

 

Its amazing what happens when you put incidences in the letter and how they are dealt with. Especially when you are sending the letter outside the school.

 

In the first incidence they have not handled the replacement well. Then when you enquired what was happening the next day a message was sent through the secretary. This is not good management.

 

Take care, let us know what happens.

[chris54]

Hi

 

I would say also send a copy of any letters to the school Governors as they are ultimately responsible for all that goes on in the school.

[julieann]

Hi Bluefish,

 

This sounds like the issue I have only recently come across in my capacity as LSA / secondary school.

Schools seem to be employing LSA's two ways:

 

1) If the school employs LSA's to support pupils in all areas of the school. 1:1, whole class support + small groups they can usually provide another LSA from their support bank as it were.

 

2) If the school only employs LSA's on fixed term contracts since the new SEN budgeting this year the school only have that one LSA for your child. They would have to use an LSA contracted to another child in order to support yours.

 

 

Julieann

[chris54]

There is nothing to stop the school bringing in a LSA from outside the school. There are agency's that can supply bank staff when required. I know I used to work for one.

Edited September 30, 2008 by chris54

[Karen A]

Thanks for the replies.

When I went to pick my son up,I waited to speak to teacher and asked her if lsa would be in tomorrow, she simply said I dont know you could ask at the office! that was it . I asked at the office(btw I know staff well as I parent help at school and ds has been at the nursery since jan 07)The receptionist said they had not had a message so was not sure, the HT was in her office so she asked her, and instead of coming to speak to me told receptionist to tell me, no need to worry he was fine!!!!! and to say the HT had popped down to see his teacher and there were no problems!

I told her I thought it was a legal document and that he was supposed to have the help and asked why there was no cover, I was told" its not just you, we dont have cover when this happens and lsa has to away more than 3 days for cover to be provided."

Sorry if I am being daft here but I thought it the whole purpose of a statement was that the help was garenteed ?????????

 

I am really upset that school see me as a pain for trying to make sure the help my son is entitled to is in place.

I understand from an educational point of view as he is in reception, NO it was not the end of the world the lsa was off, but from the point of his safety and emotional well and need for stucture and routine it is important he gets the one to one each and every day.

 

Are school breaking the terms of his statement by not providing cover? They seem to think I am making a fuss about nothing

Thanks

 

Hi again.If this has happened in reception and school have taken such a casual view it is certainly worth documenting that you are not happy.

I have not come across anything saying that LSA only needs to be provided after three days of abscence.You could contact the SEN department of your council to ask whether it is local policy.Karen.

[bluefish]

Hi,

I have spoken to ACE today who confirmed that school have to provide cover as they are in breech of a legal document. I was pretty sure that was the case and all of your replies put my mind at rest that I am not a fussy mum!

I have decided to make an appointment with the head and disscuss my concerns and tell her that my ds must have cover! (hopefully i shall word it better than that)

I am very nervous about doing this but thought I would put it in writting too, I know HT will try to tell me otherwise but want to try to sort it out before I contact Head of LEA which I will do if we can not agree that in the case of abbsensess my son MUST have cover and I wish to be informed.

 

I hate this all so much! I hate having to be assertive! I do it,like we all do, but it leaves me so drained and sad.

 

I have been thinking about pp and wonder if I should contact them to come with me to school? or perhaps wait and see how I get on first?

any thoughts

[chris54]

I suspect the 3 day thing is to do with sick pay. For the first 3 day the LSA would be on full pay out of the school budget.

 

I suspect the school dose not want to be paying out 2 lots of pay.

 

But as they are getting the money and are contracted by to council to provide the support, that is what they should do.

[bluefish]

hi, NO lsa again today and I was not told this morning!!!!! When I asked them they said they had not heard anything so thought she would be there!

I suspect knew full well she was not going to be in but didn't want me making a fuss!

I am really angry.

I have left a message fo HT so contact me regarding an appointment

Also left a message for Specialist advisory teacher asking her to call.

 

Do they not realise how horrible and stressfull it is to complain all the time!

I feel I am being made to feel guilty for asking why my sons hours are not being covered

[chris54]

Yes they do know how horrible it is to complain. That is what they bank on, that you wont complain.

[Karen A]

Hi,

I have spoken to ACE today who confirmed that school have to provide cover as they are in breech of a legal document. I was pretty sure that was the case and all of your replies put my mind at rest that I am not a fussy mum!

I have decided to make an appointment with the head and disscuss my concerns and tell her that my ds must have cover! (hopefully i shall word it better than that)

I am very nervous about doing this but thought I would put it in writting too, I know HT will try to tell me otherwise but want to try to sort it out before I contact Head of LEA which I will do if we can not agree that in the case of abbsensess my son MUST have cover and I wish to be informed.

 

I hate this all so much! I hate having to be assertive! I do it,like we all do, but it leaves me so drained and sad.

 

I have been thinking about pp and wonder if I should contact them to come with me to school? or perhaps wait and see how I get on first?

any thoughts

 

I think it would be worth contacting pp even if just to flag up the problem.Unfortunately they do vary from one area to another....some are less helpful than others.Karen.

[julieann]

Hi again.If this has happened in reception and school have taken such a casual view it is certainly worth documenting that you are not happy.

I have not come across anything saying that LSA only needs to be provided after three days of abscence.You could contact the SEN department of your council to ask whether it is local policy.Karen.

Hi Karen A,

 

I thought the three day absence policy was for teaching staff not support staff. Collegues of absent members of teaching staff can cover for three days then a supply teacher has to be brought in.

 

 

Julieann

Edited September 30, 2008 by julieann

[Karen A]

Hi Karen A,

 

I thought the three day absence policy was for teaching staff not support staff. Collegues of absent members of teaching staff can cover for three days then a supply teacher has to be brought in.

 

 

Julieann

 

Hi.I do not know about the three day abscence policy for teaching or support staff.As far as I understand the issue here is that cover is not being provided by anyone.So collegues are not covering.The child is left without a LSA.If another TA/LSA was covering then there would not be an issue.Karen.

[bluefish]

hi thanks again for replies,

HT did not get back to arrange appiontment as yet..

I feel that are relationship has already become so strained that I want to move schools, I felt this way before the end of last term when I had to fight over his SEN timetable, I was deeply saddened that they seemed to think they could slot my son in here and there for slots of 20mins with one lsa and then 40mins with another then back to the first one for 30 mins! each day two lsa's swapping and changing for short periods..... any way I challenged it and got it changed to three one hour slots with 1 lsa doing 13 hrs and another 2 hrs But made no friends! I did look at a small village school at the time that will have a place but may find it difficult to find lsa....... but if he is to be unsupported ....a school of 60 children has to be better than a class of 30?

due to the changes at school ds is very very difficult at home at the moment, wish in a way he could be difficult at school so they understood just how important this is! as a parent I am paying the price of the disruption to his routine( meltdowns being kicked and bitten screaming tantrams etc) and I think no one understands this,,apart from the parents and carers on here.

Hate this and can not believe we as parents have to on top of the daily struggle have to fight all the time.....

[Karen A]

hi thanks again for replies,

HT did not get back to arrange appiontment as yet..

I feel that are relationship has already become so strained that I want to move schools, I felt this way before the end of last term when I had to fight over his SEN timetable, I was deeply saddened that they seemed to think they could slot my son in here and there for slots of 20mins with one lsa and then 40mins with another then back to the first one for 30 mins! each day two lsa's swapping and changing for short periods..... any way I challenged it and got it changed to three one hour slots with 1 lsa doing 13 hrs and another 2 hrs But made no friends! I did look at a small village school at the time that will have a place but may find it difficult to find lsa....... but if he is to be unsupported ....a school of 60 children has to be better than a class of 30?

due to the changes at school ds is very very difficult at home at the moment, wish in a way he could be difficult at school so they understood just how important this is! as a parent I am paying the price of the disruption to his routine( meltdowns being kicked and bitten screaming tantrams etc) and I think no one understands this,,apart from the parents and carers on here.

Hate this and can not believe we as parents have to on top of the daily struggle have to fight all the time.....

 

<'> <'> <'> I do not have any easy answers.I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in being frustrated.Karen.

[bluefish]

<'> <'> <'> I do not have any easy answers.I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in being frustrated.Karen.

Thank you!

[lynne]

Hi Bluefish,

 

The only way to get it sorted is to put it in writing. State all of your concerns etc. Also the lack of the head teacher to see you.

 

I would also send a letter to the chair of governors asking for the situation to be sorted out right way.

 

State what is happening with your son and how the school are not forefilling his statement or communicating with you.

 

As I said before pp to the LEA senco parent partnership, ASd team etc. As soon as the school know you do not keep your mouth shut and you make people aware of whats going on than things get sorted.

 

While you keep quiet the school carry on.

 

 

Also the school is discriminating against your sons special needs.

 

Keep the letter factual, but state your concerns etc and say at the end of this letter you need an emergency meeting to discuss what support is going to be provided till the LSA comes back. Or if the LSA does come back you need a plan of what is going to happen if the same situation occurs.

 

Also if you do have any meetings with the head, senco write a letter back confirming the meeting and what was discussed and what happened. You may need these documents to get more support if your son deteriates.

 

If things are not documented than you have no evidence that it happens.

 

take care

[Suze]

Just wanted to say before you challenge the school over this..............please check that the LSA is supplied and paid by the school.In most LEA,S once a statement is given it is the lea who fund the LSA, my sons lsa was paid for directly by the lea and not the school.Therefore the school are not obligated to fund the replacement but the lea, and as has been mentioned they don,t have to do this till the lsa has been off for 3 consecutive days.I,m just concerned that you may go into the school etc blaming them when it may not be they who are at fault here.

[bluefish]

Just wanted to say before you challenge the school over this..............please check that the LSA is supplied and paid by the school.In most LEA,S once a statement is given it is the lea who fund the LSA, my sons lsa was paid for directly by the lea and not the school.Therefore the school are not obligated to fund the replacement but the lea, and as has been mentioned they don,t have to do this till the lsa has been off for 3 consecutive days.I,m just concerned that you may go into the school etc blaming them when it may not be they who are at fault here.

Thankyou for advice I am at upset and exhausted but very grateful for your advise

[bluefish]

Hi, I have a meeting in the morning with HT regarding ds being unsupported when Lsa is off. School have told me that he can be unsupported for three days untill cover provided.

Ok, I phoned the lea, who agreed learning support do not provide cover for three days BUT the school have a duty to provide cover from it's resorces untill cover provided, ie from non statemented children( not ideal)As it is a legal doc they must do this..... and at very least for an asd child should have a back up plan that I and my son are aware of!

Specialist advisory teacher said the same, as did ACE... But I am so nervous about having to go in and tell them that they must provide cover and need to comunicate with me so I can prepare my son.

My main worry is that ds seems to be taking it all in his stride at school but is confussed and upset at home about his day which they dont see.

I hate being in this position as it makes me look like I want to fuss and moan

I have been to visit a school that has an asd unit but was told I have to go through lea and if he coping in mainstream he would not meet criteria aaaahhhhh

ds was again unsupported yesterday morning and a not in his diary said mrs x is off no cover will be in place for three days. I told ds over and over mr x would not be at school today and guess what she was!!!!!!!!!!of course pleased he had support but ds can not understand why I lied!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I need school to understand the importance of communication for a child with asd.

Any advice on how to handle meeting?????? I know I am passionate about ds and his statement(which I think I should be) but would welcome any advice on how to disscus my concerns in order to get a posotive outcome.

The senco is at best disinterested which is why I am going to speak to HT.

 

Thanks