Am I wasting my time re Statement for daughter?

[Louisa]

Hi wonder if you could please help.

 

Our 15 year old daughter has been out of high school for 1� years and is now attending an Education Medical part time school. She has no diagnosis except for social phobia and depression, but does have lots of the traits of asperger's. They feel she doesn't tick enough boxes. She is now on prozac. Although she was referred to this part time school over a year ago, she has only recently felt able to attend every day.

 

Anyway her psychiatrist at CAMHS told me, last week, to request that the part time school she is at, apply for a statement for her, and that they will fully support it.

 

When I asked the school, the manager said they could not do this because they are not a proper school, they are just a service, and that her old school would have to initiate this. (Her old school were useless by the way). She also wondered why CAMHS said this, as she feels there would be no benefit at all of her having a statement as she is in year 11 and feels it wouldn't be any use at college (if we could ever get her to go!). Academically she doesn't have any problems but often cant work with other children due to her high anxieties.

 

I am not sure therefore whether to apply for this statement myself (although I tried once before and got knocked back because her high school had not put anything into place, i.e. an IEP etc) but obviously would if it was going to help her.

 

Just wondering if anybody knows much about this please?

 

Many thanks.

 

L x

[JsMum]

 

 

 

I would go for it, it at least identifys all that you have said, as long as its in part 2 of her statement.

 

You have support from her peadatrition and though you havent got a diagnosis of AS as long as it states Traits/behaviour/features of ASD then thats enough to say she has needs, doest it just annoy you when they say, they dont tick enough boxes, I would go for a statement, its never too late.

 

I know for college though special needs is very different and it maybe she could access support much easier.

 

I used contact a family for special educational needs support, they have a lot of booklets on SEN.

 

I also used the Educational Helpline throw National Autistic Society. have a look throw the SEN TOOLKIT TOO, and Im sure others here will come and give support especially for children you daughters age.

 

JsMum

 

[teachermum1]

The first thing to say is that schools don't need to apply - you can, and it gives you more control if you applied rather than school.

 

However, if she is in Y11, I can see why they're saying there's not much point, as, by the time it came through, she'd virtually have left school anyway.

 

The problem is that Statements only count AT SCHOOL, unless there are exceptional circumstances. So it wouldn't transfer to college anyway, which would mean an awful lot of fighting for a couple of months of benefit.

 

It seems she is getting appropriate education, so I'm not sure what else a Statement would bring her.

 

Sorry not to be more upbeat. Good luck.

[bid]

My son's Statement was finalised when he was just 15.

 

But, I set out to get a Statement so that I could go for a place at a residential special school.

 

So, it is possible to get a 'late' Statement, but it isn't easy, and you need to have a clear idea of why you want it and 'tailor' your approach with that end in mind.

 

What do you want for your daughter?

 

Bid

[Kazzen161]

It would be useful to have a Statement if you thought she might benefit from going to a specialist school for Yr 12 and 13, as bid says (doesn't have to be residential).

 

[jb1964]

Hi Louisa,

 

We were in a similar situation - our daughter is in yr 11 and we didn't know whether to go for a statement or not - would it help for the future - college etc.

 

In the end we haven't gone for it but last month had a meeting at school including the SENCO to apply for extra time and rest breaks during her exams.

 

Also just recently had an appointment with the SEN Careers advisor - who went through all my daughters difficulties and wanted to know what would help if she decided to go to college. She is now writing up an action plan of needs and is going to start all the wheels in motion ready for if she decides to go to College (her school doesn't have a sixth form - she told me that this support is there while she is in further education and also until she starts looking for a job).

 

Ideally she told me she'd like our decision by around Mar/April so that she can apply by the end of May for funding etc - she offered lots of support and ideas (much more than currently available in school etc) which totally surprised me, such as a befriender king of thing, someone to greet her on arrival to take her to her class, a mentor to meet with her several times a week to go over anything she wasn't sure about - help with homework, coursework etc.

 

She also told me that this particular service is available to all statemented children and children on school action plus (which my daughter is on - although I only just found that out) - I'm assuming this is available in all borough's. Was your daughter on school action plus - if not then perhaps having a statement would help if you have something similar where you are and she is interested in attending college etc.

 

Take care,

Jb

Edited October 29, 2008 by jb1964

[Flora]

I'd say it was well worth applying for a statement. A statement can be maintained until the end of an academic year in which the young person turns 19 as long as they remain in continuous education.

 

Flora

[JsMum]

I'd say it was well worth applying for a statement. A statement can be maintained until the end of an academic year in which the young person turns 19 as long as they remain in continuous education.

 

Flora

 

 

I thought that too as Js school take boys until they are 19, what if a person is still in education after 19yrs do they still recieve support does something else replace it, I know college is a lot easier to get support, when I was at college every one was screened for dyslexia and then support in place straight away.

 

There is a full department for Learning support, councilling services and mental health support too, it truely is amazing the difference at college but If J was just only now getting his needs addressed, identified and achknowledged and he was 15 Id still go throw the process remember statements add weight to other referals, too, DLA, of which when a child reaches 16 they apply in their own identity, UNLESS they requires adult support because of developmental delays/disabilities.

 

JsMum

 

[bid]

A Statement applies only to anyone at school (some special schools go on to 19).

 

If the young person leaves school and goes onto a further ed college, the Statement is replaced by a Section 140 which is written by Connexions. Although it details their needs and provision, it isn't legally binding in the same way as a Statement.

 

So, when my DS was at his residesi school until 17 he had a Statement from our LEA, then when he went onto the special college he had a Section 140. Now he is at our local mainstream college he still has a Section 140.

 

Connexions supports young people until until they are 25. I don't know whether this means a Section 140 continues until this age.

 

Hope that clarifies things.

 

Bid

Edited October 30, 2008 by bid

[Karen A]

Hi Louisa.I wanted to say that SEN and Statements can still apply to children who have mental health needs such as anxiety or ASD even if they are very academically able.If your DD cannot attend school then she cannot access the curriculum....however academic she is.

My elder DS was supported at School action plus due to anxiety and panic attacks even though he was one of the most academically able in his secondary school.

Ben also has fulltime support and he is also very able in some areas of the curiculum.Ben has AS and dyspraxia.Karen.

Edited October 30, 2008 by Karen A

[Louisa]

Hi

 

Thanks for all of your replies and sorry for the delay in replying; both kids have been sick.

 

I think that I will have to see if there is a SEN Careers Advisor we could talk with, or somebody at Connections.

 

It seems though, that unless she has a statement, or is on School Action Plus, then she may not get much help.

 

I am quite confused by it all. Her school, when she was attending, eventually said they would put her on School Action Plus, but then we couldn?t get her back in, so she was referred to where she is now, so presumably that means she is not on it.

 

I will also have to try to speak to the psychiatrist at CAMHS again, to see what he thinks.

 

As for what my daughter wants ? well she says that she really wants to go to college and be able to mix and do well, but she is terrified. The part time place she is at now only have 6 pupils, and she struggles with this.

 

 

If anybody can give any further input, we would very grateful.

 

Thanks again.

 

L xx

[Kazzen161]

I would guess that she should be on SA+ if she is at an alternative educational placement - ask them.

 

It is spelt Connexions, and they have a web-site. You need to speak to the Connexions worker who specialises in SEN.

 

Colleges are very different to school, as are the students in them. If she picks the right college (they vary a lot in size and layout) and the right course (with small classes and where the students are all keen to learn), she could do well.

 

It is imporatant to go and visit several colleges, talk to the relevant course tutor and to the SEN person.

 

 

[Kathryn]

Hi Louisa

 

I've been in a similar situation - see my reply on this thread for a bit of background about our year 11 battle and the statement that never was..

 

Need to add that my daughter is now at an ordinary FE college doing a mainstream course and doing well. She was out of school for a year with severe anxiety and depression. She never thrived at school and now she is getting excellent support in an environment which suits her much better. So even if school goes pearshaped, and even without that holy grail, the statement, there's hope yet. Don't despair.

 

As other have said, you need to work out what educational path your daughter wants to follow and that will determine what you do. If she's definitely going to college after this academic year, I'd say there's no point in applying for a statement - you may be subjected to the same delaying tactics as we were, and subject yourself to a whole lot of pointless stress.

 

Visit your local FE college and see what support they provide for young people with SEN: talk to other parents if you can and enlist your local Connexions to guide you through it: that's their job. As Kazzen said, you need to contact the department that deals with SEN, it's called AccessAbility - (in my experience the regular connexions workers are a bit clueless!). The connexions worker will also give you advice and information about specialist FE colleges, you may want to visit a couple and see what they have to offer.

 

Just to add, at college my daughter gets 1-1 support in class and half an hour a week support with planning and organisation. She doesn't always make use of the help, as she finds she doesn't need it at the moment, but just knowing it's available is reassuring for her. The best thing is that the tutors mostly treat her as a mature individual and are sensitive to what she says she needs.

 

I'm happy to answer any questions you have about college, post 16 education options and our own experience.

 

K x

Edited November 4, 2008 by Kathryn

[Louisa]

Hi Kathryn

 

Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge. I have decided to take your advice (and others) and not bother applying for the statement.

 

I was also going to try to push for a diagnosis. as I still feel she has Asperger?s, (see previous posts) but I think CAMHS are just stringing us along, until she will be discharged at 16, so I don?t see there being much benefit now.

 

I will start to visit some FE colleges with my daughter and see what they have to offer. However, she has no idea what courses she wants to take.

 

I am quite worried about the travelling though, as she currently gets taxis to her part time school. There is a college in our town but it isn?t one of the best. I do wonder though whether it would be worth her going there, just because it is near, and she would be able to get home easier if need be?

 

Kathryn I have read your previous post (I don?t post much but I do read others a lot) about how well your daughter has done in her BTec Diploma and it brought tears to my eyes. She is doing really well to stick to her course, and is an inspiration!

 

I am off now to take her shopping whilst the shops are quiet! Since going on Prozac, she is able to go in shops if there are not too many teenagers!

 

x

Edited November 5, 2008 by Louisa

[Kazzen161]

It is good to get a feel for the college, so do go and visit it.

 

My son was interested in doing a plumbing course at one stage, and the tutor advised that he would be better on the higher level course as the type of children on the lower level course were more likely to bully/tease him.

 

 

[Louisa]

Thanks Kazzen - As my dd has missed so much schooling, she obviously wont do as well in her GCSE's as she would have done, although she has no learning difficulties. Therefore, she will probably end up having to do the lower/vocational courses. They have said she will get some C's but she had to drop some of her subjects due to there not being the staff to teach.

 

I have contacted Connextions by email, who have advised I go down the route of a Section 140, as Bid mentioned. However, when L was filling in some applications forms at her part time sort of school, the Connextions School Link worker told her to tick 'no' for any disabilities! What is that about?

 

xx

[chris54]

I don't know any details but when my stepdaughter was at college one of her friends had a full time learning support assistant because of her social phobia and dyslexia.

 

That bit about not ticking the disability box, That could be that because hers do not fit into a neat category, that it would be to much work defining what her problems are so just says tick NO box.

 

A Lot depends on your definition of Disabled.

 

Hope this helps.