Need some help from those of you with children in special schools

[stressedmumto2]

Hi, I hope there are some of you out there who may be able to help with this one.

 

We have my child's annual review coming up and in line of my son's statement his needs are not being met because of his refusal to go to school and often not engaging in therapy sessions, he's in a ebd school now at the request of a tribunal decision and the placement is effectively breaking down. What I need to know is if the school say they are unable to meet his needs but think his needs can be met in a ebd residential how do I go about proving that actually they may not be met there and that he needs a more specialist ASD school?

 

We have several reports which state he needs a specialist ASD school and that he will fall apart in any ebd school but at the last tribunal these were ignored, is it a case of I need to get more reports/assessments done (which I do not want to have to pay for again as they seemed to have carried no weight last time) or the fact that a ebd school has failed is evidence that he needs more specialist help.

 

SaLT has said she will be writing a report to say that his speech therapy is a need and it's not being addressed and I think the school are even getting to the stage of admitting that it may not be the right placement but I do not want another school failure, the next school has to be right, if it gets to that stage.

 

Please can anyone share their knowledge/experiences?

[mossgrove]

 

<'> <'>

 

Having your child in a faiiling placement is hard, i know because we have been there.

 

A lot of the next steps will depend on your relationship with his current school.

 

Ideally they will agree that his current placement is not appropriate but this needs to be done in such a way that the finger isn't pointed at them, as it your contribution implies that they have failed your son they may get defensive.

 

You should write to the LEA to say that the school have done everything that could reasonabley be asked of them (and you are very grteful to them for that and do not wish what you are saying to be taken as a criticism of them) but it is now clear to all involved that your son's needs are such that they cannot be met within his current placement and you are therefore seeking an emergency review of his current placement in advance of the normal scheduled Annual review.

 

If you indicate that the school have not done everything reuired of them under the statement he will simply be sent back to his current school with a request that they do it peoperly this time. This is why keeping the school on board is so important even if deep down you believe they can and should have done better.

 

As for getting a residential placement I have no experience if this to deraw upon, but there others on the forum that do, hopefully someone will be along later to give their insight.

 

 

Simon

 

 

[Flora]

Hi,

 

I'll try not to waffle too much here. Basically I won my tribunal for an AS special school against and EBD school for many reasons, but I'll list here some of the key points:

 

For the AS specific school:

 

- TEACCH is used throughout the whole school

- They have an extended day time tabled for life skills etc

- there is an appropriate peer group for him to access because it's AS specific

- the building is modified and designed for children with sensory issues (ie, curtained walls, carpeted floors, low ceilings, proper lighting etc)

- he wanted to go

 

Against the EBD school:

 

- They didn't use TEACCH at all

- No extended curriculum

- Not an appropriate peer group because of the wide range of needs encompassed by EBD.

- The ethos of the school was to provide a highly stimulating learning environment which would be absolutely awful for anyone with severe sensory difficulties (Bill actually walked out of the school after 5 minutes when he visited)

- My independent EP did a risk assessment, along with the HT of the school, and they both agreed that he would not be safe there without TWO dedicated TA's.

- the distance meant he would have to go resi, which is fine (he is resi at his school now), but they did not offer any extension to the curriculum to encompass the resi time.

 

As for the residential question: The panel at my hearing decided that Bill didn't need a residential placement; however they did think he needed an EXTENDED day, which could not be provided locally, hence the practical need for residesi. This is very important because many deserving cases lose their tribunal over this technicality if the two schools on the table can meet the child's needs. If you can't prove the need for resi (and it's very hard to do this), then you have to prove that no other local school can provide what is in your child's statement.

 

Sorry, this is a very potted version (and there is much more to it), but I've tried to cherry pick the key points and avoid waffling.

 

Flora

 

[stressedmumto2]

Hi Simon, thanks for your advice about getting school on side. This school wasn't a school I wanted for my son so in the past we have been at loggerheads with each other over ways in which he has been managed but recently we have come together and tried to work things out, the school have done all that they can and they have tried so very hard, something which I thought I would never admit and I have written this to them and said it to them so I think they know that I am no longer blaming them, it was always in my thoughts that my son would school refuse in this placement as it's been a pattern of his behaviour which has ben so hard to change and my big worry is that he could still refsue in another placement

 

Because my son has so many therapies needs and was unwilling to work with therpaists outside of class the therapist work was put into his whole class so that he could access what he needed. The school really have gone above and beyond with trying to meet his needs. Thanks again for your advice <'>

[Enid]

Mossgrove, will be using your words for a letter which I am about to type to LEA, so thanks <'>

 

Stressedmum, I am in the same boat as you, school failing my son, started there in Feb in y7, its an EBD school and its just not working, I too want a specialist school, and the one I have in mind is for boys 9 to 19 with ASD/ADHD with challanging and/or vulnerable behaviour, it is a theraputic and holistic school, the nearest one, there are 4, is 3 hrs away, but the stability is what he needs. sorry not much help but first meeting/panel is coming up soon, so may be more help then, will let you know how I get on. <'> <'>

[stressedmumto2]

Hi Flora thanks for your message, you have made some very valid points that I need to consider and was over-looking so thanks. I think the local authority do have a school in mind but it is residential EBD and it's local and many of the boys at my son's current school ahve moved onto this school so I think it's important I get myself off there and have a look around, it's no good saying I don't want a school without even loking at it. Thanks again <'>

[stressedmumto2]

Enid good luck with the school you want, i've been there and it is a lovely school, I have decided to look at some other schools as I feel that that school I have been advised to go for is just too far away, if son were to still school refuse the drive there would be too much for me even if I were going up as his escort. I just want to wish you luck <'>

[pumpkinpie]

You will need to show the reaons why their choice of school will not meet his needs.

It doesnt matter if your choice is the best one for him.

Cost , value for money , and will one of their LA schools be able to support him?

 

Im just saying this to help you focus on this in your evidence.

 

I think having a look at the alternatives in the area is vital, keep notes on each one as to how it does and doesnt meet your sons needs and put it in your evidence.

I dont know what your evidence for the tribunal was but maybe you can look at getting them updated so you can presnt up to date evidence which also focuses on why the LA schools just arent suitable.

 

Hope this helps

[stressedmumto2]

I've had a meeting at the school, it's pretty much decided that residential is the way forward, despite having been fighting for this it's actually really emotional right now the things is now making sure he has a placement which can meet all of his needs. My son is going to be having an ADOS assessment next year and we think that will be the decider on what type of provisoin it will be either ebd or asd.

 

I have many reports independant ones which state he needs ASD residential provision but when you have a local authority who do not agree with that I guess it's still going to be a battle to get him the right kind of help and education setting that he requires. Thanks everyone for your advice <'>

[mossgrove]

I've had a meeting at the school, it's pretty much decided that residential is the way forward, despite having been fighting for this it's actually really emotional right now the things is now making sure he has a placement which can meet all of his needs. My son is going to be having an ADOS assessment next year and we think that will be the decider on what type of provisoin it will be either ebd or asd.

 

I have many reports independant ones which state he needs ASD residential provision but when you have a local authority who do not agree with that I guess it's still going to be a battle to get him the right kind of help and education setting that he requires. Thanks everyone for your advice <'>

 

Good to hear the school isn't being obstructive. It is an emotional time when your child is recognised as having a greater level of need than his or her peers as on the one hand it is a huge relief when people believe you, and on the other hand it makes it all hit home all the harder.

 

Take care. <'>

 

Simon

Edited November 19, 2008 by mossgrove

[Jadensmum]

You have been given some great advice. Just wanted to say Good Luck <'>