SuzyQ Report post Posted February 19, 2009 (edited) Hi, As some people may remember, my DD has AS but is currently in a psych unit as she has auditory and visual hullicinations, and yes she is still there nearly 11 weeks on with no answers!! Just pumped full of anti psychotic drugs!!! My question is, I applied for a statement in March 08, after getting reports form all professionals panel decided to ignore what they all said and said mainstream education will be fine with 20 hours support, the school who had said they didn't think she could function in mainstream doone a complete turn around and supported the panel descicion, 2 weeks in to term or September 08 the school decided she wasn't functioning and things got progressively worse until finally by half term she was taken out of school , appeals were sent to the LEA, and panel then looked at specialist provision and agreed strangely!!! they named 4 units that they would send her details to to see if they could offer her a place, then she got admitted urgently to the hospital Dec 08. We have had a CPA meeting where they have agreed that she needs a 52 week a year placement, but our case worker from LEA refussed to be there, there were some funding people there who agreed, now we are in Feb 09 and I have had no help from LEA about schools nothing!!! Who should be finding the correct placement???? We are nearly a year on from my initial application and are no further along!! How long should this take? My daughter is going to be 15 in a couple of moonths she has missed half of year 10 a very important year, she is also academically not stupid. One issue we have is that the LEA is Kent, the hospital is Surrey and the school is East Sussex, so we are cross counties, we live in Kent though, and our psychiarist from CAMHS seemed to think there wasn't anything suitable for her in Kent...... This may not make much sense....but if anyone can fathom what I am saying help please!!! Does anyone know of full time residential schools? or who I should now be harrassing about getting this sorted??? I am totally at a loss, my DD was only diagnosed in June/July 08 so I am learning as I go....I have to say its been a wild roller coaster for the last 18 months - 2years!! Edited February 19, 2009 by SuzyQ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kathryn Report post Posted February 19, 2009 Just trying to work out your timescales here Suzy: - I see from your previous post that a proposed statement was issued in early November. Have you had a final statement yet and if so when was it issued? What is the date on the letter that came with it? K x Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chris54 Report post Posted February 19, 2009 The simple answer to your question is 26 weeks. This is the time scale for issuing a statement of special educational need. However implementing this statement is another thing, especially where there are complex needs and provision to sore out. From what you say a proposed statement was issued some time before September 08 which the school went along with to start with. Does the LA now accept that residential school is the right thing and that they will fund it? If so then it is a mater of finding one that they, the LA are happy to fund. This is as much down to you as anyone else. If not what do they say? Have you been in touch with Parent partnership, they may be of help. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kazzen161 Report post Posted February 19, 2009 Do not be afraid to ring your LA SEN Officer and ask exactly what is happening at the moment. I presume the units they approached were not 52 week residential. Perhaps the LA think as she is in a psych unit, she does not need a school place at the moment. Perhaps they are waiting for the psychs to advise what sort of placement she needs. The LA are probably wary of getting lumbered to fully fund a 52 week placement, when SS/NHS should be funding part of it. You can wait for the LA to find an appropraite placement, but it will be a lot quicker if you do the research. The LA do not care about finding the right school as much as you do, so you are better off doing it yourself. You will still have to get them to agree to fund it though. I don't know any 52 week schools for more able children with AS (and there are less schools that take AS girls anyway), and I am not sure that anywhere will take her until the psychs find out what is happening/stabilise her. Do you think she would cope with a term time only placement IF it was the right placement? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bid Report post Posted February 19, 2009 I would ring and ask to speak to the Out of County Placements Officer in your LEA. I had a huge amount of help finding the right residential special school for my DS from that section. Good luck...I found I needed to phone several times a week to keep things moving along. Bid Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SuzyQ Report post Posted February 20, 2009 Hi Guys, Yes provisional statement was issued pre sept 08, the school said they could manage her and then after 2 weeks said they couldn't, we then had to ask for special provision to be made and panel decided in Nov 08 that special provision was needed but the units they suggested don't have space or aren't suitable as at her age they support inclusion to mainstream...and none were residential, the LEA said that she would be expected to taxi to the school, one of which is a good hour and half away!!but her original application for the statement was behavioural, which changed with the reports that were carried out when she was diagnosed with AS, but now she has the psychosis also, our LEA officer is useless and refussed to come to the CPA meeting and has still not managed to give the hospital dates she can attend a meeting. We did have some one from funding at the meeting who agreed they would push forward with this, I just am so frustrated as we have been offered no support really and I am having to learn as I go, as I am sure most people do. We have not yet had any letters from the LEA about residential placements or whats going on.It seems a bit like out of sight out of mind!!!! its just so frustrating Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spike P Report post Posted February 20, 2009 Hi Suzy.1 1/2 hours to school !! I know that a child is legally obliged to spend up to that amount of time travelling to a school but there are legal cases that have gone in favour of parents to stop that. I would get hold of ACE to advise you www.ace-ed.org.uk 02073548318 They are a really good advice centre for people with SEN needs for there children. You can legally argue your daughter would not be in a fit state to learn after and hour and a half travel and you should also consider they pay for an escort!! I know a fair amount about this. My son is ASD and I insisted they provide a place at only mainstream senior school with ASD facility in Heathfield sussex and we live in Eastbourne ! So they are paying for travel I would get hold of your MP also and get him or her on your side to have a go at them!! Best of luck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kazzen161 Report post Posted February 20, 2009 It sounds as though you are in a similar position to that which we ended up in - the LA could not finalise the Statement as they could not find an appropriate school to name on it. You do need to check if they are going to amend it now there are additional needs. If they send the old Statement out to prospective schools, they won't have a correct understanding of her needs. I would do your own research and try to find a school that would be appropriate. Then you can argue for the LA to fund it. The LA will not be in any hurry to find somewhere, as it is likely to cost quite a lot. If you do find somewhere and the LA won't agree, then you can put pressure on them to finalise the Statement so that you can go to Appeal. Try the "Finding a SEN school" sheet on www.oaasis.co.uk as a start. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spike P Report post Posted February 20, 2009 Just another thought, you asked for god residential school, try St Mary's in Wrestwood Road Bexhill, really good, I know 2 people that work there and have been all around the school for my son, would have no qualms sending him there. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynne Report post Posted February 21, 2009 (edited) The one thing I have learned is if you do not chase up the case officer (and be polite) that the LEA do nothing. I would ring up the case office for an update of the situation and see what they say.Put your point across. Than ring again two days later. The more you ring the quicker they get on with it. This is what I done with my son for transfere to junior. Boy did the officer know my name. So by the time we got to senior school she would ring me weekly just to let me know what was or was not happening. (It just shows things can change) Can you ask the people dealing with your daughter of what they think would be a suitable placement for her. Good luck and keep fighting Its amazing how our children come on once they are in the right environment Edited February 21, 2009 by lynne Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SuzyQ Report post Posted February 23, 2009 thanks guys, going to get on this, some authority is already paying for her hospital care and I am sure that is a similar amount as the staff to children ratio is rather high and for instance she has needed two staff members to escort her out on a walk, she has been there 11 weeks now and I have been looking over the papers and it was decided on Nov 24th 2008 that specialist provision was needed, but by 8th Dec 08 she was admitted to the psychiatric unit with the hullicinations so we have this added complication, but I am going to look at the schools you have all suggested and really really greatful for the help and advice as I feel very alone on all of this. so thank you Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Karen A Report post Posted February 23, 2009 thanks guys, going to get on this, some authority is already paying for her hospital care and I am sure that is a similar amount as the staff to children ratio is rather high and for instance she has needed two staff members to escort her out on a walk, she has been there 11 weeks now and I have been looking over the papers and it was decided on Nov 24th 2008 that specialist provision was needed, but by 8th Dec 08 she was admitted to the psychiatric unit with the hullicinations so we have this added complication, but I am going to look at the schools you have all suggested and really really greatful for the help and advice as I feel very alone on all of this. so thank you Hi.I am speculating a bit based on past experience in the NHS in general nursing.If the hospital care is being funded out of county in either another CAMHS NHS specialist bed or in a private hospital because no NHS beds are available it is likely that the NHS are paying.It has been known in such a situation for social services/ council services to not be in a great rush to find appropriate alternative provision.As long as somone else is paying the bill there is less incentive to rush to pick things up. Do you have any feel regarding whoever is paying the bill and what they are thinking about discharge planning or alternative placement ? I am sure you do feel alone in what is a very compex situation involving lots of professionals but I am thinking of you. <'> <'> Karen. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
