Are school obliged to help

[joanne1]

If it is clear to school that your child needs help! But cant do anything until they have dx. Should they help as soon as you get dx, as opposed to waiting for a statement, which I understand takes a long time?

 

We are hoping to get dx this week and for over a year I have had 'we can't do anything until we have dx'. I know they will apply for a statement as soon as we do get a dx, but in the meantime of waiting for that do they have to help ds, if we have dx?

 

If they don't I don't know what we will do. I am not sure how much longer we can go on the way we areat school.

 

 

Joanne

 

 

[Kazzen161]

They should meet the child's needs whether they have a diagnosis or a Statement, or not. Obviously, having a diagnosis can sometimes help them decide what sort of help is needed, but most schools can work it out prior to a dx.

 

Schools often say they cannot afford to pay for 1:1 until the child has a Statement - even if this is true - it is not your problem - it is up to the school to sort out with the LA, and your child should get the help he needs.

 

Get a copy of the SEN Code of Practice (downloadable from the DCSF site) and read it carefully.

[Karen A]

Hi.With or without a dx the school should be providing some help at school action or school action plus for some time before attempting to request a Statement.When a request is made for Statutary Assessment the first thing Children's services [previously the LEA ] willl do is to ask the school to provide evidence to show that all possible help has been given using existing resources [ at school action and action plus].If the school can't provide satisfactory evidence then the request to assess may be declined until they can.

The only exception is in cases where a request arises from a sudden dramatic change in circumstances such as disability due to a road traffic accident.

SEN relate to the educational needs a child has not to a specific diagnosis.That is the theory anway. Karen.

[Karen A]

Hi.I thought it worth saying that a dx does not bring automatic help.The school may say that although your child has a dx they do not have needs which require different support to other children the same age.It might be worth thinking about the specific help you think your child needs.Karen.

[cmuir]

Hi

 

My son received 1-2-1 full-time support whilst in a mainstream nursery, pre-diagnosis. By the time he started P1, we had a diagnosis and the support continued.

 

A diagnosis shouldn't prevent a child from receiving the support that they need. I found that once I my son was diagnosed, other services (specialist) started to become available, so it definitely helps. It's the school's responsibility to identify that need by way of involving an educational psychologist. If one hasn't been appointed, in the first instance, you should contact the headteacher and if they're unwilling for whatever reason, you can bypass them (that could be tricky, but not impossible if you have reports that back you up) and make direct contact with the educaton authority. It's an educational psychologists job to assess a child and involve relevant external specialists eg occupational therapist, etc.

 

Best wishes.

 

Caroline.

[joanne1]

I agree that regardless of dx or not he should get the help he needs. Thats what SEN is. But at his school SENCO are not prepared to put the time in just incase we don't get dx.

 

They actually said 'it would be a waste of their time and funding money if he doesn't get dx.'

 

You see they aren't very willing at the minute, even though school is a nightmare. And as they aren't going to help I am worried that the next thing even with dx will be 'we can't do anything with out statment' which takes so long.

 

I don't have much faith at the minute as i feel he is being let down at school.

 

Joanne

[joanne1]

Caroline,

 

Already replied to what you said, but wanted to mention, he has been under ed psych for over a year and is on school action + for ed psych, behavioural and social difficulties and emotional behaviour and difficulty.

 

Joanne

Edited March 9, 2009 by joanne1

[JsMum]

under the special educational needs act 2001 a child needs are those that a person may have concerns over, no mention of diagnosis or anything else, the person raising those concerns can be a proffessional, a carer or a parent/guardian.

 

J was on early years with no dx other than needs been identified, these where done throw symptoms and observations and because basically without the support he wouldnt of accessed nursery at all, but he didnt have a dx.

 

What if a child never recieves a dx, does that mean that all throw there childhood they cant have a statement of sen yet they still displayed the symptoms and behaviours of what was later dx as a adult.

 

Its the same principle of DLA, they go by need, not DX.

 

JsMum

 

 

Edited March 9, 2009 by JsMum

[pumpkinpie]

Has the senco put these comments about not being able to help without a diagnosis in writing? I personally would be taking this further and pointing out to the school and governors they have a dutty nder the dda - dont let them fob you off

[skye]

Even if your child is suspected of having an ASD there are things that the school should be aware of and already have in place. We had no support while DD was in nursery, however now that she is being assessed the school have put loads of things in place for my child. She has special sticker charts, fidget toys, her own place in line, and even brought a 1on1 in from another year temporarily while they sorted other things out. I think it is horrible that your child is not receiving the support they need because of a diagnosis which in my area can take up to a year. I would meet with the SENCO and let them know what your concerns are and find out what can be done about it! Good Luck.

[Kathryn]

I agree that regardless of dx or not he should get the help he needs. Thats what SEN is. But at his school SENCO are not prepared to put the time in just incase we don't get dx.

 

They actually said 'it would be a waste of their time and funding money if he doesn't get dx.'

 

You see they aren't very willing at the minute, even though school is a nightmare. And as they aren't going to help I am worried that the next thing even with dx will be 'we can't do anything with out statment' which takes so long.

 

Crazy attitude! There is nothing in the law or Code of practise to link SEN to a specific dx, although a dx obviously helps to show the underlying cause. As you say, the school seems fundamentally unwilling to do anything. Short of moving him to a different school, which may not be possible for you at the moment, the best thing might be to put in a request for a statutory assessment, thereby starting the statementing process yourself if the senco does not make a move after your son gets the dx.

 

K x

[cmuir]

Hi Joanne

 

That's disgraceful about wasting funding on the grounds of not having a diagnosis. It's not easy arranging support, but it is there to those who shout the loudest - in my experience, I've found that I've been able to arrange support for my son when I felt the school have been slow (so it can be done). Sadly, it seems that support is a bit of a lottery, when it should be an automatic right. I'd enlist the support of your child's specialist/consultant and ask the school to arrange a review meeting. See what happens. If the school don't respond, I'd make a complaint to the Board of Governors in writing on the grounds that the school are failing to meet the needs of your child (this includes making appropriate referrals to eg Educational Psychologist/outside agencies). Threatening legal action, only after seeking advice, could be another option. However, there's a real danger that long term it might actually be in your child's best interests to move schools - this is dependent upon a number of factors, which only you can decide. I'd make contact with:

 

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=143

Advocacy for Education, tel 0845 070 4002

 

Best wishes.

 

Caroline.