First multi agency meeting

[CarolineJ]

My son's head teacher has just called a multi agency meeting this week. We don't have an appointment yet and I don't know how soon I should expect it to take. In fact, I know nothing about it. Bim is 9 and this is a first for us. He has an official diagnosis of AS and has just started middle school this term - we still have the three tier system up here in Northumberland.

 

What should we expect from this meeting. Of course both DH and I will attend. Bim has nothing at all in place, other than termly visits from a Communication Support Specialist and a useless CAMHS unit. Bim thrives academically, it's everything else that he struggles with. Should he have a statement in place?

[Karen A]

Hi Caroline.

If your son is able to cope in school with all aspects of the school day either without support or with support at School Action Plus then he might not need a Statement.

I have said School Action Plus because the fact that outside agencies are involved would make it likely that support would be provided at School Action Plus rather than School Action.

SEN do not just include the academic aspects of school life.So if help is needed during unstructured times such as break time then these would also count.

Ben is very able in some academic subjects but still has a Statement because he needs support during unstructured and group activities and with organisation.

Do you know if the multi-agency meeting is a CAF mult-professional meeting ?

This sort of meeting may well be useful in helping in co-ordinating input from various agencies.However a CAF meeting does not replace SEN input and it is not educatioally orientated as such.So it would be worth requesting a specific meeting with the SENCO regarding SEN if it is a CAF meeting.

I have just posted some useful links on another similar thread which I will find in case it is useful.

http://www.asd-forum.org.uk/forum/index.ph...c=22701&hl=

 

This is a thread regarding multi-agency meeting that I remebered from a few weeks ago that might be useful information.It includes a link to information on CAF meetings.

http://www.asd-forum.org.uk/forum/index.ph...+AGENCY+MEETING

Karen.

Edited October 22, 2009 by Karen A

[CarolineJ]

I know nothing of CAF and School Action or School Action Plus. This is the first time anyone other than us have taken initiative, even though we've been requesting support before. Bim (Liam) has just started middle school and this new school is much more proactive than his first school, so we're tentatively hopeful for Bim.

 

I have to head out now, so I'll look at those links you've provided later this evening.

 

Many thanks for your reply!

 

Caroline

[Karen A]

I know nothing of CAF and School Action or School Action Plus. This is the first time anyone other than us have taken initiative, even though we've been requesting support before. Bim (Liam) has just started middle school and this new school is much more proactive than his first school, so we're tentatively hopeful for Bim.

 

I have to head out now, so I'll look at those links you've provided later this evening.

 

Many thanks for your reply!

 

Caroline

 

Hi.As I have said on the other thread it is worth getting any support documented at School Action Plus.

If you wish to apply for a Statement at a later date the LA will quickly want to know what support school has already put in place.

If school appear to have not put any support in place the LA is likely to turn down any requset to conduct a Statutary Assessment until there is evidence that the school have remedied the situation.

Most LAs require evidence of at least two sets of IEPS to be provided as evidence with little improvement to show for the input.

So it is worth encouraging the SENCO to at least make a start on the first one.

Edited October 22, 2009 by Karen A

[purplefairy]

My son's head teacher has just called a multi agency meeting this week. We don't have an appointment yet and I don't know how soon I should expect it to take. In fact, I know nothing about it. Bim is 9 and this is a first for us. He has an official diagnosis of AS and has just started middle school this term - we still have the three tier system up here in Northumberland.

 

What should we expect from this meeting. Of course both DH and I will attend. Bim has nothing at all in place, other than termly visits from a Communication Support Specialist and a useless CAMHS unit. Bim thrives academically, it's everything else that he struggles with. Should he have a statement in place?

Hi Caroline, I too live in Northumberland(North) and have a 12 year old who was in the middle school system until 3 weeks ago, he as AS and Dyspraxia. Northumberland are one of the areas piloting the CAF. I attended one of these meetings before I had to de register. In my case it was a done deal. Me being there was an after thought.They will be more concerned about his academic attainment than his mental health. I had CAHMS there to help me, but none of the professionals involved seemed to appreciate the severity of how things had become for my son, and his refusal to return to school. Even after putting my case backed up by CAHMS all that they were concerned about was that he returned to school asap. You can request an assessment be done by Northumberland. It will be a parental request. School is going to probably keep saying that your kid has no problems as he is academic, I so hate that word. They will also have very little evidence in report form if any, and will try to put you off, they did that with me for over 2 years until I finally requested it myself I have just found out that County will not assess and I am about to start the work for SEN tribunal. My kid so wants to go to a special school with other kids like him as do we. I keep on telling people that I would rather have a happy child than an academic child any day. With statements it all boils down to money I am afraid, it costs £3000 for a lea to do the assessment, do not let that put you off you look out for your kids needs, if you want to request one then go for it. Northumberland in my opinion are terrible!

[CarolineJ]

Hi Caroline, I too live in Northumberland(North) and have a 12 year old who was in the middle school system until 3 weeks ago, he as AS and Dyspraxia. Northumberland are one of the areas piloting the CAF. I attended one of these meetings before I had to de register. In my case it was a done deal. Me being there was an after thought.They will be more concerned about his academic attainment than his mental health. I had CAHMS there to help me, but none of the professionals involved seemed to appreciate the severity of how things had become for my son, and his refusal to return to school. Even after putting my case backed up by CAHMS all that they were concerned about was that he returned to school asap. You can request an assessment be done by Northumberland. It will be a parental request. School is going to probably keep saying that your kid has no problems as he is academic, I so hate that word. They will also have very little evidence in report form if any, and will try to put you off, they did that with me for over 2 years until I finally requested it myself I have just found out that County will not assess and I am about to start the work for SEN tribunal. My kid so wants to go to a special school with other kids like him as do we. I keep on telling people that I would rather have a happy child than an academic child any day. With statements it all boils down to money I am afraid, it costs £3000 for a lea to do the assessment, do not let that put you off you look out for your kids needs, if you want to request one then go for it. Northumberland in my opinion are terrible!

 

Bim's in the Alnwick middle school system. His headteacher is really good, but CAMHS are not. I've pulled Behavioural Support Services back in to see if they can help in any way.

 

I'm really cross with our local CAMHS actually. They're really letting us down.