Me again! Independent reports

[Carrera74]

I am starting to look into independent reports. Would any of you that have had these done let me know which ones you have gone for. I am thinking about EP, SALT and OT. I already have NHS/LCC ones but feel that independent ones may help further. Especially now the LEA are trying to name a MLD school. We have requested an ASD specific school.

 

 

[call me jaded]

What you need to do is identify what the differences are in the two placements, and why the MLD school would not be suitable. It can be done without commissioning reports by looking very closely at what has already been written and what needs have been identified and then showing that the MLD school cannot meet those needs. If you go over the reports (and it's usually the final couple of paragraphs where you find this) you'll find some very helpful sentences. I have also gone back to Ed Psychs and SLTs and asked them to clarify comments and they've been very supportive, especially with off the record advice. I'd try this first before commissioning new. My experience is that if the needs are there the report will reflect them, but possibly without it being highlighted in any way.

[Sally44]

As already said you can glean a certain amount of information from the LEA/NHS reports. You can then send the relevent professional a letter and ask them to clarify further. Sometimes professionals need the parents to ask this before they can give any further specific details.

Due to the difficulties our children have it does usually mean that advice from an Educational Psychologist, Speech and Language Therapist and Occupational Therapist is needed. And each professional has their own area of remit.

EP: They should be able to say if the child is suitable for a MLD school. If they have assessed him, and on his past and current academic performance they should be able to say if they feel he has a MLD. If he does not, then why do they feel a MLD school is an appropriate placement? But I would say it is also worth visiting the school and seeing what they can provide. What curriculum do they offer. Do the children take exams. If your son is more capable can they differentiate his work to his level. Do they have links with colleges etc. Sometimes a MLD school can work because it reduces the anxiety the child had in mainstream because it is much more structured and routine. BUT that is not always the case, and if there is a more suitable ASD specific school then it would be worth seeking a place there and if you did not get it, then agreeing a place at the MLD school as your Plan B.

The EP should give advice about how the child learns and what help/support/provision/staffing arrangements is needed for that particular child.

The SALT looks at all aspects of language and communication, including social interaction. If the child has a severe speech disorder there is usually a cross over between SALT/Teaching because those children tend to have specific learning difficulties. If you don't have a good understanding/use of language you are going to struggle in all lessons due to the language requirements. Some special schools for children with a language disorder have a SALT (and OT) on site due to these difficulties. Does the MLD cater for such language and social interaction difficulties? If not is the placement appropriate. Is a SALT programme currently in place with your son. Is it adequate. Can SALT be provided in the MLD school?

OT: Any sensory, dyspraxic, visual perceptual problems are covered by OT. The more severely a child is affected due to their diagnosis, the greater the chance that OT is needed. Improvements in the environment, sensory processing, motor planning, sequencing, supports for perceptual difficulties etc are all going to help the child access learning. It is hard to establish a direct line from difficulty to which professional should meet that need. For example an exercise programme designed to help with movement and movement planning may have a benefit on writing, thought planning and organisation, sequencing etc.

 

I would try to get more specific info on the reports you already have. Then look at the school you are aiming for. If it has SALT/OT on site, then you need evidence that your child needs those therapies otherwise he could go to any other school offering what the LEA/NHS reports suggest.

[Carrera74]

Thanks everyone. We had our disagreement resolution meeting on Friday. One of the MLD schools and another BESD school say they can't meet DS's needs. The other MLD say they want to meet him today to decide. I have visited this school and it does seem a lovely school but my only concern was that the whole year is working at a lower level. The HT said this to me twice on the visit. DS's behaviour deteriorated at the BESD school as he was bored with repeating work and I worry that if he does not get stretched at the MLD school then we will be back at this point again in 12 months time. He'll be going into year 9 in September so he needs it the right placement this time

[JsMum]

Thanks everyone. We had our disagreement resolution meeting on Friday. One of the MLD schools and another BESD school say they can't meet DS's needs. The other MLD say they want to meet him today to decide. I have visited this school and it does seem a lovely school but my only concern was that the whole year is working at a lower level. The HT said this to me twice on the visit. DS's behaviour deteriorated at the BESD school as he was bored with repeating work and I worry that if he does not get stretched at the MLD school then we will be back at this point again in 12 months time. He'll be going into year 9 in September so he needs it the right placement this time

 

I visited two Local Authority MLD schools and one was just terrible, but the other one was absaloutly lovely, really impressed, however J has above average intelligence and I knew he wouldnt be stretched and so it wasnt going to meet his capabilities, we walked throw a maths lesson and they had calculators, J could of done it in his head, then give the answer using the interactive board, as wont always verbalise what he knows, just incase its wrong, but I just knew he could work at a much more higher level, he isnt as good at maths as we first thought either because he struggles with concepts, he is very ridgid to ideas too, so I knew he required a very specialised learning enviroment, at the end of the day as lovely as the MLD school is if it isnt going to meet his potential then sadly it is not meeting his needs, even the HT has real concerns in that too, if bordem is a factor for your son, then his behaviour is going to be effected and the behaviour could interfer with his ability, basically his behaviour will hinder his potential.

 

I would choose a school where he has his special needs met as well as his capabilities.

 

JsMumx

 

[Carrera74]

Thanks JsMum.

 

We went to the school and had another look around. The HT said she felt the school would meet DS's autistic needs but he is much more advanced than the others. She said that DS is already at the level at which their children aim to leave at. She was going off DS's year 6 SATS. I've contacted the SEN team and it goes to county moderation panel again tomorrow. I have asked for an independent school which has an ASD unit attached which I think would be helpful as he hasn't been in school since March. The independent said they would place him there and then integrate him into the main school as he got used to the timetable.

 

I have no idea what will happen tomorrow. I didn't expect the panel to ask us to go and visit MLD schools so I hope that the fact that we have and they have said no will help them to name the school we want - one that can meet his special needs and will stretch him.

[call me jaded]

If it comes back as the MLD school then you can point out the difference in academic ability between your son and the rest of the class and reject it on those grounds. Fingers crossed that your case officer made the right note and you don't have go back again.