Not posted in ages

[taylor]

Hi

I have been a member for a while but never really posted much on here. Just read what people are upto etc.

My son has finally got into specialist provision for his last year of primary and just got the news that he will be going into a specialist provision fir his secondary years too. The LEA should have done this 4 years ago . I had to fight tooth and nail to be heard . They did recognise that he had severe needs . I feel that this has damaged him and that the LEA have neglected my son . Is it all down to funding? He has aspergus ADHD tic , touretts , sleep disorder . OCD , DCD . The mainstream school he was attending were telling the LEA they could no longer cope . I spent every waking hour fighting them . Any way I'm pleased to say they have backed down . One thing I have to say is that it has kept ne focused and I didn't get so down with trying to cope with my son . I'm almost bored now that I'm not fighting the educational system. Im now helping a friend and her son to get what he needs as far as a diagnosis is concerned and his education .

[Kathryn]

Hi Taylor

 

Thanks for coming back to tell us such good news and I hope you stay around as it's encouraging for others to hear success stories like yours.

 

Did you have to go to Tribunal ? It's frustrating that the help your son needed has taken so long to get, but on the positive side, he will not have to suffer the challenges of secondary school in the wrong environment. I hope all goes well for him this year and in the future.

 

You deserve a bit of a breathing space now but you don't have to be bored. If you still want to immerse yourself in the world of SEN and carry on using your experience to help others, organisations such as IPSEA would love to

have you as a volunteer.

 

K x

,

[taylor]

Hi

I did appeal yes but every time a date was just approaching for the hearing the LEA backed down and I had to do the same for his statutory assessment as well as his statement and changes in his statement and asking for his special school . So all in all 4 times I got a hearing date and each time the LEA waited right up until the date and backed down. I suppose they were hoping I would back down first. So it just goes to show you, keep on trucking!!

[Sally44]

Well done. This must be such a weight off your shoulds for it to be finally over.

Sounds similar to where I am now.

We've had a tribunal recently and i'm awaiting the decision, which if we win will mean an independent special school.

Like you, i'm left with time on my hands now .... strange feeling.

[taylor]

Have you been to a hearing already and waiting a decision ? Or is your date for a hearing approaching ? My son goes to a council run special school and not an independent one . I hope you get what you want for your child. You just have to keep fighting. But you should not have to fight like this when a case is clear cut and the evidence is all there.

It needs a school to say "we can't cope any more" well at least it appeared to be like that . I feel like the LEA do not listen to parents , and in truth we know our children best.

[taylor]

Sorry one more thing, because the LEA have always backed down before a hearing date in my case , I don't quite know how the hearing proceeds with its decision . So they don't let you know on the day of the hearing of there decision?

[Kathryn]

No - the decision is usually sent 2-3 weeks later. Full reasons have to be given in writing. There's nothing to prevent a decision being given on the day, but this is rare. I heard of one where the panel were concerned that the child needed to be in the right school ASAP and the evidence was so obviously in the parents' favour that they did give their decision there and then.

 

K x

[taylor]

Hi

Thanks for putting me in the picture. Although I had several dates for tribunal over the few years the LEA backed down every time . My son was not accsessing 98% of the curriculum and the school said its also a health and safety matter that he cannot stay in mainstream . I have never welcomed health and safety until lately . The Kent autistic trust helped me greatly and I can't thank them enough .