fiorelli Report post Posted July 7, 2005 After son being excluded until the end of term today, I have decided that I will put in an application myself rather than wait for the school to get their butts in gear. So, my question is - What do I put in my application? Does anyone have a sample application I can look at? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
annie Report post Posted July 7, 2005 Hi Fiorelli, This link gives an example letter and tells you how to go about asking for an assessment. We did it ourselves as well rather than wait forever. http://www.ipsea.org.uk/sevenfixes.htm Hope this helps. Annie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jomica Report post Posted July 7, 2005 (edited) We did this too - it is the only reliable way to get things started. You basically write to the Special Needs Manager at the Local Education Authority saying that your letter is a parental request for assessment of your son/daughter for a statement of special educational needs. This then triggers a legal procedure which they can't wriggle out of - they have to tell you within (from memory) eight weeks whether they plan to assess and, if they don't, you can then appeal. At this stage it only needs to be a very brief letter saying the above - they write back and ask you your grounds for thinking a statement would be appropriate. It worked - we got the statement - but the LEA don't like us very much for being pushy parents. Well ..... tough for them!!!! Edited July 7, 2005 by jomica Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Suze Report post Posted July 7, 2005 We did it too, I was daunted at first but found it empowering to be doing something positive .Good luck with the process were all here to help.We applied for assessment this time 2 yrs ago.With school hols etc the actual statement when it arrived came in the feb the next year!We had a dx during assessment and we also went to appeal, but it was worth it , it,s made a big difference. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kathryn Report post Posted July 7, 2005 Fiorelli Make sure that you ask for a "Statutory Assessment" in your request. Our LEA actually has a standard form for this - which I used. (Your LEA might have a similar system - look online). I don't think it matters though how the request is made: they can't ignore it. Once the request is acknowledged, there is a six week period during which you can send in any supporting evidence. Good luck K Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pim Report post Posted July 8, 2005 Hi I've just applied and the LEA have agreed to assess. I think but I could be wrong ,if a parents request it yo have the right to appeal if it is turned down. Once you ask they send you a form to write down your concerns. Each LEA is different. The form here was very basic, don't let that mislead you. When they receive this , I didn't have 6 weeks but 3 weeks to send all my evidence as to why they should assess. They had 6 weeks to make the decision. The panel meeting was after 4 weeks from receiving the application form. The evidence varies on the age of your child. But in my case was at least 2 IEP'S, a CARS assessment, a paed report confirming dx. The most difficult part is supplying enough evidence convincing them to assess. One more point I didn't make it all negative, I highlighted the things my ds could do with 1:1 help. Each LEA is different with different criteria. I hope that helps. pim Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fiorelli Report post Posted July 8, 2005 well, I have changed my mind (again ) - school have now finished writing their application, and have given it to me to look through and change any bits I want changed, and add any bits I want added, and also to write a bit in their myself. They have also got a report and signature from the Behaviour Intervention Team, and the Educational Pshycologist. The Peadiatrician is also going to write a report, and I need to get a report from the Opthamologist, and the ENT Specialist and get them to agree to sign the statement (the ENT should agree as son has hearing loss in his right ear). EOTAS are also involved and will be doing assessments in September. All in all, I think that to change what is happening at the moment would probably be a bad thing. so am going to stick with what is happening for the time being, and hopefully all will turn out good. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zemanski Report post Posted July 8, 2005 hopefully you are right and they are getting their act together but bear in mind that you do have the right of appeal if you ask for the assessment in the meantime start writing up your evidence - you will be asked for a parent's advice to go in the files I did a complete developmental, educational and medical history from birth with all the little quirks and signs of AS I could remember and then listed what I think his problems are and what I think he needs at school both his consultant and his Ed psych mentioned my 'excellent and detailed' report in their own reports (made sure they both got copies before the notes went in) which gave it credibility. Zemanski Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
