Sendist Tribunal / right to assess,tomorrow

[gorby928]

Hi Sally

 

Yeah I will be asking for a detailed timetable as so we know exactly how AJs 19 hours of LSA is been used and to make sure that they are not speading the love so to speak,we have also put in his statement that the LSA should be trained to teach ASD/Aspergers. As for secondary schools we have narrowed it down to 3 local schools that he could walk to (under 3 miles) and 1 over the 3 mile limit (ie transport).One school is special the rest are mainstream and of course AJ has to like it as well.Its hard to know what to do with the schools,some people say AJ will do fine in mainstream with support and then some people say he would do better in a smaller special school .I guess we will just have to talk to the SENCOs and trust our gut feeling.We will keep on top of things (I'll make sure of that).He hasnt got SALT as he could talk for england so we dont have to worry about that.Thanks once again and I hope you and yours are well.

[Sally44]

Are you talking about an LA special school?

It depends on what your child's cognitive ability is. If the LA special school is MLD, and he is not, then a SEND Panel would not place him there. If you have evidence in reports and other documentation and also via expert witnesses that say mainstream is not an option, then SEND would not place him mainstream either.

 

Remember that by law the LA has to go with the parental choice of placement [which can be independent ASD special school], UNLESS the LA can prove that they can meet your child's needs [as detailed in reports], in another school.

 

So you have to be confident that only your choice of school [whatever school that is, and whatever type of school it is], and then you would need to research why any school the LA have, or may name, could not meet your child's needs.

 

The school placement should have a similar peer group cognitively, socially and emotionally.

The school environment must be accessible from a sensory processing point of view [if your child has a sensory processing disorder].

There must be professional therapy [as detailed in reports], and consideration of whether those professionals would need to be permanent members of staff to deliver therapy flexibly across the week [only an independent could provide that].

Does any report recommend sensory integration therapy [as only an independent can deliver that - the NHS does not fund it].

 

The LA maybe able to demonstrate that they could buy everything in as an 'add on' service within a mainstream school. But it has to be realistic to deliver it that way and you could argue that it would not be jointly planned or holistically delivered if the therapy team do not meet eachother and teaching staff on a daily basis.

 

Secondary school will be more demanding. How do you feel your child is coping in primary?

 

Just wanted to comment on the SALT. Just because a child can talk does not mean they have no speech and language and social communication problems. He has to have those to have received a diagnosis. My son can talk the hind legs off a donkey, yet he is diagnosed with a severe/profound speech disorder. Get him off his topics of interest and he really struggles.

 

Has your child been assessed by a SALT using standardised assessments such as CELF 4 or ACE? Was the complete test carried out. And what were the standard scores?

[gorby928]

Hi

We are looking at 3 mainstream schools within 3 miles and 1 outside 3 miles and all so 1 special school within 3 miles all state schools. At the moment most people who have met AJ think he would do well in mainstream with support.I guess this year will be the test as his workload increases in prep for secondary school.But only time will tell ?.Also when we look at the schools AJ will have to feel comfortable with the school choice.We can only hope that his statement and LSA support this year help with that process.Also will be meeting with school SENCO etc to set out provision timetable for AJ ref 19 hours LSA tied into his IEP and OT provision.