LA referral to SALT post tribunal win - not sure what to do

[bjkmummy]

Had my tribunal in feb 2013 which we won an independent asd school placement. We are still awaiting for him to start as he needs a long transition due to being out of school now for such a long time.

 

During the tribunal process we got an independent salt report. He hadn't been since for about 5 years. No salt report was obtained when he underwent statutory assessment. Our report said he had a dealy in his expressive language and other issues consistent with his asd ex. It recommended salt 45 mins a week plus a social communication programme. Report served on LA in good time for tribunal, we then at the last minute changed our school choice nd the LA then tried to use our salt report to get an adjournment. The tribunal said no, they had had enough time to get one if they wanted one and if they wanted to they could send my report to the nhs for comment.

 

The LA did this and the nhs replied they couldn't comment as they didn't know our son. A few days after the tribunal the LA sent to me a referral for the nhs salt, the referral was awful stating that no one else had ever commented our son had salt needs. They accepted likely the tribu al would rule salt needed into the statement so report from nhs salt needed. We then won the tribunal and the salt was in the statement.

 

The independent school have in house salt so it's part of the cost of the placement. The salt has already met him and has already indicated that the report we have is accurate etc and they will start a salt programme ASAP.

 

Last week a got a letter from the nhs salt for an appointment in may - the appointment is at a children's centre and is just a generic salt appointment. It's not clear that she has any experience with asd kids. I don't want to take him as it means a whole day of school for him and nothing she is going to be able to offer will be as good as what he is getting at school now. However as the referral has been done by the LA I now don't know whether i should or if they could use my non compliance against me. I spoke to the new school and they feel that it would not be good for him to have a day off school when he's been out for nearly ahead and they are trying to do transition with him and for someone else to be seeing him when he has huge anxiety issues. The report this salt does will be so basic etc and will I guess be used to possible try and reduce any future salt input. I know I am battle weary from the tribunal and will never ever trust my LA again after everything we have been through but find myself unsure what to do for the best

[Sally44]

Your independent school has SALT in-house, so just cancel the appointment with the NHS. You don't need to inform anyone, or the LA. My son used to see NHS SALT in school, but once he started the independent school he only sees their SALT.

 

And regarding the Statement, it remains as it is until the AR. No-one can reduce or stop the provision it details. For the AR your son's school will produce an up to date report. They are not going to recommend he does not need to be in their school. He is in the right placement now.

 

The LA may send an EP to the AR, but he will be going to make sure that your son is able to access learning and is making progress there. And if he was not making progress he would need MORE, not a return to mainstream.

 

So try not to worry.

[bjkmummy]

i will cancel it. what shocked me is how generic the appointment is - this will be the most basic salt appointment. he has already been seen by two SALT at his new school and they immeadiately saw his anxiety and were in total agreement with my independent salt report. i doubt the EP will come anywhere near - he said in the tribunal that he has never been to my school which i was very surprised about as the LA send quite a few children to the school. so far we have had 2 home visits from the school and joe has visited when the school was completely empty! we are taking him again after half term to meet his two class mates - only 3 of them in the class!

 

then he will will only be part time 9 - 1pm alternatve days for about 2 weeks and then we will review it. its quite laughable that the LA are now getting upset that hes not in school fulltimne and there have been some very heated debates with the school as the LA put pressure on them for him to attend full time. the school have dug their heels in and said no - he has been out of school for so long that the transition will be at his pace. every member of staff who has now met him have all commented on how anxious he is. the journey to the school wasnt too bad - its about an hour. he seems very happy with the school. i also now think things happen for a reason - the other school i originally wanted i learnt yesterday that the head has already left the school as have quite a few members of teaching staff which is a worry as the school only opened in sept.

[Sally44]

The LA only carried out this referal as part of the Tribunal process to try and look like they wanted to find out what his needs are. And children will see the NHS SALT if the school does not have their own SALT. But as you won at tribunal, and your child's school has their own more experienced and probably more qualified SALT there is no purpose seeing the NHS one.

 

The school your child is now at is a well known and established school with many years experience behind them.

 

The LA may try to force full-time in the hope he refuses to attend, which they could use as evidence at a future time. So just say to the school that you are working with them, and that you want to take it slowly so that his graduated return is a success. It took about 9 months for my son to be in school full-time.