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What would you do if......?

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There are numerous posts on this forum on how disappointed and desperate parents are with their Local Education Authority. Whether it be Statements, support hours or whole school ethos.

 

So I would like to ask the forum "If you were the Director of Education in your LEA what would you change to help support children with ASD in your schools"

 

Can we keep the responses to realistic achievable changes, I am sure we would all like money to pay for full time specialist trained TA's for all the children but that just isn't going to happen.

 

I would like to get the ball rolling-

If I was the Director of Education I would like to see value for money, if something is working well fund it more if it isn?t working change it.

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My daughter hasn't got a diagnosis yet but I think life would be a lot easier if just the possibility that there is a problem was shared with all staff not just her form tutor. It took nearly 3 years and 2 primary school changes before staff started sharing reports and passing on information.

 

She is now about to start senior school and the pastoral head of year was sent a letter outlining her difficulties and the possibilty of AS in June. We have left messages for him to contact us before the new year begins to no avail.

So as director I would get a good training schedule up and running not only on how to identify problems and strategies for dealing with them but on how important it is to share information with all staff involved with that pupil

 

Knowing that the message I sent the form tutor about B's bad night and meltdown has been passed on to the rest of the staff means they may better adapt to her mood that day and hopefully avoid another meltdown and the likelihood that she learns nothing that day because of the night before.

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I asked my LEA if there was anyone else with similar problems to mine so we could meet up and discuss future strategies. They could not provide any information because educational records are confidential. I then asked them if they could send a letter to the parents of children with similar problems with explaining that I would like to meet up, but my LEA refused.

 

I was disgusted with the amount of secrecy that took place which is characteristic of the British public sector. I want to see more freedom of information.

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In my ideal LEA the admin staff and LEA Officers who deal with Statementing would have training so that they realise they are dealing with people's lives, not just a 'case' or finances.

 

I don't know how it could be achieved, but I would like these people to be helped to understand the acute stress, anxiety and sheer terror that the whole Statementing process places on parents...and I speak as someone who has actually been 'successful' in the whole horrendous process :(

 

I don't think the staff realise how the whole education question takes over and controls people's lives.

 

And when I use the phrase 'sheer terror', I'm not being melodramatic or exaggerating :(:ph34r:

 

Bid :bat:

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Here, here Bid. I found the whole process more traumatic than emigrating :wacko:

 

Also....

 

Listen to what parents are saying.

 

Mainstream school may suit some ASD children, but not all. The same goes for ASD children and special schools. There are other options available, make parents aware of them.

 

Special needs training in our LEA is voluntary - contrary to what our assistant director of education tells the local media. It consists of a few hours of somebody talking about ASD's, better than nothing, but hardly what you would call 'training'.

 

When LEA staff write statements, can they write them so that the provision is made specific and not written in a way that schools can manipulate what is written to help every Tom, Dick or Harry and not just the child who's statement it is.

 

Annie

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The National Autism Plan for children (NAP) says that parents should be included and that their views and opinions should count. The NAP also says that teachers should receive training about ASD while they are training. This would be a start. This plan must be 4or 5 years old now? There is still no manditory training for teachers who are training and most LEA's at best pay lip service to parents. Many still do everything behind closed doors which does not inspire me or give parents any confidence that we will ever make any progress.

 

The wheel does not need re-inventing because we already have the wheel. Sadly most LEA's either turn the wheel backwards or have thrown it away.

 

So what we really need is legislation - in my opnion.

 

Carole

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As Director of Education I would carry out my legal duty to identify and meet the needs of all children with special educational needs.

 

I would ensure that all my policies and criteria were lawful.

See IPSEA campaigns and alerts. http://www.ipsea.org.uk/

 

As Director of Education I would believe that every child with ASD should have a detailed assessment, conducted by someone (or a team) who thoroughly understand ASD.

 

It should never be left to the school alone (even as a first stage) to assess needs and then decide whether they can be met by the school?s existing resources. Very few teachers have a sufficiently expert knowledge of ASD.

 

There is a real danger when teachers assume that they understand ASD - particularly when the assumption is based only on their experiences of a few other children with ASD.

 

 

Why children with ASD may need the protection of a statement.

 

Taken from the NAPC ? National Autism Plan for Children Page 93

 

A diagnosis of ASD is important in directing a more accurate interpretation of the behaviour of the child and in opening up avenues of appropriate support and education. However, each child remains an individual and careful assessment of needs and strengths (including interests and learning style) is needed to inform individual educational plans. That much is generally accepted and reinforced by this report.

 

The question remains whether this assessment of needs should be formally identified and legally protected in a statement or record of needs. Paradoxically, this protection is most needed where it is least likely to occur. Thus, in a situation where local professionals are well aware of the needs arising from autistic conditions and services are well adapted to meet this range of needs, the child is most likely to have needs met without a statement or record. It is only where the needs of the child are not recognised by local professionals and services are unable or unwilling to adapt to those needs, that legal protection may be needed to ensure the child and family gain access to what is required.

 

Yet even a legal statement or record of ?entitlement? cannot in reality always ensure the suitability of local services, change entrenched attitudes or inform and qualify professionals. In the long term, therefore, this report looks forward to a more inclusive system where a full range of local services are ?autism friendly? and there is minimal need for such legal protection. In the short and even medium term, however, some legally enforceable record or statement of a child?s needs may well be needed and useful in alerting uninformed professionals of the nature of those needs if the needs not are being appropriately met at School Action or School Action Plus under the SEN Code of Practice.

 

The NIASA working group does not support the policy of limiting statements or records to a group arbitrarily defined in terms of academic ability as this is likely to discriminate against children with Asperger?s syndrome or ASD without learning difficulties. It is also unacceptable to delay appropriate placement pending the production of a statement or record of needs. Just as appropriate provision and support should not wait for a formal diagnosis, nor should it wait for a formal description of needs. Placement or support may alter as needs are assessed and defined, but the process of identifying needs should occur as part of the educational process, not as an entry requirement

 

National Autism Plan for Children ( NAPC )

http://www.nas.org.uk/content/1/c4/34/54/NIASARep.pdf

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I would like to see LEAs and schools made accountable for acting illegally.

 

If a person breaks the law and are caught, they are punished. With LEAs, unless an organisation like IPSEA gets involved nothing happens.

 

Some schools are known to be acting illegally, but what chance have parents got when LEAs do their best to cover up what is going on. :angry:

 

Annie

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Annie

 

Hear hear. This is what channel 4 are focussing on - the fact that Dfes choose not to do anything about law breaking LEA's or schools.

 

If I was the Head of the Lea, I would recognise that childrens with ASD's have complex needs that will be outside the scope and knowldege of my team. I would therefore appoint a specialist ASD Team who would know ASD inside out and who would liaise with parents/schools/social services/medical etc. Similar to the advocate system in the USA.

 

I would respect that this team would have the interests of the children at their heart and that I would accomodate their recommendations - whether or not it made a little dent in the central services budget. I would just have to go without a few perks!

 

I would not work outside the law, just because I knew that I was dealing with parents who would probably be ignorant of their childrens rights. I would not take the attitude that, I will only do it if a Tribunal tell me I have to.

 

I would recognise that I have the lives of these children in my hands - and that I can ensure that these children reach their potential without coming to any harm by the hands of bullies or by their own hands when pushed over the edge.

 

It wouldn't take a lot for me to do these things. I basically, will need to change the way I perceive ASD's. I would need to stop blaming the parents and considering that they are making unjust demands on the services. I would need to focus the financing a little better. I don't think I would really need extra money to achieve these goals. I would just need to ensure that the money was being spent on the right things. I would no longer pass the buck by telling parents that I have no responsibility for their children, just because I devolve/delegate funds to the schools.

 

My goodness - what a difference I could make!

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If I was the Head of the Lea, I would recognise that childrens with ASD's have complex needs that will be outside the scope and knowldege of my team. I would therefore appoint a specialist ASD Team who would know ASD inside out and who would liaise with parents/schools/social services/medical etc.

This sounds like a wonderful idea but where do you get the money from to set this team up and where do you find "specialist" members to create this team.

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Economists have estimated the average lifetime cost to the state per person with autism to be �2.93 million pounds. The rising numbers being identified make a compelling financial argument for the provision of services.

 

So it is in the governments interest to meet the needs of children with ASD.

 

I would like to see the day that families of children and adults with ASD do not have to fight for what should be their legal right.

 

Nellie

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I would like to see the day that families of children and adults with ASD do not have to fight for what should be their legal right.

I couldn't agree more. But I would also say this applies to children with any kind of SEN.

 

But this topic is talking about what you would do to change the LEA to make it more effective when working with children with ASD, working within the frameworks they have to work within which includes budgets.

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There would be no need for more money in my LEA - just a need to properly deploy it!!!!!! Of course I would need to disband some of the quango departments but, we are talking about how I would run my LEA

 

And as for my team - well a good starting point would be parents!!!!!!

 

Who knows these kids better - and after all - is Partnership with Parents not the mantra that we hear frequently.

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Who knows these kids better - and after all - is Partnership with Parents not the mantra that we hear frequently.

AGREE 101%

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There would be no need for more money in my LEA - just a need to properly deploy it!!!!!! Of course I would need to disband some of the quango departments but, we are talking about how I would run my LEA

I also agree with this statement but I have seen a significant amount of middle management jobs disappear in the past few years. LEAs are audited to ensure they are value for money.

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But this topic is talking about what you would do to change the LEA to make it more effective when working with children with ASD, working within the frameworks they have to work within which includes budgets.

 

The LEA also have a legal framework to work to.

 

 

As Director of Education I would not consider it the parents concern who paid for their child?s special educational provision on their statement, which I have a legal duty to provide. I would think that parents had enough on their plate without this additional worry.

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As Director of Education I would not consider it the parents concern who paid for their child?s special educational provision on their statement, which I have a legal duty to provide. I would think that parents had enough on their plate without this additional worry.

But money is at the crux of the difficulties encountered by parents on this forum. LEAs don't set out to be difficult but they have X amount of �?s to spend on SEN support. If you increase the amount to one group of children then you have to cut the funding for others.

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But money is at the crux of the difficulties encountered by parents on this forum.

 

I am not a parent of a school age child. My two adult sons are on the autistic spectrum and I work as a parental supporter. Money is not the crux of the difficulties encountered by parents on this forum. I would say one of their biggest difficulties is getting their LEA's to carry out their legal duty to assess and provide for their child's special educational needs.

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I would say one of their biggest difficulties is getting their LEA's to carry out their legal duty to assess and provide for their child's special educational needs.

LEA's are not carrying out their legal obligation because they choose not to? Are they are acting in a difficult manor just because they want to rather than they are trying to balance the needs of the population with the resources they have?

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I understand fully what you are saying. I work with my local authority planning for the future needs of children with ASD.

 

As a parental supporter I understand that parents are advocates for their children and often have to fight very hard to have their child's needs met. I would never expect a parent to worry about the cost of provision or worry about how the local authority balances their resources. I would support parents by informing them and empowering them to help their child get their legal right to provision.

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I understand fully what you are saying. I work with my local authority planning for the future needs of children with ASD.

 

As a parental supporter I understand that parents are advocates for their children and often have to fight very hard to have their child's needs met. I would never expect a parent to worry about the cost of provision or worry about how the local authority balances their resources. I would support parents by informing them and empowering them to help their child get their legal right to provision.

I understand Nellie, and we need advocates to ensure that children have access to the appropriate services.

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I'd probably be awful.

I'd hand out statements to whoever needed them

Spend all the money wasted in tribunals & barristers on resources & training for schools

Probably get the sack after a week

 

Lx

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My LEA spent �36,000 pounds on me over a 3 year period so I could attend a special needs school that wasn't even suited to my SEN. I have no idea why they recommended the school, but considering that they never bothered checking my progress probably implies that an LEA will pay anything to get a problem child off their back.

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We are back to advocates who would ensure that our children received the appropriate services.

 

Parents and kids need to know that they have people who are looking at the childs best interests

 

Who better than an advocacy service that is run at arms length from the lea.

 

I still think that we are not talking additional funding here. Just prioritising spending. LEA's have lots of little pots of money and also the Government have lots of money in little pots - you just need to know how to ask for it.

 

I can dream on!

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I still think that we are not talking additional funding here. Just prioritising spending.

Ah, there is the magic word.....prioritisation. It appears to be a bit of a dirty word. But that is exactly what a LEA has to do. They have X amount of pounds and have to decide how best to spend it. There is no endless pot.

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Hi joining the thread a bit late.My child was dx 2yrs ago.The school applied straight away for the autism support team to come in and advise on stratergies etc.18mnths later they came :( .Their advice though was brill ):thumbs: .Now I have a very close friend whose child is virtually blind and we often compare how each childs statement is being met.Every 2 weeks a specialist advisor goes and see,s my friends son and checks and assesses things.He is in mainstream and doing fantastically well B) , inclusion definitely works for him ,he is incredibly bright etc. But something must be wrong here for ASD kids that they don,t get this sort of in-put at least every term?I,m not suggesting that resources are taken away from other kids or do I want to start comparing disabilities, but does asd get a decent enough slice of the cake? My friend is in total agreement with me on this, and has been shocked at the lack of specialist help my son has had.

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Annie

 

If I was the Head of the Lea, I would recognise that childrens with ASD's have complex needs that will be outside the scope and knowldege of my team.  I would therefore appoint a specialist ASD Team who would know ASD inside out and who would liaise with parents/schools/social services/medical  etc. 

 

We've got one of those - one half day visit per half term to see 6/7 children in the school - that's 1/2 an hour each.

:(

Edited by MotherEve

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Economists have estimated the average lifetime cost to the state per person with autism to be �2.93 million pounds. The rising numbers being identified make a compelling financial argument for the provision of services.

I think this may be the crux of the matter - the whole assessment and statementing process is so shortsighted - LEAs tend to think only in the short-term and don't have to pick up the consequences of their decisions once the child is past school age.

 

More joined up thinking is required - hence 'Every Child Matters' - but it will take a long time for the ship to stop and change direction ...

 

- sorry to hijack - that doesn't answer the original subject of the thread.

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Hi MotherEve

 

This is a case of bare minimum and deploying the very least that you can.

 

In my LEA, I would ensure that this was not a team member that visited children en masse, but would be the advocate for that child and arranged dedicated and speficic meetings for that child alone. But then, in my LEA I would not have one overstretched individual, because I would see that it would cost less in the long run to pay an A Team who would act as a task force, and as a lot of us have seen, management of these kids is not always rocket science - just needs someone with knowledge and understanding of how our kids are wired up.

 

Best wishes

 

HelenL

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