Tez Report post Posted August 22, 2005 (edited) My son's school have requested a Statutory Assessment of the LEA. I have completed my parental advice and sent it off. My named officer has just phoned me and asked me to go to a meeting with her colleague on Wednesday to discuss ways forward. She says that they have a problem, it is obvious that A's needs are not being met and they can't get a statement in place until February at the earliest. At the moment they see little point in going down the statementing route because of the timescales involved and the fact that he is due to start year 10 in September and also no matter how much money they throw at the school they don't think that they can meet his needs. As an LEA they accept that they have to find some way to meet A's needs. Seems to me I'm being played again!!!! Their current suggestion is that they look at sending him to a Pupil Referral Unit that does not accept pupils with behavioural problems, it is for school refusers, pregnant school girls and pupils with health problems. We have discussed this option already and are not keen. We have pointed out to the LEA that this will not meet his needs, he will still have sensory problems, he will lose contact with his friends, the turnover of pupils will be too great given that A needs continuity of people around him and it will not in any way teach him to cope with the real world and the staff aren't ASD aware. PLEASE can someone advise me how I should go about this. I want the statutory assessment. I feel that I have been messed around for 10 years with promises that are back tracked on as soon as I take my eye off the ball. I want some legal protection whatever educational establishment A eventually goes to. Edited August 22, 2005 by Tez Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
annie Report post Posted August 22, 2005 Hi Tez, So sorry you are still being messed about. <'> <'> Another option may be to ask your LEA if they can supply Education Other Than At School. It might be called something else, my IPSEA told me. My 15 year old does it and it works very well. When he starts back in September he will only be doing 6 and 3/4 hours per week, but the amount of work that gets done in that time is heaps more than 5 full days at school plus he is still doing the same amount of GCSEs They are also setting up one day a week work experience for him. Alex goes to various places around the borough, maybe IT in an internet cafe, art at a youth centre, that kind of thing. In each group there are only 5 or 6 different children and 1 or sometimes 2 teachers. Every teacher I have spoken to on it have got a really understanding attitude to Alex and do not pre-judge the kids. The set up is for children who cannot fit into school for various reasons, but I would recommend it as the sort of thing that helps our children. You could also speak to IPSEA to see what they make of what you've been told. Annie <'> <'> Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tez Report post Posted August 22, 2005 Hi Annie, I've just managed to get through to John Wright at IPSEA. He tells me that I should go to the meeting only if I have time, and only so that the LEA at a later stage can't throw back at me that I wasn't prepared to discuss things. He's told me that whatever the LEA are prepared to offer A needs a statement and the fact that they've agreed they're not meeting his needs and don't see how they can meet his needs no matter how much money they throw at him, just goes to prove that he needs a statement. He thinks that they might have some sort of offer up their sleeve that they think I will go for without a full assessment but he's warned me not to accept anything at the meeting but to come away and think about it and if necessary ask others for advice. IPSEA will advise if I can contact them. I've done a bit of research and it would appear that my LEA only issue 1% of pupils with a statement compared to a national average of 3%. They have not paid for out of county education for any pupil. They are considered to offer excellent value for money but below standard SEN provision. Think this is very telling!!!!! Looks like I'm going to need to prepare for the fight on Wednesday. John Wright has given me the direct line phone number to their Tribunal supporter because he thinks I'm going to need it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kazzen161 Report post Posted August 22, 2005 You definitely should continue with the statement, as he may need specialist provision at 16+, which he will not get without a statement. Just because the LEA currently does not pay for any out-of-county placements, does not mean they shouldn't for you son. There is a first time for everything! Have you looked at specialist provison (ie AS specific)? A PRU may be OK as a short-term option, while a suitable placement is being sorted (and PRU's are only supposed to be short-term options - not for two years of GCSE study), but I would push for the LEA to do the statementing process quicker instead. Karen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mossgrove Report post Posted August 22, 2005 Tez Hard to comment on the LEA specifically as I come from an LEA area that, according to the DRC is failing to include it's pupils properly by sending 1.5% of pupils to special schools or specialist units (I don't quite see it that way!) but I would make abssolutley certain you do not go to the meeting on your own, you may even wish to bring a tape recorder with you and openly place it on the table at the start of the session, as the potential for them to misrepresent what was discussed at this meeting when it comes to the later discusssions is immense. Getting a copy of the SEN code of practice and displaying it prominently when you walk in is a useful tactic too. I can't understand why thay can't produce a staemnent until February either, with goodwill on both sides it could be sorted in a few weeks, I think it is more of a veiled threat that if you don't agree to their offer they will drag their heels and provide nothing all year. Good luck! Simon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tez Report post Posted August 22, 2005 (edited) Hi Karen, The fact that he's going to need specialist provision post 16+ is another reason we gave to the LEA for wanting a statement and why a PRU wouldn't be suitable. We are talking about at least another two years at school and probably another 2 years on top of that for A levels. I agree there's always a first time for everything and if we want something for A that hasn't been done before, there's no reason why he shouldn't be the first. Given that they've said they don't know how they're going to meet his needs they're going to have to be prepared to try something different but I want it guaranteed with a statement. Simon, I've got a copy of the SEN code of practise so will take it along with me. Parent partnership will be coming along as an extra pair of ears. I will ask the LEA if I can tape the meeting so I've got something to refer back to afterwards. Thanks for the idea. We've told the LEA that we don't understand why they can't put the resources into the school before the statement is in place, given that everyone is agreed that specialist provision of some kind is going to be necessary. I think that they are just trying to get away with a PRU and no statement because it is the cheapest and easiest option for them, but it's not the right solution for A and it's not going to happen. Edited August 22, 2005 by Tez Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
annie Report post Posted August 22, 2005 Hi Tez, It's great that you got through to John Wright. He was the first person that I spoke to at IPSEA. I got off the phone to him feeling quite shocked at what my LEA and school were trying to get away with. John's given you some really good advice. Simon's idea of taking along somebody with you is a good idea, and making notes which can always come in useful. A copy of the SEN Code of Practice will make your LEA see that you're not just going to be a parent who's going to agree with whatever they say. I complained to our MP about our LEA, so at our meeting I left my folder open displaying 'House of Commons' letterheads LEAs seem to think that parents should be grateful for anything that they offer us, however bad their suggestions are, mainly done not to spend any more money than they have to. Excellent value for money..........as long as you haven't got a child with special needs Good luck for Wednesday, and keep those phone numbers handy, just in case. Annie <'> <'> Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kazzen161 Report post Posted August 22, 2005 >>The fact that he's going to need specialist provision post 16+ is another reason we gave to the LEA for wanting a statement That's probably why they really don't want to give him a statement now! Sometimes it is better not to tell the LEA everything - they won't tell you everything, so it is only fair! Karen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tez Report post Posted August 22, 2005 Karen, I'm going to have to learn to wise up, I'm really too naive but I am learning just not quickly enough. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
helenl53 Report post Posted August 22, 2005 Hi Tez Just seen this. I would agree that a statement is vital - keep strong. Everything else is just a moveable feast and your child's best interests will not be best served by the LEA. You have already been down the route of waiting for things to be done. If you agree not to pursue the statement, then you are back to square one again. If the LEA truly have your childs interests at heart, then something would have been done before now. You are going to have to gird your loins for Wednesday - you know they will try and get you to give up on the statement. Be prepared for smarmy tactics or bullying tactics. Some of our parents have been convinced that things will be wonderful since the LEA have got directly involved and these parents have dropped their appeal to SENDIST. Plenty of us here will be with you in spirit on Wednesday. Love HelenL Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
annie Report post Posted August 22, 2005 Tez, What Helen says is so true. Stick to your guns and don't agree to anything on Wednesday. Annie XX Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bevalee Report post Posted August 22, 2005 Yes, stick to your guns! My son wasn't statemented until year 10. They tried to fob us off with a PRU unit, which just wasn't suitable. I'm happy to say that he now attends a specialist school for AS. Don't give up, the LEA will try anything just to save money! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mossgrove Report post Posted August 22, 2005 Another point to add, if it's not on a statement, it's not legally enforceable. Something to think about. Simon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
