phasmid Report post Posted August 24, 2005 Well done. It does sound like they sat and listened to you, that can only be a good thing. As the PP body said it was the LEA who wanted to speak to you, not the other way around, hopefully this will mean that having listened they will now act. Will keep fingers crossed for you that things start to get sorted. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Suze Report post Posted August 24, 2005 Really pleased it went well today .Just wondering what would be the ideal scenario as regards a statement for your son? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tez Report post Posted August 24, 2005 (edited) Hi Suze, We're actually wanting something that isn't often done. We don't want specialist residential education because although it has been brilliant for others I know that A wouldn't be able to cope with it; so we're trying to get a flexi-schooling arrangement whereby A spends a small amount of time in a mainstream school with full time 1 to 1 support so that he can utilise science labs, continue to see his friends and lead as normal a life as possible. For the rest of the time we would like him to be educated otherwise than at school with the LEA providing home tutoring and support from the school. We are willing to try anything new in this respect, internet lessons, online conferences but we don't want the responsibility of providing the education and neither do we want him to be completely home schooled. It can be done. The SEN code of practice makes provision for it with a statement and the LEA whilst making no commitment did not seem anti; after all given that A probably meets the criteria for residential education it would be a relatively cheap solution for them. Edited August 24, 2005 by Tez Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
annie Report post Posted August 24, 2005 Hi Tez, I really hope the LEA agree to what you want because like you say it CAN be done. It is working really well for us. The only difference being, that Alex isn't attached to a school, he is now attached to the Pupils Support Services which we specifically asked for. If LEAs were to make other options known to parents instead of lefting them believe there are only 2 choices, mainstream or special school it would save a lot of grief all round. Annie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tez Report post Posted August 24, 2005 Annie, What is the Pupil Support Services? Do all LEAs have them? In what way do they fit Alex's needs better than a school? It is annoying that you aren't given any guidance isn't it? The LEA haven't told us anything we've had to find it all out ourselves. They just keep pushing their PRU because it's the cheapest option but will not in any way address A's needs. He doesn't even fit their own criteria for admission. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phasmid Report post Posted August 24, 2005 Flexi schooling can work. We did it for PE with Phas Jr for about 18 mths. The school had never heard of it before, let alone tried it. Mrs P went in and made our case for withdrawing him from PE. He hated it and would often have a tantrum on PE days. We downloaded some info off the net and went for it. Left the stuff with them and went back after a week. They agreed to try it. We did offer lesson plans and feedback to go with it but they never took this offer up. The time was used for swimming at local pool and then for social skills such as shopping and using buses. It worked really well. This was all he was withdrawn for though, everything else carried on as normal. It was a huge undertaking by Mrs P. On the very few occasions when she really couldn't be there he went to the library instead. Our aim was to get him back into PE. With the help of the school head and a very understanding PE teacher we achieved this over time. They were very supportive of us and him and the flexi-school idea. It was interesting to note that when we approached the LEA with the idea they were dead agianst it and said no school would even consider it! Not only did it work for us the school have even tried it with one or two others. We knew we had to get it right or we would mess it up for others. Go for it. I hope it works. As you say the CoP accepts it. A word of caution though. There was a thread on this subject on the TES website some time ago and many teachers are dead against it. I told 'em tough and told them what I have told you. It can work. It takes effort on both sides but IT CAN WORK! If it is right for you hang in there and I hope it works. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phasmid Report post Posted August 24, 2005 Oh, and Phas Jr doesn't have a statement. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tez Report post Posted August 24, 2005 (edited) Hi phasmid, We have done some flexi-schooling for about a year and the school have been very supportive but as you say the onus falls on you to provide the education whilst at home. What we would like is for the LEA to take over the responsibility for the home tutition by providing home tutors, setting work at school and supporting by phone, video conferencing etc. and then marking and assessing the work. Like you say it would be alot of work for me to take on and A is capable of getting 10 really good grade GCSEs and for that he really needs some professional input by expert subject teachers. I am not looking for as many hours as he would get at school with the correct support it shouldn't be necessary but I don't want the responsibility of doing it myself. I know I'm being cheeky but the LEA have already admitted they don't know how to meet his needs and my solution is far cheaper than residential schooling and we do have the support of the school's Headmaster and Deputy Head. Edited August 24, 2005 by Tez Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
annie Report post Posted August 24, 2005 Tez, I've pm'd you a link explaining Pupil Support Services in full, I'll be here all night otherwise The education package that Alex has comes under the Pupil Support Services, so we requested that his statement be amended to say that in parts 3 and 4. He hasn't been at his old school since November last year, so keeping them named anywhere on his statement seemed stupid. Under the heading 'Educational provision to meet needs and objectives' one now reads - Alex will be provided with support from the Pupil Support Team in order that he can do his GCSE examinations. This will mean opportunities to work in small groups and this will be supervised and monitered by the Manager of the Pupil Support Team. We have had a fight to get this on the statement, but we got it. Annie <'> Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bid Report post Posted August 24, 2005 Hi Tez, Glad the meeting went well My son had home tuition from the LEA when he was signed off as unfit for school for 6 months. The LEA have a legal duty to provide this home tuition...here's hoping Nellie can provide my original thread about this, which quotes the relevant legislation. Bid Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nellie Report post Posted August 25, 2005 Tez, I think this may be the thread Bid mentioned. Home Tutoring Laws? http://www.asd-forum.org.uk/forum/index.ph...st=0entry9489 Glad your meeting went well, hope everything works out ok. Nellie xx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Suze Report post Posted August 25, 2005 Hi Tez....thank goodness for this forum is all I can say...this thread has taught me alot and given me loads of info.I really hope you get the flexi/school/home statement you want .I would never have known anything about Flexi schooling , Pupil support services etc if it was,nt for you krismites.........is it all a well kept secret the lea don,t want parents to know about . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
annie Report post Posted August 25, 2005 Hi Suze, Can't think why they don't want us to know about it eh? Annie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
