Anyone around to help?

fiorelli · November 8, 2005

I am in the middle of writing my letter appealing against the decision not to assess Louis for a statement, but I am stuck, I don't know what else to write.

I have a feeling I should be putting a bit about the LEA having to get back to me within a certain time, but I don't know what that 'time' is. I also feel like my letter isn't finished, but can't think of what else to put.

So, can anyone help?

I have copy and pasted it below so feel free to add anything/comment as you wish. Oh, and I apparently need to get this to the LEA this week!

Dear Claire

Re: Request for Statutory Assessment of Special Educational Needs.

Louis Jones DOB *.*.**

I wish to appeal against the decision made not to perform a Statutory Assessment of Special Education Needs.

In the letter I received, it was noted that the reason for not assessing Louis was because it is �the view that the strategies suggested by the educational psychologist and the targets in the Individual Behaviour Management Plan need time to be put into place and monitored and evaluated before making a decision about statutory assessment.�

I do not agree with this statement that was made.

In September to December 2004, help started in earnest in School for Louis. This was in the form of:

? SEN Teacher observation of Louis in his class

? Louis was attending Acorns Nurture Group for 2 afternoons a week

? Louis was receiving 1-1 support in the morning, and his afternoons were spent either in Reception or Acorns Nurture Group

? Louis received help on working on facial expressions and feelings

? The Classroom Assistant gave Louis support with balancing activities

? There was weekly meetings between myself (Mum), and the Teacher

? There was monthly meeting between myself (Mum), and the Headteacher

In December 2004 to April 2005, Louis?s help took the form of:

? Daily 1-1 balancing activities with the Classroom Assistant

? Acorns Nurture Group 1 afternoon a week

? Louis started receiving 1-1 support fulltime which included lunchtimes and playtimes

? There were daily and weekly meetings with myself (Mum) and either the Teacher or Headteacher

? The Class Teacher and Myself (Mum) attended a Behaviour and Learning Consultation Session

? A ?safe nook? was established in the classroom for Louis

? A safe place in the corridor was established

? Louis received his own mat for sitting when involved in floor activities

? A visual timetable was established for Louis

? Louis was given differentiated tasks and activities

? A reward system was put in place for Louis

In May to July 2005, Louis?s help took the form of:

? Behaviour Support Team was involvement

? Louis was doing ?Braingym? exercises

? Strategies from previous terms was continued

? Educational Psychologist support was requested for Louis

? Louis was referred to the ?Turnaround Trust?

In September to November 2005, Louis?s help took the form of:

? A Teacher Advisor Hearing Assessment was carried out as Louis was diagnosed with a Mild Unilateral Hearing Loss

? The Behaviour Support Team Interim Review was carried out

? The Educational Psychologist carried out her assessment

? An Assessment of Special Educational Needs Statement was requested

? Louis started going to the EOTAS respite unit, Broadoaks, in the afternoons

Therefore, I believe that the strategies suggested by the educational psychologist, and the Behaviour Support Team have been carried out, and in some cases were already being carried out before the strategies were suggested.

Louis was permanently excluded from B********* Infant School on Thursday 3rd November 2005.

???

loulou · November 8, 2005

Hi Fiorelli,

"Therefore i believe that the strategies suggested by the educational psychologist, and the behaviour support team, have been carried out, and in some cases were already being carried out before the strategies were suggested."

After this sentence, i think you also need to add something like, "Despite all of the above help Louis has received, he is still not coping at school, therefore i believe that a statutory assessment is needed."

It may also be useful to state the reason why he has been permanently excluded from school, and what the implications are for him (ie where is going to go to school now?). When Kai was excluded his school, i applied for a statutory assessment and was refused. The LEA told me to try him at another mainstream school, but i refused. Luckily on the second application for a statutory assessment, they agreed. I think was was mainly due to the fact that the consultant child psychologist backed me up.

I think you should also include your feelings about Louis going to a specialist school.

Good luck with the letter.

Loulou x

Helen · November 8, 2005

In September to November 2005, Louis?s help took the form of:

? The Educational Psychologist carried out her assessment

Fiorelli, sorry I'm a bit confused...

I've read your initial post in your other thread 'We've been rejected' when you mention the LEA will not not assess your son, yet you say here that the EP has carried out an assessment.

What type of assessment did the EP use on your son and for what purpose? Have you received this report?

Have you managed to get the OT and the paediatrician's report yet? You can submit this information as further parental advice.

I know there more questions than answers, sorry.

mossgrove · November 8, 2005

Fiorelli

You have covered the bases pretty well.

I know that this will sound perverse, but the one thing that may help is not to question the panels decision. If you imply that they were wrong to come to the decision they did, then they may feel compelled to defend their decision.

I would delete

" I do not agree with this statement that was made"

With something along the lines of

"

We were disappointed with the panels decsion that a Stautory asessment was not appropriate at this stage. We feel that this may have been because the panel had an icomplete picture of the amount of support and assistance that Louis has already received, and of the strategies that had already been put in place.

We are deeply grateful for the amount of support we have received for Louis. We also belive that the panel were not fully aware of the quantity and quality of interventions that have taken place to date, and if they had been aware of them, they would have shared our conclusion that, despite some wondeful support and assistance from a large number of people, Louis' needs are such that specialist provision is required, and would therefore agree that a stautaory assessment should take place. We believe that Louis' recent permanent excusion from school gives further weight to this view.

With this in mind I have set out below a brief summary of the many interventions that have talken place to date:

"

You may need to go in all guns blazing at a later date but at the moment I think your most productive avenue would be to invite them to reconsider their dcecsion without asking them to admit they got it wrong the first time round.

It sounds like the statementing officer you spoke to most recently was one of the good ones, if she is as nice as she sounds she may be prepared to tell you off the record what you should say, or tell you what she thinks if you read out your proposed letter over the phone. She or one of her colleagues will probably be present at the panel meeting, they are not officially involved in the decsion but having a statementing officer on your side can make a big difference to how the meeting goes.

Good luck!

Simon

fiorelli · November 8, 2005

updated letter (still don't think it's finished though...)

Dear Claire

Re: Request for Statutory Assessment of Special Educational Needs.

Louis Jones DOB *.*.**

I wish to appeal against the decision made not to perform a Statutory Assessment of Special Education Needs.

In the letter I received, it was noted that the reason for not assessing Louis was because it is �the view that the strategies suggested by the educational psychologist and the targets in the Individual Behaviour Management Plan need time to be put into place and monitored and evaluated before making a decision about statutory assessment.�

I do not agree with this statement that was made.

In September to December 2004, help started in earnest in School for Louis. This was in the form of:

? SEN Teacher observation of Louis in his class

? Louis was attending Acorns Nurture Group for 2 afternoons a week

? Louis was receiving 1-1 support in the morning, and his afternoons were spent either in Reception or Acorns Nurture Group

? Louis received help on working on facial expressions and feelings

? The Classroom Assistant gave Louis support with balancing activities

? There was weekly meetings between myself (Mum), and the Teacher

? There was monthly meetings between myself (Mum), and the Headteacher

In December 2004 to April 2005, Louis?s help took the form of:

? Daily 1-1 balancing activities with the Classroom Assistant

? Acorns Nurture Group 1 afternoon a week

? Louis started receiving 1-1 support fulltime which included lunchtimes and playtimes

? There were daily and weekly meetings with myself (Mum) and either the Teacher or Headteacher

? The Class Teacher and Myself (Mum) attended a Behaviour and Learning Consultation Session

? A ?safe nook? was established in the classroom for Louis

? A safe place in the corridor was established

? Louis received his own mat for sitting when involved in floor activities

? A visual timetable was established for Louis

? Louis was given differentiated tasks and activities

? A reward system was put in place for Louis

In May to July 2005, Louis?s help took the form of:

? Behaviour Support Team was involved

? Louis was doing ?Braingym? exercises

? Strategies from previous terms was continued

? Educational Psychologist support was requested for Louis

? Louis was referred to the ?Turnaround Trust?

In September to November 2005, Louis?s help took the form of:

? A Teacher Advisor Hearing Assessment was carried out as Louis was diagnosed with a Mild Unilateral Hearing Loss

? The Behaviour Support Team Interim Review was carried out

? The Educational Psychologist carried out her assessment

? An Assessment of Special Educational Needs Statement was requested

? Louis started going to the EOTAS respite unit, Broadoaks, in the afternoons

Therefore, I believe that the strategies suggested by the educational psychologist, and the Behaviour Support Team have been carried out, and in some cases were already being carried out before the strategies were suggested. Despite this help, Louis is still not able to cope in Mainstream School therefore I believe that a Statutory Assessment is needed.

Louis was permanently excluded from B********** Infant School on Thursday 3rd November 2005. (I have included a copy of the exclusion letter we have received detailing the reasons for permanent exclusion) Louis cannot cope in a Mainstream School. The size of the classes, the noise of the other children, the expectations of the teachers/classroom assistants, and even other children are too much for Louis. His anxiety levels go through the roof while at school, so much so, that even removing him from the classroom for a time does not help.

This anxiety follows through at home, and makes home-life very difficult, as Louis?s way of calming down is to lie on the sofa, legs and arms sprawled, with the television on ? Loudly ? and the remote control in his hand so he can ?flick? through the channels. If anyone else should want to do something different, or ask Louis to do something, he becomes violent.

This could be helped by Louis having an assessment of his Special Educational Needs, which would identify his needs, a statement to ensure that they are put in place, and a Specialist School that has knowledge and understanding of Autistic Spectrum Disorders, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, so as they are best able to help Louis receive the schooling and help he needs.

fiorelli · November 8, 2005

updated again!!! (Thanks Simon!)

Dear Claire

Re: Request for Statutory Assessment of Special Educational Needs.

Louis Jones DOB 9.9.98

I wish to appeal against the decision made not to perform a Statutory Assessment of Special Education Needs.

In the letter I received, it was noted that the reason for not assessing Louis was because it is �the view that the strategies suggested by the educational psychologist and the targets in the Individual Behaviour Management Plan need time to be put into place and monitored and evaluated before making a decision about statutory assessment.�

We were disappointed with the panels decision that a Statutory Assessment was not appropriate at this stage. We feel that this may have been because the panel had an incomplete picture of the amount of support and assistance that Louis has already received, and of the strategies that had already been put in place.

We are deeply grateful for the amount of support we have received for Louis. We also believe that the panel were not fully aware of the quantity and quality of interventions that have taken place to date, and if they had been aware of them, they would have shared our conclusion that, despite some wonderful support and assistance from a large number of people, Louis' needs are such that specialist provision is required, and would therefore agree that a statutory assessment should take place. We believe that Louis' recent permanent exclusion from school gives further weight to this view.

With this in mind I have set out below a brief summary of the many interventions that have taken place to date: