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my son has been offered ten hours a week home education.

At the moment we have refused this because it does not meet the needs of his statement and offers no oppertunity for social inclusion. We have asked the LEA to endeavour to find him a placement in an appropriate peer group.

As he has missed most of the last three years at school and has virtually no contact with the outside world we feel it is more important to try to develop interaction and communication skills than to concentrate on school work. Besides which ten hours a week is going to do very little to compensate for lost time.

We are also frightened that by accepting home education the situation will be allowed to drift and no further imput will be sought for him As he is already 14 it would be disasterous for his future for this to be allowed to happen.

Does anyone else have experience of home education for ASD children, if so what was the benefits, if any for their child?

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We are also frightened that by accepting home education the situation will be allowed to drift and no further imput will be sought for him As he is already 14 it would be disasterous for his future for this to be allowed to happen.

 

I can understand your fear, this situation should not be allowed to drift on. My son was out of school for a year, whilst I was in dispute with the LEA, which is a different situation from yours.

 

Home education - education otherwise, is different from not having a school for your child to attend. I take it the LEA are unable to find a school that meets his needs. 10 hours seems to be standard in this situation but the are still legally responsible for ensuring that he gets the provision on his statement. :shame:

 

I would advise you to contact one of the education helplines. NAS, ACE or IPSEA.

It can take a while to get through but well worth the effort involved. You need expert advice.

 

Good luck, I hope you manage to get some support.

 

Let us know how you get on.

 

Nellie. x

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A friend of mine had similar problems, my heart goes out to you, desperate.

Her son, aged 13, ended up attending residential school for a while and got on very well, but she ended this and went back to home ed. as she didn't like the separation. I don't know if you would be up for residential school, maybe the NAS could help you find a different solution.

Please let us know how it goes, even if it's just for some cyber sympathy. I might not know what you all look like, but the empathy is real.

Esther x

>:D<<'>

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Hi,

 

Laura has got impetigo and has been off school this week. She's been so happy and we've been doing lots of work and educational things of her choice. I think she's learnt more this week than she would have done in school. She's naturally very bright and inquisitive but not performing very well at school. She tends to daydream and "switch off". I'm the sort of person who loves the school holidays and having my kids around me. I love taking them to museums and just talking to them. It's made me think that perhaps I would like to home educate her. She's ok at school at the moment but I couldn't bear for her to go through the same thing Jack has this past couple of years. Has anyone else home educated? I'll probably never have the courage to do it but I'm interested in other peoples experiences.

 

Lisa

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Thanks Bid,

 

I've been looking at the sites. It seems that quite a lot of home educated kids have Aspergers. The more I read and think about it, the more appealing it becomes to keep Laura at home. I'm so fed up with battling with the school all the time and feeling so stressed.

 

Lisa

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I'm so fed up with battling with the school all the time and feeling so stressed.

Oh, Lisa, poor you!

I think many of us can sympathise with how you feel, it's a very draining situation..

Home Ed. can work very well- is Laura at mainstream? I sound like a total advocate of special ed., and I know that there aren't enough places for our kids, but Caghal had an awful time at mainstream and is now loving Special Ed. We seriously considered Home Ed. for him, but he's getting to exercise his social skills in the Unit- something he needs a LOT of help with!! He's going to an ASD specific unit in August, but it's part of a mainstream school and they'll try to integrate him.

Anyway, whatever you decide to do, I hope things improve for Laura, poor wee mite!

Hugs all round, I think!! >:D<<'>

Esther x

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Esther,

 

Laura is in mainstream and quite happy at the moment. We've had a lot of problems with her older brother at the same school, his problems became more apparent in the juniors and I really don't want Laura to have to go through the same thing. I also think Jack's AS is milder than Laura's (although she hasn't been diagnosed yet). I feel I want to protect her and keep her home with me where I know she'll stay happy. She can still socialise with other kids by going Brownies and with her brother, sister and cousins etc. We tend to have quite a good social life out of school so she'll never be without other kids around. Although she's doing ok academically, I know she isn't achieving her potential and I'm sure I could do a better job at home where she's more relaxed and I can spend time giving her the one to one attention she needs.

 

It's a really big step to decide to home educate and I'm worried I'll screw it up.

 

Lisa

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Hi Lisa,

 

There are times when our kids emotional needs can be as great if not greater than their academic needs.

 

I wish you the very best with whatever decision you make.

 

Nellie. >:D<<'>

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Hello Lisa,

 

My son is 6years old, and has always been home-educated.

Not because of any pressure to do so, just thats what i wanted for my child even before he was born!

I was very concerned about my abilities and methods to do so, and thoughts like: 'will he hate me for ruining his life when he's a teenager? 'will he miss out?' etc did burden me for some time. Each holiday the children have from school is a reminder for me just how glad i am that i stuck to my instincts and home educated!! (Rude of me to say but i find the 'normal' kids to be mean and manipulative and some of their parents to be worse!)

 

Having been sent to this site re; Poo problems lol, I found out about AS and all things that accompany it, I listed my concerns and passed the note onto my doctor and he has happily referred my son without actually seeing him (he is our family doctor and knows my son and i), so i am now waiting for whatever comes next.

 

As a home-educator you do not have to follow curriculum guidelines, you do not require any specialist equipment or training. If you want to home educate your child part-time many schools will allow this, (the child is registered with the school but is 'signed' out for the sessions you want to have them at home, the school still gets their payment for the child that way).

 

At the end of the day only you can decide, but if you have the love and patience (sounds to me like you do!) then go for it, they are only small for such a short time!

Look for local home-educators or the sites listed above for advice, and legal specs.

 

From personal experience: I am really happy i made the decision. Now I know about AS i am even more sure of it. I don't expect it to be plain sailing forever, after all he is only 6!

 

Take care Hope that all didnt come out as just a bunch of waffle!!!!!!!

 

Sam (020586)

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Thanks for all the support everyone. This site has been such a lifeline for us, it's so refreshing to be able to share your worries with people who understand what you're going through. I have good friends who are also very supportive but I don't want to turn into the "aspergers bore" where everyone runs into hiding everytime they see me and murmur "don't mention special needs"!!! :lol:

 

Sam, have you met other families in your area who home educate and if so do you meet up and do activities or outings with the children together?

 

Lisa

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Hi Lisa,

 

I have been home educating my son David now almost 17 for the last 6 years and mys son Matthew now 7 for the last two years. I can honestly say that home ed saved our sanity and as a family gave us back a quality of life that we never had before HE. Both of my sons hated mainstream, in fact David had a total breakdown aged 11 - pre diagnosis - and never made it back to school. It's not that I am anti - school - being Chair of Governors at Matthw's school for almost 12 years I knew the system from the inside out and realised that mainstream was never ever going to meet their needs. Neither were able to attend a special school, although again unless it's ASD specific I have reservations, so we bit the bullet two years ago and now DIY educate both boys.

 

We have seen David change from a very introverted and obsessive young man into a lad who now has a better social life then we do and Matthew has lost many of his autistic manerisms altogether since we de-reged him. Both boys used to cling to their routines and this made everday life very difficult. But once we took school out of the equation we found that they no longer lived life in a hyper state of anxiety and as they began to relax their obsessive need for routine and rules of engagement for all situations just began to fade away.

 

We can always tell now if either of the boys are un-happy or worried because their need for specific routine and instructions begins to creep in again.

 

There are some excellent lists to join should you decided to take the plunge and we also joined a local EO group and we pick and chose our outings and activities.

 

Carole

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Carole,

 

Did your son have a statement? I was wondering if the LEA are still obliged to make provision for home educated kids who have statements. Would they still provide SALT and Ed Psych input? Would the ASD outreach visit us if we wanted them to?

 

Lisa

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We are in a right old muddle now. Because steven can't cope at school, my daughter has informed the LEA and the primary chool she has removed him from school. All the teachers keep bringing him home saying he can't cope, or asking us to come and get him. She has asked for a statement, but she has had no support or word back from his school. In the meantime she has sent for an education pack. I tried to teach him some maths, but we do not have any idea how to about anything. I am quite good at maths and english, but we don't know what he or hasn't learned before as he doesn't seem to have been learning much. Any ideas? :oops:

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Hello Steviegirl :)

 

There's a lot of information being posted at the moment in the 'education' forum which could apply to your grandson's case.

 

Two members (a married couple) already have their son at home with them because school is unable to meet their teenager's needs at the moment - this has warranted an emergency referral to the LEA for a statutory assessment, in the hope of obtaining a Statement.

 

You say that your daughter has asked for a Statement but that she hasn't received any support or reply from the school - did she put this request in writing to the LEA or did she make the request to the school, for it to refer your grandson for an assessment?

 

Helen

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Helen, thanks for your quick reply. My daughter has wrote a letter to the LEA herself. The childrens clinic has also gave him some different tablets as my daughter did not like him on ritalin. The doctor agrees he does have aspergers as well. However after reading this site I think she will have more to do than just write a letter. However she did speak to a LEA member who advised her. I will admit my daughter does not seem so stressed now he isnot at school. The teachers do not seem to be properly trained in aspergers. Although the did say he would get help, but he was still sitting in the same class all the time. One little girl told me he is okay till the other children "wound him up" so then he started to defend himself which only made matters worse. thanks

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Hi Steviegirl

 

I would strongly advise that you ring either the NAS education advocacy line or IPSEA (independent panel for special education advice)

 

These are education advice helplines it may take some time to get a response. In the case of the NAS they will take your number and get back to you.

 

NAS education advocacy helpline:

0845 070 4002

For the Education Advice Line (press option 1)

 

IPSEA:

England and Wales (freephone):

0800 0184016

Mon to Thu 10--4 and 7--9;

Fri 10--1 and 7--9

During school holidays times are reduced. Please ring for availability.

 

Nellie.

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Steviegirl,

 

You say that your daughter has written to the LEA, if she has asked for an assessment it is important that she quotes the education act of 1996. I have copied the below from IPSEA website. You will find further information there. http://www.ipsea.org.uk/

 

Nellie.

 

 

If you believe:

 

that your child has a learning difficulty or a disability which is holding them back at school; and

that the school is not able to provide the help your child needs

You should also ask your LEA for a �statutory assessment� if your child is under school age, and you believe that they will need extra help when they start school.

 

Should I speak to the school first?

Yes, definitely. Speak to your child?s class teacher and the head teacher about your worries before writing to the LEA

 

What if the school offers to write on my behalf ?

The Headteacher is able to write and ask for a 'statutory assessment', but if you do it yourself you can be sure that the request has definitely been made, and you will know when it has been made. However, if the Headteacher is willing, you could ask him or her to write a letter which supports your parental application.

 

Who should I write to?

Write to the top person at the LEA, usually called the Chief Education Officer or the Director of Education. You can find out what the top person is called in your LEA by asking at the school or the local library.

 

When should I hear back?

The LEA must reply within six weeks.

 

Remember: Always ask in writing. Keep a copy of your letter. Make a note of the six week deadline for the LEA?s reply. Ring IPSEA if you don?t get a reply after six weeks or if you want further advice.

 

Model letter

Dear Sir or Madam,

 

(child?s name) (date of birth)

 

Request for formal assessment

 

I am writing as the parent of the above child to request an assessment of his special educational needs under the 1996 Education Act.

 

(child?s name) attends ..................... school.

 

I believe that (child?s name)'s special educational needs are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

My reasons for believing that the school cannot on their own make the provision required to meet my child?s needs are:

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Steviegirl

 

If you look under education on this site you will find the topic Fast Tracking Statutory Assessments by Bid.

 

This will give you information about fast tracking the SEN procedure and getting an emergency placement if necessary.

 

SEN procedure is very complex I would advise you ask one of the helplines for support and ask them to explain this procedure and how to action it.

 

There is a danger if you take a child out of the school system the LEA may say that is your choice and not take further action.

 

The LEA have a legal duty to identify and provide for your child's special educational needs.

 

Hope this has been helpful

 

Please ask if you don't understand something.

 

Nellie. >:D<<'>

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Stevieirl,

I can't really help ou, but I just wanted to pass on my empathy and sincerest hopes that things work out for Steven and Mum. I know exactly how demoralising and disruptive it is when the school constantly sends your child home, as that was me six months ago. My son went into special ed. two moanths ago, and has made great progress, he is transferring to an ASD unit in the new term. This is a terrible situation, if Steven can't cope, why won't they kick off statementing process???

Nellie's a gem, and always has useful info. I agree with what she says about the LEA taking action if Steve does not attend, and no arrangement has been come to.

The very best of luck with this, let us know how things are going.

Esther x

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Hi Lisa,

 

Sorry this is a very late reply - my dad died at the weekend - I will try and answer your questions

 

Did your son have a statement? No Matthew did not have a statement we had tried and tried to obtain one but failed.

 

I was wondering if the LEA are still obliged to make provision for home educated kids who have statements. No and they may expect you to follow the statement you would need to find out what needs to be done if a statement were involved. But I am on an excellent HE list that could answer all of your questions and give you the help you require.

 

Would they still provide SALT and Ed Psych input? Yes Matthew still gets SALT and much more of it but I think that we are one of the few who do.

 

Would the ASD outreach visit us if we wanted them to? Yes we are awaiting a visit from this team at the moment.

 

If you have other questions please feel free to ask them.

 

Carole

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Lisa / Carole

 

Information on home educating a child with a statement.

 

Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 recognises parents?right to choose to educate their child at home. Such arrangements are described as ?education otherwise than at school.? In such cases, if the child has a statement of special educational needs, it remains the LEA?s duty to ensure that the child?s needs are met. The statement must remain in force and the LEA must ensure that parents can make suitable provision, including provision for the child?s special education needs. If the parent?s arrangements are suitable the LEA are relieved of their duty to arrange the provision specified in the statement. If, however, the parents? attempt to educate the child at home results in provision which falls short of meeting the child?s needs, then the parents are not making ?suitable arrangements? and the LEA could not conclude that they were absolved of their responsibility to arrange the provision in the statement. Even if the LEA is satisfied, the LEA remains under a duty to maintain the child?s statement and to review it annually, following the procedures set out in Code of Practice Chapter Nine 8:95

 

In such situations section 324 (4A) of the Education Act 1996 does not require the name of the school to be specified in part 4 of the statement. Part 4 should state the type of school the LEA consider appropriate but go on to say that: 'parents have made their own arrangements under section 7 of the Education Act 1996.'

The statement can also specify any provision that the LEA have agreed to make under section 319 to help parents provide suitable education for their child at home.

 

 

If you decide to do this I would be upfront with the LEA, if you can think of some way in which they can support you, then ask them. It will depend on your LEA.

You do not legally have to send your child to school, you do legally have to ensure that they receive an appropriate education. By keeping a careful record of all the work you do with your child you will always be in a position to prove that you are fulfilling your legal duty as a parent.

 

Hope this has helped.

 

Nellie.

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Further to the above

 

Section 319 of the 1996 Education Act gives LEAs the power to arrange for special educational provision to be made otherwise than in school.

 

Lisa if you are considering doing this, the first step is to write to the LEA and ask them to amend the statement in part 4 in order to record that she is being educated at home. At the same time, you may want to think about any kind of support which would be helpful to you when providing for your daughter. For example, a weekly visit by a specialist teacher, or a therapist.

 

This is an example of letter of what to write.

 

Dear Chief Education Officer,

 

I am writing as a parent of ???, who has a statement of special educational needs maintained by your Authority. I wish to inform you that I intend to exercise my right under section 7 of 1996 education act to educate ?? at home. I believe that I can do this in a way which is appropriate to her age ability and aptitude and her special educational needs, and I will be happy to provide you with information on the programme and curriculum which I intend to arrange for????.

 

I believe that, in this situation, it is appropriate for you to amend ??.. statement in part 4 to reflect the new arrangement, and I request that you now do this as soon as possible. At the same time, I would like to request amendments to part 3 of the statement in the form of the following additional points:

 

You can then add the provision you think the LEA could provide for you.

 

 

If this does not work.

 

If your LEA refuse to amend Part 3 of the statement, you can still educate your daughter at home. However, you will not be entitled to the support for her which you would have had if Part 3 had been amended. Many LEAs more or less ignore children who are being educated at home by their parents. However, if you felt strongly about the additional support which an amended statement might give, you could ask for a fresh statutory assessment.

 

Your LEA may amend the statement, but not exactly as you requested. For example, they may be happy to refer to the home education arrangement in Part 4 but not want to commit themselves to providing any help under Part 3. In this situation you will be able to appeal to the Special Educational Needs Tribunal.

 

Finally, LEAs have a duty to prosecute parents when they believe that they are failing to ensure that their children are receiving an appropriate education. It is unlikely to happen, but if you are threatened with prosecution you will need legal advice from a solicitor. You would need to get in touch with one of the education advice lines for some advice and the name of a solicitor.

 

 

I hope this has helped you and any other parents considering home education.

 

Good luck Lisa with whatever you decide to do.

 

Nellie.

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Thanks Nellie and Carole,

 

Nellie, you always come up with brilliant advice, thanks for taking the time to research this subject. I'd pretty much made up my mind to take Laura out of school which she was happy with and then she announced yesterday that she thinks she'll stay at school because she likes school! ;) I think it's because it's coming up to the end of term SATs are finished and the school are in "fun mode".

 

Just typical though, we've had to battle with Jack to get him to school for the past 3 years and as soon as I make the decision to home educate everyone likes school all of a sudden. He's worried about his LSA losing her job if he leaves!! The main thing is they all seem happy which is a relief after so much stress. At least I've done my research and if they do start having problems again and want to leave then they can.

 

Lisa

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Hello everyone, I do not remember if I told you that Steven received a letter that they are approving a statement. My duaghter got all the evidence from the clinic and teachers and her husband had a strong fac to face with them to let them know how difficult everything is. What happens now? Do we just wait for the proper statement before they approach a school, or does the LEA do this?

Can they say they have no room for him or facilities?

She does not want him to go to the local school as she has had not very nice reports about it.

She wants him to go to Axton Chase in Longfied Kent as it seems ideal, however will she get a chance? How long does the proper statement come through. It has been a month with no word, or does it take a long time? Sorry for the questions!!

Thanks everybody!!!!!

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Hi Steviegirl,

that's great news!!!! Hopefully things should get a little easier for Steven's Mum.

 

Right, I'm not the best person to ask about Statements, but one thing I have picked up is that if you want Steven to go to a different school, then you have to prove that the one he's attending (or thew one where he's been offered a place) cannot meet his needs, and that the school of your choice CAN.

I think it might also involve appeals, but as I say, I'm not the most knowledgeable on this one.

Good luck, anyway, Steviegirl,

Esther x

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Hi Steviegirl

 

Great news.

 

If you look in Education Resources you will find lots of information on special educatonal needs and the statementing processing.

 

This link will take you to the National Autistic Society Education Pages have a look at Statutory Assessment and Statement.

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=303

 

Regarding choosing a school on a child's statement.

 

Parents may express a preference for the maintained school they wish their child to attend, or make representations for a placement in any other school. LEAs must comply with a parental preference unless the school is unsuitable to the child's age, ability, aptitude or special educational needs, or the placement would be incompatible with the efficient education of the other children with whom the child would be educated, or with the efficient use of recources. LEAs must consider parental representations and arrange any meeting(s) with LEA advisers or officers the parents seek, before issuing the final statement.

Schedule 27 Education Act 1996

 

 

The following topics should help, they can be found in Education Resources.

 

SEN Support and Information Services

SEN advice, information and support

 

NAS information on SEN procedure

NAS information sheets on Education

 

Useful Documents on SEN Procedure.

For parents of children with SEN.

 

Any questions, please ask.

 

Nellie.

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Steviegirl

 

Am I correct in thinking that the school of your choice is a mainstream with an ASD unit? When the LEA send you the proposed statement the part naming the school will be blank and you will be asked to name the school of your choice.

 

It will help if you can give clear evidence in your reports that the present school cannot meet the needs of the child. From what you have said in your previous reports, I think this should be fairly easy, as the school were asking for the child to be taken home as he couldn't cope. Hopefully the school will say in their reports that they couldn't meet his needs.

 

Good luck, I hope everything works out for you.

 

Nellie.

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What happens now?  Do we just wait for the proper statement before they approach a school, or does the LEA do this? 

Steviegirl, your daughter should phone the NAS Advocacy for Education helpline as soon as possible, on Tel: 0845 070 4002, press 1 for 'general advice, special educational needs, provison and entitlement'.

 

It would benefit your daughter to request the support of an NAS advocate who'd scrutinize the proposed Statement. The advocate would then inform your daughter of what ought to be written in the Statement.

 

As advocates work on a voluntary basis during their free time, your daughter may have to wait a number of days for a reply, because they are extremely busy people.

 

Helen

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Would IPSEA be able to help here? It's just a though but my best friend mand the help line for IPSEA and she knows how a statement should read and what should be in in. She also has a son with ASD so she knows her stuff there to.

 

I do know that the helpline is operating during the holidays as my friend is now on two nights per week.

 

Carole

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I started NAS advocacy training but had to give it up due to a family crisis. I believe the NAS training is done by John Wright of IPSEA. I think my first choice would be the NAS, only because I think they may have a better understanding of autism. If the NAS were busy, and there was a long wait, I would go with IPSEA, who are brilliant.

 

Nellie.

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Hi Nellie,

 

John Wright trained my friend and what she does not know is not worth knowing - when it comes to statements. But I would agree that the NAS would be more ASD aware.

 

Carole

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my grandson is waiting for a school. Have anyone any ideas about what we can do with him in the meantime as he is staying in more and more. HE IS 11 years. There does not seem to be any help for aspergerges/adhd children when they are not in school. Naturally his mum is getting more and more stressed.

 

I took him on a boat to London but I was worn out as I have a bad leg. Now all he does is play on his play station. Will he want to go to school when he has his final statement and how long does that take I wonder? :unsure:

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my grandson is waiting for a school.

 

Will he want to go to school when he has his final statement and how long does that take I wonder?� 

Steviegirl, your daughter could try her local NAS branch for support.

 

When you say that your grandson is waiting for a school, has the LEA agreed to your daughter's choice of school, or has your daughter decided to keep your grandson home from school on the basis that the local school is unsatisfactory? I know you were concerned about the local school in one of your previous posts...

 

The final Statement should be issued within 8 weeks from the date when a parent has received the proposed Statement.

 

Helen

Edited by Helen

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