Flora Report post Posted January 21, 2006 Hi all. I haven't been around for a while because I'm so bogged down with trying to sort out secondary provision in September for my AS son. On Wednesday I had a meeting in my home with our LEA officer and a representative from parent partnership. Some of you will know that my son has been turned down for stat assessment and I have a date for tribunal in March. During the meeting on Thursday the LEA officer wanted us to try to solve our 'difficulties' as she felt that going to tribunal was just going to cause us (me and my family) heartache, grief and disappointment. Like we don't already have those in abundance:! The main crux of this post though is regarding something else she told me which is basically that our LEA(Oxfordshire) from April onwards, will be giving ALL their SEN funding directly to the schools (majority to secondary with a small cut to primary) and leaving it to the schools to use and distribute that where they see fit for their SEN pupils. This will effectively do away with the need for statements (her words not mine). She also told me that even IF I won the tribunal, and then IF they issued a statement for my son that Oxfordshire NEVER place kids out of county so there is not even the smallest chance that my son would be funded for the special AS residential school I would like him to attend. Has anyone else heard of this happening in their own LEA? Have I missed something going on nationally? I have to confess to being so inwardly focussed within our own problems at the moment that I'm often not up to date with changes and this news of the distribution of SEN funding was a bit of a shock to me. Lauren Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tylers-mum Report post Posted January 21, 2006 Sorry I'm not much help but I do recall hearing something on the News about SEN money going directly to the schools for themselves to use as they see fit and not done via the LEA. This is nationally. Can't help you on any of the other questions though but just wanted to give you some ((((HUGS)))). We are all here for you if and when you need us ok. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tez Report post Posted January 21, 2006 (edited) Lauren, This is illegal it amounts to a blanket policy that LEAs are not allowed to have. I would give IPSEA a phone and talk it through with them, but my understanding is that they should be meeting your son's needs and if the only way to do this is a residential school out of county then this is what they will have to do. You will however, have to show that your son's needs could not be met in any other way. With regard to the funding going directly to the school, whilst this may well be correct, many LEAs are doing this, you can still have a statement and an assessment may well be necessary to ascertain exactly what your son's needs are. If you can show that despite the school making all reasonable efforts to meet his needs they are still not being met, then the LEA must assess him and, if the advice points to it, issue a statement. Do talk it through with IPSEA. They are very experienced and are very good at telling you how to respond to these sort of comments that are thrown at you by the LEA. Edited January 21, 2006 by Tez Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
call me jaded Report post Posted January 21, 2006 Go get your statement Lauren. The funding issues are completely irrelevent. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phasmid Report post Posted January 21, 2006 Tosh! This the SEN AUdit process by the sound of it. Yes it works pretty much as described for funding BUT statements still get issued as well. LEAs / schools dislike it as it means two lots of paperwork-TOUGH! As for 'NEVER funding out of county' ...I don't think so! As pointed out that could be seen as a blanket policy which is illegal. Ipsea webaite has aletter from the DfES on it to that very effect!!!! Your LEA sound as if they are running scared of the tribunal, which means you have a good chance of success to my mind. Don't let them bully you. Go for what YOU want. Get onto IPSEA pronto and get their help. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
annie Report post Posted January 21, 2006 I agree. I'm sure IPSEA would be interested in the comments that your LEA Officer has told you Lauren. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
helenl53 Report post Posted January 21, 2006 IPSEA and the Dfes would be interested in the comments Obviously the letter of the 15th November sent out to all LEA's regarding 'blanket policies' missed your LEA. Funding is definately not for you to worry about. Don't cave in to them - your target is the best for your child - not meeting their budget or their policy! IPSEA and NAS are fantastic for helping. Who is helping you with the Tribunal preparation? - If it is the Parent Partnership person then you may not get 'pro-active' advice. Their remit is to give independent, impartial advice, which in our Borough means that they do not necessarily point you in the most productive direction or give you the most beneficial advice for your own case. Best wishes HelenL Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flora Report post Posted January 21, 2006 Thank you everyone for your very useful replies <'> You've given me lots of food for thought and some useful information for our meetings next week. Thanks all Lauren XX Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kazzen161 Report post Posted January 21, 2006 LEA's often say "We never....." but it is just to put you off. I was told my LEA don't send children to my son's school - I asked the school, and they had 6 Hants children there! Karen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UltraMum Report post Posted January 21, 2006 My hubby thinks that, technically and accountancy wise, they could devolve all their spending to the schools but he can't see how they would cope with the varying incidence across the school population unless there are a large number of special schools for SEN. He works as a local authority accountant and knows a bit about this... Quite how this policy would square with the code of practice and OFSTED is another matter - IPSEA and the NAS may be interested in this ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Suze Report post Posted January 21, 2006 <'> Lauren glad to see you back sweetie, do try to keep slogging on for the statement,my son like yours goes to high school in sept.We got news this week that he has a place at an ASD resorce unit at a high school 10 miles away.Your authority must have some ASD provision similar to this , in your area there is a team called the autism support team they guided me to the right schools.There must be somewhere in your authority that has residential provision, specialist provision, resourced provision.They can,t just leave you with this "this is how it is so lump it scenario" .............it stinks. <'> <'> suzex. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LKS Report post Posted January 21, 2006 Lauren my LEA has tried to confuse me with funding issues before My AS son has a statement and started secondary school last September. Because he has what is called a high incidence condition the 'funding' did not transfer with him. HOWEVER he still has a statement and everything that is written in it should be provided. It is up to the school and LEA to slug it out. Must admit have to agree with others sounds like your LEA are scared. Hope my LEA officer never wants to come round my house Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bid Report post Posted January 21, 2006 Mmmm, different LEA, but Kathryn was told that our LEA didn't place any Autistic children out of county...good thing she knew me, then, with a son, er, out of county! Don't listen to anything like this. Just go for that Statement! I was told that I would never get a Statement as my son was nearly 15, that he wouldn't get a special school place, etc, etc...all tosh! Stay strong! Bid Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sallya Report post Posted January 22, 2006 <'> We had this last year as well, a statutory assessment was refused twice because of new funding arrangements, and I was told that there was no point appealing because he wouldn't get a statement. I nearly called the whole thing off, but got loads of encouragement from everyone on this forum to carry on with the appeal. Three weeks before the tribunal, the LEA agreed to assess him. Don't let them put you off the appeal, that's exactly what they are hoping you will do. Tell them you don't give a hoot about the funding arrangements, you want a statement for your son, and the only way is via a statutory assessment. And when you get a chance, report the LEA to IPSEA for illegal criteria for statutory assessment. My letter to John Wright from IPSEA went in the post this week. S xxx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
