smallworld Report post Posted January 30, 2006 (edited) Hi, I need to know whether I am being overly picky about the proposed amendment I got in the post this morning.The only change is down to the funding of lunch-time support in our LEA,the funding for this no longer comes from them, but from the school's budget. There is nothing in the letter to inform me that I may make representations within 15 days of receipt of the letter, just some blurb about a local disagreement resolution service.....and a paragraph about appealing (SENDIST)if we disagree with their decision. and ends with, 'This Statement has been amended to reflect the change in the Local Education Authority's policy with regard to mid-day supervision.' My son's original statement had this relevant bit in PART 3 (the LEA will provide) 'funding to enable **** to receive support from a Midday Supervisor for 6.25 hours each week.' The proposed amendment has.... 'the school will provide: 'Support for **** from a Mid-day Supervisor as deemed necessary.' Is it just me or is this just way too vague ? Cheers, wac P.S. my son escaped at lunchtime a few weeks ago and got out of the school gates. I didn't make an official complaint but the incident was recorded. I take this as simple proof that this support is crucial to his safety. Edited January 30, 2006 by waccoe Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LKS Report post Posted January 30, 2006 waccoe even if the funding is coming out of the school's budget can't understand why they cannot keep the actual amount of hours in. Really really don't like the bit as deemed necessary. As deemed necessary by who, the school, I don't think so Think you are right to be 'picky' Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smallworld Report post Posted January 30, 2006 'as deemed necessary' this probably means by the other dinner ladies wac Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kathryn Report post Posted January 30, 2006 Waccoe, I haven't any experience of scrutinising statements but this looks way too vague to be any use whatsoever. It looks as though they've left a nice big loophole here. I think you're right to be picky. K Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smallworld Report post Posted January 30, 2006 thanks , I've got the COP out, am busy picking out flaws in the handling of this proposal for starters..... ...and being really picky, I wish the LEA bods could make their minds up whether it's 'midday' or 'mid-day' I'm allowed to be inconsistent with my spelling, I'm just a parent wac Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
invent 10 things b4 breakfast Report post Posted January 30, 2006 Waccoe, I have the same issue, not that my sons statement has been changed but that the cover is too vague. His reads "support should include 5 hours of welfare assistance to provide supervision at lunchtimes". I am in the process of having his statement "tightened up" to include dedicated 1:1 support at luchtimes, because he used to be an escapee too but these days it's for his own protection from the bullies and to prevent misinterprutation of his actions. My son's statement doesn't refer to where the funding comes from. You are right to be picky as a Statement is supose to quantify the provision. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smallworld Report post Posted January 30, 2006 I've just rang the SEN office to ask to see a copy of the LEA's policy and was told 'it's not a paper copy as such' must be just memorised by the SEN staff and used willy-nilly Surely I can't be the first person to ask to read this policy on midday supervision ? We didn't even find out about this new policy until it had been in place for over a year, but his statement wasn't amended last year, how come ? The more I think about this proposal, the more unsettled I feel..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tez Report post Posted January 30, 2006 Waccoe, This is exactly the sort of thing that the DfES wrote to LEAs about in November telling them it was illegal. They are not allowed to make vague statements and all provision has to be clearly quantified and specified, as deemed necessary is not acceptable you want the hours and level of support(1:1) back in , where the funding comes from needn't worry you as long as this is written in. Have a look at the letter on the IPSEAite, you can download it on the right, it's the one dated December 2005. IPSEA Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smallworld Report post Posted January 30, 2006 thanks for that Tez, will have a quick look now before I dash to school, back later, wac Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kathryn Report post Posted January 30, 2006 I've just rang the SEN office to ask to see a copy of the LEA's policy and was told 'it's not a paper copy as such' Where is it then? Scribbled on the toilet wall? K Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smallworld Report post Posted January 30, 2006 I will just have to demand to go there and spend a penny Tez's advice was spot on, thanks again, wac Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UltraMum Report post Posted January 31, 2006 Up to their tricks ... "as deemed necessary" by the cat? the dog? the rabbit? the caretaker? the lady who lives six doors down from the school? My son's original statement had this relevant bit in PART 3 (the LEA will provide) 'funding to enable **** to receive support from a Midday Supervisor for 6.25 hours each week.' The proposed amendment has.... 'the school will provide: 'Support for **** from a Mid-day Supervisor as deemed necessary.' So ... have your son's needs changed? - has there been a new report? if not then why do they need to change the statement because of budget changes? they can amend it by just moving the sentence "'funding to enable **** to receive support from a Midday Supervisor for 6.25 hours each week.'" from the LEA bit to the school bit. Do you have any contact with parent partnership? You can't be the only parent this affects.... mind you since KC and TG have left it's in a bit of disarray ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tez Report post Posted January 31, 2006 (edited) my son escaped at lunchtime a few weeks ago and got out of the school gates. Just a thought but does the statement stipulate what the support is supposed to do e.g mediate in social situations with peers, be alert for potentially dangerous situations, guide and encourage play activities? If not, since the LEA are so keen to alter this part of the statement might be an idea to have this added, it should be there anywhere - provision clearly specified - then it will be quite clear what the support role is and no excuse for missing your son running out of school. Edited January 31, 2006 by Tez Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smallworld Report post Posted January 31, 2006 thanks for all your replies, they've all been so helpful Mother Eve, I couldn't see why the whole sentence wasn't just moved to 'the school will provide' bit ??, and no mention of PP in letter come to think of it ?? Tez, I am now thinking if I've got to battle to get this sorted I might as well question a few other things too ! Been to see the head this morning to tell her we will be making 'representations' about this, and not happy with amendment. Actually, I went to see her about another child (just 3) who was trying to cross the main road on his own this morning I feel like a right tell-tale but something had to be said. wac Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UltraMum Report post Posted January 31, 2006 Hi Waccoe - just been reading the Code of Practice: The LEA don't seem to be sticking to the rules 8:126 Where the LEA propose to amend a statement following an annual review or at any other time, whether to change the name of the school in Part 4 or for any other reason, they must write to the child?s parents informing them of that proposal and of the parents? right to make representations about the statement and the amendments within 15 days of the receipt of that proposal and to request a meeting with an officer of the LEA. 8:127 For amendments following a re-assessment, the procedure is the same as when making a new statement as set out earlier in this chapter. 8:128 For amendments following a review, other than after a reassessment, LEAs must send the parents an amendment notice that sets out the details of their proposed amendments. The amendment notice should be appended to the Notice to Parents set out at Part B of Schedule 1 at Annex A. They must explain the reasons for the proposal and ensure that the parents have copies of any evidence that prompted the proposal. Where a proposal to amend the statement arises from the annual review, the parents should have already received copies of the review report and the school?s recommendations. 8:129 The LEA must consider any representations made by the parents before deciding whether and how to amend the statement. If the authority concludes that an amendment should be made, they must make that amendment within eight weeks of sending the amendment notice to the parents. If the LEA decides not to go ahead with the amendment, they should write to the parents explaining why, again within eight weeks of the original letter setting out the proposal to make an amendment. 8:130 When a child transfers from one school to another, either because they have moved to a different address but remain in the same authority or because of a phase change of school (for example from a primary to a secondary school), Part 4 of the statement will always need amending. Information and recommendations from an annual review meeting may also indicate the need for alterations to an existing statement. Where the proposal involves amending Part 4 of the statement the parents have the rights to express a preference or make representations described in paragraph 8:58. 8:131 When the statement is amended a new document must be issued which clearly states that it is an Amended Final Statement and the date on which it was amended, as well as the date of the original statement. Additional advice, such as the minutes of an annual review meeting and accompanying reports, that contributed to the decision to amend the statement, should be appended to the amended statement in the same way as the advice received during the statutory assessment. The amended statement should also make clear which parts of the statement have been amended, so that parents and professionals can clearly see and understand the changes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smallworld Report post Posted January 31, 2006 No, they certainly aren't ! have already been at the COP with the highlighter pen ( it will soon be mainly dayglo ) I have spent most of the morning worrying about the kids I saw the head about this morning, and worrying whether I have done the right thing Then I spent this afternoon wrestling with a kaput venetian blind hence the late reply ! head muttered about LEA passing the buck when I brought up the question of lunchtime support. wac Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UltraMum Report post Posted February 1, 2006 No, they certainly aren't ! have already been at the COP with the highlighter pen ( it will soon be mainly dayglo Time to get a new one and a pack of at least four different coloured highlighters then .... head muttered about LEA passing the buck when I brought up the question of lunchtime support. Par for the course ... did you know that TG from PP is now working for the LEA as an SEN offficer ... poacher turned gamekeeper? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smallworld Report post Posted February 1, 2006 Success ! of sorts, woman from SEN office this pm and asked me if I wanted the hours re-writing into the amendment ? Yes please ! apparently she hadn't drafted this herself and it is now being rectified, was the quick result cos I asked to see the policy on this ? wac Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UltraMum Report post Posted February 1, 2006 Success ! of sorts, woman from SEN office this pm and asked me if I wanted the hours re-writing into the amendment ? Yes please ! apparently she hadn't drafted this herself and it is now being rectified, That's good was the quick result cos I asked to see the policy on this ? Probably - I'd lay odds that they haven't got one! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jen Report post Posted February 2, 2006 what they say and do are too different things. You need to go through the offical process ask for a meeting with the lea officer to discuss proposed statment (this has to be done within ?2 weeks of receiving the proposed statement) If they have nothing in writing they say you have agreed regardless of what you said over the phone. meet with the lea officer take parent partnership. Take a letter stating all the things you are not happy with and how you want them changed. The statement should state the LEA will provide 25 hours of LSA support etc. Jen Were have just gone through the proposed statement with wooley wording final statement still has wooley wording hence going to sendist to appeal Jen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smallworld Report post Posted February 2, 2006 Hi Jen, I'm giving them a few days for the re-drafted amendment to appear in the post, if it doesn't I have my argument and sources ( thanks Tez and M.E. ) already to go ! Hopefully it won't be needed I'm just alarmed by how quickly they caved in verbally ! will let you know if I've been over-optimistic for a change wac Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smallworld Report post Posted February 10, 2006 Got the amended amendment !! Methinks the LEA were just seeing how many parents they could slip that little scam, sorry 'change' by ??? wac Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UltraMum Report post Posted February 10, 2006 Wouldn't surprise me one little bit ... Glad you got them onto the back foot! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
