Statemented and secondary school choices
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Could someone please give me an example of how i could amend these vague statement so that they make sense or so that they are beneficial. ]
i have a meeting planned with the school senco on Monday - to decide - as they have informally told me the funding that has been allocated is not enough - level 3a - equates to only 5 hours per week. i dont think looking at my earlier post - 5hrs per week will be wenough to cover all the educational provision that LEA is providing. We have to request more - i guess - another fight with the LEA - the school suggestion.
I have rto reply to the LEA after the school meeting so that i dont miss the deadline.
However - me being skeptical - does the sch actually need more for my son or for themselves - i have heard of sch using the fundings for others to save money. - niot sure if this is true. - but i am sure the provision above will not be met by 5hrs per week.
LEA mentioned - suitable differentiated curriculum that takes into account social comm needs with emphasis on visual presentation etc - what does this mean .
anyone please help
i have a meeting planned with the school senco on Monday - to decide - as they have informally told me the funding that has been allocated is not enough - level 3a - equates to only 5 hours per week. i dont think looking at my earlier post - 5hrs per week will be wenough to cover all the educational provision that LEA is providing. We have to request more - i guess - another fight with the LEA - the school suggestion.
I have rto reply to the LEA after the school meeting so that i dont miss the deadline.
However - me being skeptical - does the sch actually need more for my son or for themselves - i have heard of sch using the fundings for others to save money. - niot sure if this is true. - but i am sure the provision above will not be met by 5hrs per week.
LEA mentioned - suitable differentiated curriculum that takes into account social comm needs with emphasis on visual presentation etc - what does this mean .
anyone please help
Top "band" Statement equates to 37.5 hours per week so 5 hours is not 20%.
nicemum - talk to your senco about what she thinks your child needs and how the provisions in the Statement can be made more specific and better quantified. Also try and contact your Parent Partnership Service who should be able to go through the Statement with you bit by bit and give relevant advice.
The provisions bit should tie up with the Needs as described in Part 2 so you may need to go back to that part of the Statement and "tighten" it up too.
One good way of ensuring that everything is in there is to look at all the reports and advice collected for the multi-disciplinary assessment and highlight all the needs mentioned in one colour, then highlight all the provision recommended in another. Make sure that every need and provison appears on the Statement and make sure there is provision for every need detailed.
If you get stuck post again and we will all try and help.
nicemum - talk to your senco about what she thinks your child needs and how the provisions in the Statement can be made more specific and better quantified. Also try and contact your Parent Partnership Service who should be able to go through the Statement with you bit by bit and give relevant advice.
The provisions bit should tie up with the Needs as described in Part 2 so you may need to go back to that part of the Statement and "tighten" it up too.
One good way of ensuring that everything is in there is to look at all the reports and advice collected for the multi-disciplinary assessment and highlight all the needs mentioned in one colour, then highlight all the provision recommended in another. Make sure that every need and provison appears on the Statement and make sure there is provision for every need detailed.
If you get stuck post again and we will all try and help.
Thanks all for responding. I have arranged a meet with the sch senco on Mon to discuss the provisions in more details. More clarifications please.
1. Is it true that when we come to naming schools on the statement - we only have 3 choices - seemed a bit unfair as non -statemented kids have 6 choices. What is the reasoning behind this?
2. Assuming we put on the form - 2 selective schools and 1 other school non selective with a SEN unit attached - some distance away (25 mins away) and this has maths and computing as its specialism - which my DS excels.
Whereas another school close by (less than 10 mins away) with SEN unit as well but specialies in ART - his worst subject- fine motor skills issues, can i use this as a justification os choosing the sch 25 mins away.
1. Is it true that when we come to naming schools on the statement - we only have 3 choices - seemed a bit unfair as non -statemented kids have 6 choices. What is the reasoning behind this?
2. Assuming we put on the form - 2 selective schools and 1 other school non selective with a SEN unit attached - some distance away (25 mins away) and this has maths and computing as its specialism - which my DS excels.
Whereas another school close by (less than 10 mins away) with SEN unit as well but specialies in ART - his worst subject- fine motor skills issues, can i use this as a justification os choosing the sch 25 mins away.
Good luck for your meeting.
This is an arrangement local to your area. I don't know the reasoning. Here, though, people just name one school and, for the vast majority, they get it. If it cannot be named the LA discuss with parents why and go on to explore another choice.1. Is it true that when we come to naming schools on the statement - we only have 3 choices - seemed a bit unfair as non -statemented kids have 6 choices. What is the reasoning behind this?
Generally the LA are happy to name the school that you want (providing it can cater for your child's SEN and does not have issues with prejudice to others' education). However, with a further away school this may come with the proviso that they will not provide transport as this would not be an efficient use of their resources if there were a nearer school which could cater for the child's needs. You have a right to a suitable school but not to the MOST suitable or best school.2. Assuming we put on the form - 2 selective schools and 1 other school non selective with a SEN unit attached - some distance away (25 mins away) and this has maths and computing as its specialism - which my DS excels.
Whereas another school close by (less than 10 mins away) with SEN unit as well but specialies in ART - his worst subject- fine motor skills issues, can i use this as a justification os choosing the sch 25 mins away.
We asked for a meeting with the council, appealed on the level of funding. i have received a letter today - level of funding increase from 3b to 4a - more money. however, they have said the the school will have to sort out quantifying and specifying the level of support for each provision and that the lea is not involved in that no more. how can i get the school to do this - i am worried that i might have to fight yet again. i did speak to the senco. the senco has already said to me that certain provisons are arranged annually eg. social communiaction and hand wrting groups run only on certain times in the year - if my child needs this - how do i getthem to run them more frequently.
I have to say that on the surface of it I am baffled by the approach of the LA. Have I understood it right that they have given a higher level of funding but that they have not changed the Statement otherwise in any way? If the provision is not specified how do they work out how much is needed to fund it? If individual schools specify provision how do they achieve some sort of common approach across the county - is there guidance issued and, if so, have you seen it?
I think in your position I would seek some further advice from Parent Partnership firstly to try and understand the way things work in your area and secondly about how you tackle the negotiation with school over what your child receives. I would also seek advice from IPSEA.
It is the LA who ultimately have the responsibility for both assessing and providing for a child's special educational needs. If they hand over part of this function there should be robust systems in place to ensure consistency and accountability and a means of resolution of any disagreements.
I think in your position I would seek some further advice from Parent Partnership firstly to try and understand the way things work in your area and secondly about how you tackle the negotiation with school over what your child receives. I would also seek advice from IPSEA.
It is the LA who ultimately have the responsibility for both assessing and providing for a child's special educational needs. If they hand over part of this function there should be robust systems in place to ensure consistency and accountability and a means of resolution of any disagreements.
Interestingly, I called the parent partnership group - and asked if this was the procedure - the LEA hands over the money to the school and the school now decides how to arrange things. well the Parent Patnership group said i will have to work with the school. i sent a letter to the LEA requesting additional funding and a meeting - LEA sent me a reply on the 25th April - increased funding but will not specify provision. I called Parent patnership - they are advising i speak to school senco and call LEA. Called LEA - they said again that they do not specify provisions and that I should get a written programme from the school on how they will meet the provisions specified in the statement and then they will update the statement at the next review.
Taking into account the 2wks easter holidays - i think this was cleverly done - I cant speak to school senco nor parent partnership till 12th. LEA - no mention of meeting - the deadline for my response was the 11th of March - i sent a letter requesting a meeting - thats been completely ignored. Now received final statement from LEA on 3rd April - says i could discuss my concern in the next review. I will be contacting the IPSEA today. Does anyone have any ideas please?
Taking into account the 2wks easter holidays - i think this was cleverly done - I cant speak to school senco nor parent partnership till 12th. LEA - no mention of meeting - the deadline for my response was the 11th of March - i sent a letter requesting a meeting - thats been completely ignored. Now received final statement from LEA on 3rd April - says i could discuss my concern in the next review. I will be contacting the IPSEA today. Does anyone have any ideas please?
