General Chat

go for it Nicola :-))

Can I join in feeling really stressed at the moment, need to let of some steam. Nicola xx

In Exeter they gave the school enough money for 3 days help for John

Sorry Bernice, I am confused. I thought the statement paid for the LSA - thats what happens here. The school's SEN budget pays for anything more than that. The school's budget also pays for support for those who do not yet have a statement - children on School Action and School Action Plus. This is definitely what happens in Waltham Forest, cos the Head explained it all to me again this morning. If you have any tips to help us understand/use the system more easily, then we would all be very grateful. Maz. XX

Hi Maz, Yes the SSEN does come from funding within the LEA but I mean't (maybe I wasn't clear) that the proper support that schools should provide to kids with statements comes from their special needs budget. Thats why some schools are reluctant to name lots of hours on a statement because they would have to cough up the money to provide the suport, therfore some schools are not meeting the needs of special needs pupils as well as they could be (and I say that in a generic term) I am sure there are plenty of mainstream provisions that DO meet the needs of their pupils statemented or not!

Bernice and Carol I don't think anyone is saying that ALL lea's or ALL schools or ALL specialists are bad - we are just using this as a forum to have a moan about our specific issues. There are a lot of fabulous people out there who will OFFER help. What parents of SEN kids need is easier access to information, so that we know how the system works (when it does) and what exactly everyone (including us) should be doing. We need pro-active help, rather than having to chase and fight for what is after all our children's right. By the way, in our particular borough a Statement of Special Educational Needs DOES come with its own funding from the LEA - the money is NOT taken from the school's budget. Confirmed this today with our Head. However, not all LEA's work in the same way, so I repeat what I said about it being a postcode lottery. Maz. XX

Ditto!!

Thanks, Maz. Joy

Just a thought - I haven't read the entire thread although I do have a child with AS and did post on page 1 or 2 - you as a parent can request an assessment for a statement of special educational needs, you don;t have to wait for the school, or get their approval, to do it. I'm afraid there are some schools who like to lead parents to believe that it is up to the school to decide. For any parent of a child with an ASD - take a look at www(.)krism(.)org(.)uk - remove brackets. Loads of helpful detailed info and some very knowledgeable people. Lisa

Joy, if you google Dyspraxia, there is loads of info on the net. Maz. XX

Suzanne, I had never heard of dyspraxia before now. My niece's little boy is 3. She and her husband felt there was something wrong and kept on at the doctor, and a consultant diagnosed him. He has started nursery school and is treated as having special needs. When we see him he seems perfectly happy but sometimes a little uncoordinated and quite behind for his age. Joy

Oh Allie how lovely, thank you so much for that! It just gets my back up so much that no-one helps and advises people like you and me. If I hadn't had opiniated, experienced friends to reassure me that I was doing the right thing, then Jamie would probably be ten times worse than he is now. (Karen - this means you girl!!!) Now I'M that opinionated, experienced person, and will carry on being that way! I'm so glad to hear that Jack is doing well, keep watching him and hopefully he will go from strength to strength. Just remember that as mothers, we are the ones who know our children best. Maz. XX

My youngest Damien has dyspraxia we have an appointment for 8th February keeps complaining of pains in his hands and he falls over. My middle son has got three full days help since he was statmented in England but he still takes violent mood swings but the school is good with him he has ADHD since Maz put this thread on it really makes me feel I am not alone

Hi Maz :-)) This is a special message for you to say many thanks for all the advice and help you gave me with my son Jack. For those who don't know, Jack was 3 when Maz first contacted me after reading a thread on here. Jack didn't talk at all at that stage. I am so delighted to say that after one to one speech therapy and a term in a nursery run by speech therapists we have now been told that he no longer needs help. He will still be assessed to make sure that he is still improving and he starts a mainstream nursery tomorrow. He is now 4 I cannot say thanks enough. It is down to you that I realised that this was a common problem and that if I wanted something for Jack.... I had to shout for it, lolol To everyone else, I was fortunate that Jack only had speech problems and i am extremely humbled by some of the posts on this thread. You all deserve medals:-)) Allie xx

I really do think that this whole thing is another postcode lottery. I have been very happy with the school. They supported our application throughout, even after the LEA turned us down 4 times. When we went to tribunal, the head came with us. The panel seemed to be struggling to understand why we had been turned down at all, and of course found in our favour immediately. How much money was wasted through this eighteen month long saga I wonder?? It seems though that others are not receiving the help they should from their school. If you have a Statement of Special Needs then the school HAS to provide what is detailed there. No ifs and no buts. You should contact your LEA immediately if this is not happening. Get onto the school governors, your local parent partnership, the health visitor, speech therapist and anyone else who supports you. No-one else is going to do this for you unfortunately - you have to do the fighting yourself! Any of the support groups for the individual conditions should be able to advise you too. The Department for Education (or whatever they are calling themselves today) can send you free of charge the Special Educational Needs code of practice which lays down the guidelines the schools/LEA's have to follow. I also feel very passionately about this and get very angry that some parents are conned into believing that they cannot get the help that their children need and deserve, either by lazy SENCOs or tight fisted LEA's. In my opinion yes it DOES all come down to money not to mention political correctness, otherwise the help would not be so inaccessible. Not everyone has the time, resources and support to fight the way I had to. Maz. XX

My niece's little boy has dyspraxia. Joy

PS..... I am in Solihull so if anyone wants a coffee break or a shopping break, contact me. Jacky

thank you for what you said and if you are in Scotland and move to England you will need to ask again even though statment is on the chils records I had to

I am the SENCO for my Pre-school and unfortunately, every year I have at least one child on the register who has additional needs. The most common of these is speech delay but needs can vary greatly. In our whole area, there are 4 speech therapists and appointments can take months so some children have gone private, not an option open to many. A new scheme has started giving parents the opportunity to go on a training course to help their child at home. Quite a few have started the course and some have completed it. Referring a child that requires additional support has become easier in the area and with a parents permission, I am able to refer a child to outside agencies if I suspect, or our own assessment system shows a need. The child will then be assessed at home and at Pre-school, with support or guidance given to us so that we can support the child's needs rather than the child having to wait until school. Although this is a big improvement with the system, many children still do not get this opportunity until Pre-school which is at the age of 2 and a half. I am supporting one child at present but after assessments, I will have 3 children needing support. Although there are improvements in assessment and help, the push for children to be integrated into main stream schools (a good move providing the premises are suitable!!), has reduced the services available rather than making more available. Tickled Pink: If I had a family near me in the position of your grandson and parents, I would try to organise a neighbourhood babysitting system to allow the parents some rest and time to 'get away'. Could this be a possibility in their area bearing in mind your grandson's needs? Jacky - shutting up now cos I talk too much!!

Nudge