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Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

SEN

BEEN REFUSED STATEMENT OF EDUCATION

11 replies

clarisa · 12/03/2008 13:51

I have just received the dreaded letter stating refusal of statement. I could tear my bl**dy hair out.

My son has recently been diagnosed with Autism/Tourettes/Sensory Intergration disorder (he is 9, and we have been awaiting this diagnosis for a few years now). He attended a mainstream school but had no end in difficulties, exclusions, bullying peer/teacher.(please take a look at other threads I have postedxx) Well he is still registered at school, as I have been advised to keep him on list, but will never be going back there. He cant cope with this, gets very upset, angry, and sent out of class more imes than he is in(even though this has been denied by teachers!!) At the moment I am doing my best to HE, but this is very hard with a 19 month old, plus 2 other children at school. There is a special needs school that I do so wish to get him in, but need a statement for a placement. What is going on with the education authorities???? I am obviously going to fight, just like I have for many years getting a diagnosis, and just like I have for many years whilst he has attended school......where does the battle end??? I feel exhausted. All I want is for my disabled child to have an education. This is so wrong

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Wisp · 12/03/2008 14:02

I'm so sorry, we are battling to get DS1 statemented to get him into a nearer school, Our LEA have been refusing them, despite the evidence being clearly there. The education Officer for the county said you need to "jump through hoops to get one"; comes down to the funding. for you, hope you can get this changed.

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clarisa · 12/03/2008 14:12

Its all wrong isnt it!!! shouldnt have to battle for an education for our children.

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 12/03/2008 14:15

What grounds did they use for refusal?.

You must appeal this as a matter of course. You are your son's best - and only - advocate.

Would also suggest you get SOS:SEN and or IPSEA on side too as they can be helpful in such circumstances (www.ipsea.org.uk).

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TheMatrix · 12/03/2008 23:56

Hi

SOS!SEN phone number is 0208 538 3731. It is an INDEPENDENT charity to help parents and carers get the support their child needs.

Your course of action is to appeal to SENDIST, an independent body that can direct the LEA to assess, dependent upon your evidence. Have you got good evidence? If so appeal - You have 2 months only to appeal otherwise you have to reapply.

See also www.mumsnet.com/Talk/2407/493349?stamp=080312091908

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ancientmiddleagedmum · 13/03/2008 12:10

I agree you should appeal and then possibly go to tribunal, where actually you'll find a more impartial hearing for your son's needs, as they are not putting cost above everything else. It is a nonsense that he shouldnt' get a statement. You could also write to your MP and see if that helps, as sometimes just a call from them to the LEA can be incredibly helpful. After all, if your son can't cope in school then what other solutions are they offering you!!!

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clarisa · 13/03/2008 14:04

In answer to question: AttilaTheMeerkat on Wed 12-Mar-08 14:15:29

What grounds did they use for refusal?.

They have said that ::quote

' The complex Panel recognises son has special educational needs that require support. This support is felt to be available to son within his local mainstream school, and the graduated response to his education needs is not yet exhausted. On consideration of the information available and the recent autism diagnosis the complex cases panel have altered sons school action plus funding to reflect the change in his identified needs and enable the school to continue supporting son at the appropriate level'

Well school have been paying for a full time one-one inc break and lunch for just over 1 year now, (so have acknowledged he has a prob) ITS HE FACT HE CANNOT COPE IN THE ENVIRONMENT...WHICH BRINGS ON THE FRUSTRATION...THE ANGER....THE BEHAVIOURS. AND HIGHLIGHTS HIM AS A 'DIFFERENT' CHILD TO WHICH HE IS AWARE. AND THIS FRUSTRATES HIM, AND LEAVES THE GAP FOR THE BULLIES....PEER AND ADULT.

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 13/03/2008 14:32

clarisa

I would fully endorse The Matrix and ancientmiddleagedmum responses to you.

You must appeal the LEA's crass decision and go to SENDIST (BTW Sendist do not work in August). At the very least you must speak either to IPSEA or SOS:SEN.

SA plus even with increased funding will sell him short and its not legally binding either (unlike a Statement). They're just stonewalling you currently.

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ancientmiddleagedmum · 13/03/2008 19:19

Do you know what, I wonder if an email to Lord Adonis, who is minister of schools/children outlining exactly the troubles your son has had, and the fact that he has now been rejected for a statement, might be quite a good idea. After all, if he cannot get a statement then which child can? You could make the point that the LEAs are simply wriggling out of giving statements, due to funding, and that the whole system is bust. It just might be that if you go direct to the top, this minister might choose to do something about it (if only to make political capital, as no doubt he will say it is the Torys' fault). You can get his web address quite easily. If you want me to draft it, I will, as I was a writer before motherhood. All I'd need is the problems your DS has had, the amount of times school has said he's a problem, and where you stand now. From what I have read about Lord Adonis, he just might be a sympathetic ear and you would be going way above the heads of your LEA and the school. I think you should still also appeal, but every little helps. Tell your LEA you are taking legal advice; it is amazing how effective that is as then they realise they are going to be stumping up for legal fees to fight you. I did that early on and they gave me what my son needed without too much hassle. Mind you, now I am fighting to keep him there so it never ends!

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clarisa · 14/03/2008 11:55

oh what a star you are ancientmiddleagedmum xx If you don't mind I would love to take you up on the offer of drafting me a letter to Lord Adonis. I will group together all my ammo and send you it all this evening xx Could I email you with it..... as not sure how long these messages on hear can be!!!

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ancientmiddleagedmum · 14/03/2008 12:38

Yes, sure, email it to me on [email protected]. You could use same letter for Lord Adonis, MP and also LEA Head of SEN! What I would need is a list of all the issues at school, including exclusions, all his SEN and then I think the wording of rejection of the statement, think you put that on here actually. Also, do you have an official diagnosis of autism, etc, and when did you get it. Also, what you want as a best case outcome?.

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clarisa · 14/03/2008 12:49

THANK YOU SO MUCH. Will email you later on this evening. Again this is very kind of you, thank you

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