More SA advice please.

[xenzani]

Well, I got the letter I was expecting, a refusal to assess.

The reason being insufficient information to make an informed decision. It states they did not recieve the required information from the school about how they are supporting dd2 and how she is responding to it. It also states that they would have expected the school to have involved the appropriate professionals (such as the specialist teacher team for pupils with esbd).

It also seems they have not tried to contact behaviour support again for more help like they told me they had.

I will be talking to the school when they go back, but what can I do now?

I dont know if it's just standard comments but it does state that this refusal does not mean that she doesn't need to be assessed in the future, but basically they havent done enough yet to prove to the LEA (ECC) that it needs to be done now. For them there is no prove that her difficulties still remain or have been solved.

Dd2 spent the last three weeks of term working in a group of three children out of class because put simply, she could not cope in class. Once away from the class, I had no calls to calm her or collect her and on the whole, her behaviour was better because it couldn't escalate like it had been.

I really am not impressed with the school at all, not that I was in the first place, they have been failing her and now this. The deputy head who manages her case was supposed to contact the pead to tell them why dd2 needed to be seen urgently didn't manage to get through over the last three weeks, which means that she now won't get an appointment until September and won't be seen until November the earliest (had an appointment for this month which we would have waited 10 weeks for and they cancelled it.) which will make her almost a year over due to be seen all the while she gets worse.

I fully expexted a refusal but not because the school didn't supply the information. Do I appeal knowing the school failed to provide their side of information and haven't done as many things as they are expected or do I wait until I have spoken to them (and asked for someone else to take her case - senco if she is back or the head?) and then put the appeal in seeing as I have two months?

Sorry for it being long and thanks for any help

[KOKOagainandagain]

I would do 2 things. Immediately put in an appeal to tribunal to focus minds. It is more urgent for them to collect evidence to defend refusal.

2nd the letter should offer a meeting with the LA learning support person. Accept this meeting at the school. The LA can say what they require and expect to be done and get the schools agreement. You say you will leave the appeal in place - plenty of time before the hearing for the LA to concede once they have what they need.

Otherwise they may want you to wait another 6 months before you apply again.

[KOKOagainandagain]

Forgot to say - sorry about the refusal and

[OneInEight]

Please put in an appeal now. It is ridiculous how school are failing your daughter and the tribunal panel will see this even if the LEA are too obstinate. I suspect they will back down if you lodge the appeal. With respect to appointments - keep ringing and you may be given a cancellation appointment.

[Ineedmorepatience]

I agree with the others, put in an appeal.

I would also make a complaint about the school. It is their duty to provide the information requested by the LA.

I have had similar issues, Dd3's school did provide info but it was inaccurate for my SA request which led to it being turned down and now they have done it again for the SA and we have been issued a Note in Lieu which we have appealed immediately.

good luck

[xenzani]

I will be making the calls needed on monday, didn't today as I needed time to calm down, I was fuming. To be told that the info was sent off, and that they had been trying to contact behaviour support to re-open the case (which they closed after dd2 had a half term period of relatively calm, went up in the air after her teacher came back from being off for a full term sick after the easter holidays) I found out on the refusal letter that it was all a lie, an email was included from the behaviour support teacher which confirmed that there was no contact at all.

Another question: How would I go about making a complaint against the deputy head? She has not been fully supportive since day one (the head has been, and she went along with the statementing request because he agreed to it, said it was needed. I will be asking for someone else to be her caseworker from september.

Will the tribunal panel also see that the school has been failing her?

[MeirEyaNewAlibi]

Do not get dragged into an argument with the school. It's pointless. And it doesn't get you any closer at all to having your dc's needs met, ideally with a statement. Just file your appeal.

'Oh how dreadful the school are, look, even the LA thinks they're awful' is a very useful diversionary tactic. The more emotional energy you put into fighting with the school, the less effectively you'll be thinking.

Arguing with teachers, no matter how justifiably, just makes a parent look deranged. Which is not the impression you want to give to an outside observer such as, say, a Tribunal judge

[MeirEyaNewAlibi]

While you're waiting for your appeal to come up, the LA will try & make school give just enough support for you to lose the appeal. So let them fight for you

[bjkmummy]

The above advice is absolutely correct. I know it's very difficult to not be angry with the school but for now you need to lodge the appeal and concentrate on that. The panel will read all of the case history and letters etc so will see what has happened for themselves.