School not helping!

certainly not! It is not easy, they will try to beat you down, then it dosnt cost them. I knew my daughter needed support, and that the only way to make sure she recieved the support she needed was with a statement, i wouldnt have let her back near a school without one, i feel i can hold them to account now,  before we didnt have a leg to stand on, they pretty much were doing what they wanted. I reckon with cuts in education it will only get worse! My son is currently at home, same thing really, im considering requesting a statement assessment for him again i wont let him near a school without it.

The poeople who are supposed to help really do need to help instaed of making it awkward, im fed up of them all!

The day before I took him to be seen by the specialist at the hospital i turned and said to my other halg "it's war".

I will not give up, you cant can you? When the people who should help start causing you problems....it is Disgraceful, youre right and well done you for fighting! x

karma33 said:

I know its amazing just how many people have to fight for what should quite clearly be given as help. It is such a struggle to get help. I phoned today to have my son statemented and they are contacting the school for me because the school seems to be against me rather than with me!

not amazing, Disgracefull! Its a constant battle for some. And all the while the kids are left to cope as best they can expected to act "normally" and conform to what is expected.Is it too hard for schools to understand that what may be "normal" for one person is certainly not to another and that it may in actual fact be very difficult for a child  to adjust. My daughter has a statement, but i had to fight long and hard to get it, before that i educated her at home for 4 years because the lack of help and support she recieved left her extremley distressed and afraid to go to school. i had alsorts of people around evaluating her to see if she needed a statement- telling me that she would be fine and learn to behave a certain way- and of course having spent a 1 hour slot checking the boxes on their textbook list they had made them completley qualified to say this didnt it? I get extremley annoyed with education and how it supports or "dosnt" support autistic kids i think a lot of the time Autism is completley misunderstood by them, they seem to think that the very fact that are not sat in a corner rocking means they are fine and no support is needed.I know not all autistic kids need a statement but` if your son NEEDS a statement to ease his anxiety and make things a little easier so he can reach his full potential  fight!

I know its amazing just how many people have to fight for what should quite clearly be given as help. It is such a struggle to get help. I phoned today to have my son statemented and they are contacting the school for me because the school seems to be against me rather than with me!

It took me 6 years to get a diagnosis of Aspergers. All the symptons fit my personality perfectly, but the doctors just said that I was a bit behind in the socializing area. It wasn't until we saw a psychologist who actually specialized in diagnosing Aspergers, till I got formally diagnosed. She said she knew I had it within 5 minutes!  Sometimes it's just about finding the right doctor.

Thanks again very helpful. Why do we have to plait soot before our children get the help they need eh? Thanks again and well done you for fighting on your childs behalf!

Will post again as we go x

Our school did not feel that DS needed a statement and felt that he was doing alright.  We will live in Herts and were able to make an application online which we followed up with a letter stating why we thought he needed a statement.  It was not an easy process as we kept being told that he was not far enough behind academically to qualify for a statement.  They told us he had to be 3 years behind.  After hitting a lot of brick walls we finally decided that we needed to learn the code of practice and apply again.  This was our third attempt but this time we were educated and knew we could get a statement based on his sensory needs.   We were again refused an assessment but this time we put in for an appeal straight away.   When County received the appeal papers they send in the experts to see him.  The specialist teacher was great, at last someone who saw the same boy we did.  It was a long hard fight but worth it in the end.   We received a proposed statement ready for the start of the school term in September and what a difference it has made.  Most of the requirements are around his sensory needs but what a difference a few movement breaks have made.  He does have some 1-1 for his fine and gross motor skills and a structured lunchbreak which does include some social skills.

If you want to apply for a statement contact your education authority and get the relevant forms or they may have them online.

Good luck

Hi Ming,

Thanks for the info. About to do just that on monday morning.  Do you contact your local council or the school for that?

Was going to call the helpline on here to ask.

Thanks for your help, truly. X

It is so frustating.  We thought that once we got a diagnosis the help would follow.  Not so.  We had to apply for a statement and were turned down for an assessment.  At that point we applied to appeal the refual to assess and then the experts came in.  My son had to be assessed to see what change the LA had of winning at appeal.  At that point he was seen by the educational phycologist, specialist teacher and OT.  After their assessments they have given DS a statement.  What a difference that has made he has gone from a child would could not tolerate school to actually looking forward to going.  It is amazing how a little help can make such a huge difference.

If I were you I would apply for a statement and if you are turned down for an assessment appeal at least then you will get the report done and see exactly what you are dealing with.

Good luck