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NEED advice!! start statementing process

wood36

I wonder if anyone could possibly give me a piece of advice.

My 9 year old son has been diagnosed with ASD, selective mutisms, severe anxiety disorder and sensory integrated disorder. His psychologist has strongly recommended me that I should start statementing process for my son as soon as possible. The problem is that, his school (mainstream) has failed to identify his difficulties/problems, as he is an extremely obedient and quiet pupil and he can’t ask for help. They think he is perfectly OK, as he doesn’t cause problems or complain about anything, although he often releases his anxiety or stress (accumulated in school) after coming back from school, as form of aggressive and violent behaviours. He still needs to wear a nappy for his poo and he can’t clean by himself. He has never done poo in school so they don’t believe it. He often comes back from school with a burse, but he can’t explain why he has got it (he can’t ask for help when he gets injured, he just keeps everything inside him. I also witnessed his classmate injured him but my son even couldn’t tell his friend to stop it or complained about pain)   

 As my understanding, once my request of assessment has been made, LA is going to collect the “evidence” from school within 6 weeks. I am not convinced at all that the school write anything that support my application, as they strongly believe that my son is perfectly capable in school, as he doesn’t complain.

 Anyone has the same experience? Want to apply for statement but school report is not supportive at all?  I really want to start the process but what will happen when school report spoiled my application? (quite likely ended up to a tribunal, isn’t it?)  Any advice will be very much appreciated.

Many thanks! 

Parents

  • Well my daughter's now 10, has ASD and selective mutism. She never displays challenging behaviour at school and isn't struggling academically to any significant degree, but I got a statement for her on the strength of her Autism and selective mutism alone.  I moved her from the private sector and applied for a statement as soon as she got her ASD diagnosis.  I was immediately turned down on the basis that it was premature - because she'd only been on school action plus for a short while (having come from a private school).  I immediately appealed and asked for a meeting with SENCAN.  They were sympathetic but explained that it would be difficult to make an assessment because my daughter hadn't been seen by anyone (i.e. ed psych, speech therapist etc etc), but that's because everyone simply sat on their hands pending the referral to Great Ormond Street to assess her for ASD (which took nearly two years from having first seen our GP...). 

    However, the school were supportive and GOSH had helpfully put in their report that a statement would be a good idea.  The LA relented and commenced with an assessment and we were flexible (to a degree) about timescales so that they could get in their specialist autism teacher and Ed Psych/speech therapists to do assessments.  Her statement came through at the end of last term specifying 25 hours LSA support, selective mutism intervention and so on...

    If you get a knock back, I'd immediately appeal and get on IPSEA's website and print off their refusal to assess pack and/or phone their helpline for support - they are incredibly helpful.  The vast majority of refusal to assess appeals are successful and  you may well find the LA will immediately cave in without you having to set foot near a tribunal.  Frankly, it's by far the best way to ensure you get a legally enforceable right to proper help for your child.   Very best of luck - you will have to push every inch of the way but that just seems to be how the system works, however much your child might need the help...

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  • Well my daughter's now 10, has ASD and selective mutism. She never displays challenging behaviour at school and isn't struggling academically to any significant degree, but I got a statement for her on the strength of her Autism and selective mutism alone.  I moved her from the private sector and applied for a statement as soon as she got her ASD diagnosis.  I was immediately turned down on the basis that it was premature - because she'd only been on school action plus for a short while (having come from a private school).  I immediately appealed and asked for a meeting with SENCAN.  They were sympathetic but explained that it would be difficult to make an assessment because my daughter hadn't been seen by anyone (i.e. ed psych, speech therapist etc etc), but that's because everyone simply sat on their hands pending the referral to Great Ormond Street to assess her for ASD (which took nearly two years from having first seen our GP...). 

    However, the school were supportive and GOSH had helpfully put in their report that a statement would be a good idea.  The LA relented and commenced with an assessment and we were flexible (to a degree) about timescales so that they could get in their specialist autism teacher and Ed Psych/speech therapists to do assessments.  Her statement came through at the end of last term specifying 25 hours LSA support, selective mutism intervention and so on...

    If you get a knock back, I'd immediately appeal and get on IPSEA's website and print off their refusal to assess pack and/or phone their helpline for support - they are incredibly helpful.  The vast majority of refusal to assess appeals are successful and  you may well find the LA will immediately cave in without you having to set foot near a tribunal.  Frankly, it's by far the best way to ensure you get a legally enforceable right to proper help for your child.   Very best of luck - you will have to push every inch of the way but that just seems to be how the system works, however much your child might need the help...

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