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SEN refusal. Could you give me advice, please!

wood36

   HI!

Could anyone possibly advise me?

My request of SEN assessment has been rejected. The reasons is, simply his current school told LA that my son is perfectly OK. There is no system of IEP or Action Plan in his school, unbelievable; therefore, he has not been on IEP. LA told me that my son can't get assessed because he has never been on IEP.

He is going to move to another school (from Jan2013) where staff are more aware of children with autism and they have a system for helping those children within the school. The new school has already started working on his IEP. My dilemma is whether I should go for a tribunal now or wait until the new school grasps my son's difficulties and back up my request of assessment (which may slow down the process of statementing)

I would greatly appreciate if any of you kindly give me advice, or anyone who has had a similar experience.

Many thanks 

  • Hi

    When we put our appeal together we booked an educational psychologist and in our appeal document listed the independent reports that we would send in once we had them. So we were planning to see the educational psychologist and then send in the report ready for the tribunal. 

    After sending the appeal in, the LA then agreed to do the statutory assessment. As we weren't going to tribunal, we decided to hold off on getting independent reports and instead will be lining them up for when we need to appeal the next stage.

    When I spoke to an educational psychologist they said that the cost would be approx £700 - I think this was for a day seeing the child in school/at home, talking to the school etc and producing a report, it also included their travelling costs.

    Sharon

  • Hi! sharon, again

    Wonnder if you used an independent educational psychologist to appeal the LA's decision? If so, how much did it cost you?

    thank you!

  • I am pleased that SOS!SEN were able to help you. I've actually been to one of their small workshops today on Appealing a Statement - in readiness for the next stage.

    Good luck with your appeal.

  • Hi! Sharon

    THank you so much for your info,very helpful!

    I just rang SOS!SEN and received really useful advice, the most important phone call I have ever made this year!. thank you for telling me. A lady who I talked was brilliant and gave me a lot of practical info and advice. Any parents who need advice regarding SEN tribunal, I strongly recommend this organisation. I have decided to appeal LA decision.Hope it will go well!

  • I am not sure what is best. I'd suggest talking it through with either SOS!SEN www.sossen.org.uk (I've used them and they are great) or the NAS Education helpline.

    You should have 2 months to put your appeal in, so you can hold off for a little while if you want. And if it goes to tribunal, your tribunal date is likely to be many months after this by which point the school may have a good understanding of your child (it is also worth getting independent reports for the tribunal if you can afford to)

    It is not unusual to be turned down for a statutory assessment. We have recently had this happen. We put our appeal together and sent it off. Our tribunal date was then set for 5 months after this. However the LA backed down after receiving the appeal and agreed to do the assessment without going to tribunal. So we're going through the assessment now.

    Sharon