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New and confused - pre-school and statementing

OneBlackCat

Hi all,

My daughter (3.5) has been recently diagnosed with childhood autism. 

The assessment/diagnosis report says that she urgently need placement in a specialist setting for children with autism.

At the time of diagnosis we already had a place booked in a mainstream pre-school and it was too late to find a place in a specialised one.

So, we decided to give the mainstream pre-school a try and meanwhile look for a place for her to go next.

When I spoke to SENCO and other staff at the pre-school she's due to start in September, they can't really provide her any special environment or treatment unless she's got a statement.

And, according to them, the only sure way to get a statement is to start in mainstream pre-school and collect as much evidence as possible that it's not the right place for her.

She's bright and even got a good command of language (though not English and it's more thanks to her outstanding memory than to her really understanding all of it), but she's very fearful and has got a severe separation anxiety - she won't let me leave her with anyone else and even won't let me leave the room without her at home.

At the pre-school they said they understood it but suggested that i nevertheless tried leaving her for 5 minutes on her third day or so there. When I explained that it's going to be a huge stress for her, because i'm the only person she feels safe with, so she may only let me leave when there's anyone else there she builds a relationship of trust with (which is highly unlikely to happen in just three days). And their answer was - well, the more evidence we have that she can't cope the better, although you can reject your place in our school now, if you want.

But it's just cruel to hurt her so! And I can't be betraying her trust in me like that. It won't be a big exaggeration to say that my trust is the only thing that keeps her connected with the outer world. When she was smaller and not diagnosed, I didn't quite understand how to build connection with her, and followed well-meaning advice of having to be in charge, etc. And at that time she was really withdrawn, which was scary. Now she's not withdrawn, she trusts me, and I just can't ruin it all for the sake of getting a statement.

But without a statement she can't get any special education, as far as I understand.

So, has anyone got any advice?

Is there another way of getting a statement, without intentionally hurting her to get evidence of her not being able to cope in a mainstream pre-school?

Are there any specialised nurseries/schools that will take her without a statement?

Any private specialised nurseries/schools (although we are not likely to be able to pay for that, but still)?

Any other advice?

Thank you in advance for your help.

Parents

  • Hi OneBlackCat


    Well, it's finally September and the fun is due to start next week. I have a meeting with the head from the school he was supposed to be going to, his CAHMS nurse and hopefully someone from the LEA.


    I have been doing some more digging in the meantime tho and think you may find it useful to read the SEN Code of Practice which you can download here: (www.education.gov.uk/.../the-sen-code-of-practice). Chapter 4 (I think) is particulaly interesting. They can statement without the child being assessed in an educational setting despite what they tell you.


    You may also find the Every Child Matters publication helpful: (www.education.gov.uk/.../2004 - it basically outlines how these agencies should work together and how they are not allowed to disregard previous reports, eg your daughter's diagnosis, and start a new assessment again from scratch.

    I also had the opportunity to speak to a friend who is a SENCO (unfortunately in a different Local Authority). There is always the option of requesting your own statement, it doesn't have to be initiated by the school. In fact in the cases she's dealt with, it has often turned out that the parent led options have been resolved much faster. And worst case scenario  - there is always a funding pot somewhere for extra help, ask your school about Action and ActionPlus for support without a statement.


    I know it sounds terribly cynical but it, like everything else, comes down to money. Any support for your daughter has to come from the school's budget unless she has a statement in which case it's the LEA's responsibility. Naturally, the school won't want her to cope as it makes it harder to get a statement, so her support continues to drain their budget, and the LEA needs your child to become a total nightmare before they'll issue a statement! Neither of those scenarios is going to help your daughter. You're the only one truly fighting her corner and you're going to have to fight tooth and nail, especially in the current budget squeeze. Hopefully those two documents should give you some ammunition.


    Just don't take no for an answer!

Reply

  • Hi OneBlackCat


    Well, it's finally September and the fun is due to start next week. I have a meeting with the head from the school he was supposed to be going to, his CAHMS nurse and hopefully someone from the LEA.


    I have been doing some more digging in the meantime tho and think you may find it useful to read the SEN Code of Practice which you can download here: (www.education.gov.uk/.../the-sen-code-of-practice). Chapter 4 (I think) is particulaly interesting. They can statement without the child being assessed in an educational setting despite what they tell you.


    You may also find the Every Child Matters publication helpful: (www.education.gov.uk/.../2004 - it basically outlines how these agencies should work together and how they are not allowed to disregard previous reports, eg your daughter's diagnosis, and start a new assessment again from scratch.

    I also had the opportunity to speak to a friend who is a SENCO (unfortunately in a different Local Authority). There is always the option of requesting your own statement, it doesn't have to be initiated by the school. In fact in the cases she's dealt with, it has often turned out that the parent led options have been resolved much faster. And worst case scenario  - there is always a funding pot somewhere for extra help, ask your school about Action and ActionPlus for support without a statement.


    I know it sounds terribly cynical but it, like everything else, comes down to money. Any support for your daughter has to come from the school's budget unless she has a statement in which case it's the LEA's responsibility. Naturally, the school won't want her to cope as it makes it harder to get a statement, so her support continues to drain their budget, and the LEA needs your child to become a total nightmare before they'll issue a statement! Neither of those scenarios is going to help your daughter. You're the only one truly fighting her corner and you're going to have to fight tooth and nail, especially in the current budget squeeze. Hopefully those two documents should give you some ammunition.


    Just don't take no for an answer!

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