Which way now?!

Hi All,

My daughter was diagnosed as autistic last week after years of tests & appointments. She has been in the system since age four, diagnosed with ADHD at seven, and then it went wrong. We moved house from city to county, the dr she had went on long term sick leave, the new doctor discharged us, then the next doctor started the process from the begining again!  Aged 12 she is finally diagnosed again.

However she is in mainstream school - not eligible for a statement, but has such terrible social skills she is constantly bullied - currently has a black eye from being punched two weeks ago, and has no friends. The doctor has said he is going to refer her to autism outreach, and suggested I join this site, but I would like her in a school where she can be herself without fear of ridicule, with kids that are the same as her - surely that's not too much to ask? Does anyone know of cases where the child has gone to special school without a statement? I just can't see the school she is at is going to make her happy, they can put lots of things in place but they can't change the children that she is there with. I feel we have wasted so much time besystem how things worked out, so feel it's vital to be able to ensure the rest of her time at school is productive but more importantly happy.

I would really appreciate any thoughts on this.

Also a couple of years ago I applied for dla for her so that she could go to a special club for adhd kids but it was expensive, and they said I should be using her dla to pay for it, I explaineit's he didn't have it and they were shocked & said I should apply. Anyway we were turned down, and I didn't appeal. With this new diagnosis would she be eligible now?

Many thanks

Pea, x

  • Thank you very much!

    When I called the school on Monday to inform them of the diagnosis, the first thing she said was great we can apply for a statement now!

    Thank links for the links & suggestions, I am sure I will gstormy head round it all soon !

    Pea, x

  • We have just got a statement for our son because of his emotional need.  It can be done, it is a long battle, put your armour on, be prepared for your LEA to say no every step of the way, and appeal each and every stage if they turn you down.  Gather as much evidence of your daughters needs now, keep a file and diary of every problem.  Go through any doctor or professionals report and copy and highlight relevant sections.

    Grab a copy of this book if you can, proved invaluable to me

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Special-Educational-Needs-Getting-Statements/product-reviews/1908603585/ref=sr_1_16_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

    Tell your SENCO you are asking for a statutory assessment, and would like school to back you up, chances are he/she will tell you that she won't get it because her grades are too good.  Ignore her and apply anyway.

    Send everything to the LEA by recorded and signed post, trust me it's worth the £5 lol.

    With regards to DLA, get a copy of the cerebra guide to claiming dla for a brain injured child, it's invaluable in telling you what you can mention in the form, I think you can download it or get a hard copy.

    Good luck! 

  • Wow! Thank you very much!

    I read one of the earlier sections, and section 8! The rest I skimmed looking for the relevant bits - I intended to go through it more thoroughly tonight. Thank you very much for pointing it out to me.

    My daughter has been on school action plus since the begining but they certainly dont do what you list! Things might be a bit better if they did! There isnt a unit at the school she is at unfortunately and she rejects any support in classes. She does have a good relationship with the Pastoral support team, but I never hear anything from the senco. They put her in a club at lunchtimes that was designed for the year groups below just so she didn't get picked on so much, but then she got picked on for going somewhere different at break!

    I am hoping now we have the diagnosis of autism rather than just the ADHD we might get somewhere. I guess for me it's going to be a massive learning curve.

    Many thanks again

    Pea,xx

  • Hi sweetpea

    Does your daughter have any intervention at school? My daughter is currently on school action plus and has full support in the student support unit as her emotional, social and personal skills are preventing her from accessing mainstream classes. Before she went in to the unit (October) she had one to one support in classes she found difficult to access, had 2 social skills classes, fine motor skill sessions, a safe club to go to at break and lunch, left classes 5 minutes before the other children to avoid the chaos in the corridors and had a key worker that I had regular contact with. I don't know if you saw this on the code of practice

    Behaviour, emotional and social development

    1. 7:60  Children and young people who demonstrate features of emotional and behavioural difficulties, who are withdrawn or isolated, disruptive and disturbing, hyperactive and lack concentration; those with immature social skills; and those presenting challenging behaviours arising from other complex special needs, may require help or counselling for some, or all, of the following:

      • ●  flexible teaching arrangements

      • ●  help with development of social competence and emotional maturity

      • ●  help in adjusting to school expectations and routines

      • ●  help in acquiring the skills of positive interaction with peers and adults

      • ●  specialised behavioural and cognitive approaches

      • ●  re-channelling or re-focusing to diminish repetitive and self-injurious behaviours

      • ●  provision of class and school systems which control or censure negative or difficult behaviours and encourage positive behaviour

      • ●  provision of a safe and supportive environment.

    2. 7:61  The LEA will need to consider, on an individual basis, whether these interventions can be provided through School Action Plus or whether the LEA needs to undertake a statutory assessment. 


      Emotional and social needs can be a barrier to academic learning but school is also there to support emotional development. Also ASD is a communication disorder even if your child is verbal there will still be language problems. If you have a read of parts 7.55 onwards in the code of practice it covers all the areas of educational needs which are:


      • ●  communication and interaction

      • ●  cognition and learning

      • ●  behaviour, emotional and social development

      • ●  sensory and/or physical. 

        I hope you can get some support for your daughter as it is heartbreaking to see. I said to the Educational Psychologist what is the point of her passing a dozen GCSE's if she won't have the skills to leave the house independently and access employment. He agreed. It took me a long time to accept that school aren't just meant to provide academic learning and that my daughter did in fact have a SEN. 

  • Hi Sazale,

    I have had a good read through the documents, and looked on the ipsea page aswell - I still don't see where I could say that according to the criteria my daughter would qualify? Well I mean I couldn't find a bit that said I could apply for non acedemic issues? Educationally I am sure every parent hopes their child does well, but if a child is achieving then I am unsure where the special educational need is? If a child just wasn't very bright but had no associated condition they wouldn't get a statement either. So if the condition my child has does not stop her learning surely she won't get one either?

    My concern is the social / emotional side of things - its all very well that the agencies state that children should be mainstream schooled, but I don't think it takes into consideration how difficult life can be for the children, trying hard to be 'normal', interacting with 'normal' kids, and not having true friends. I would like my daughter to be in an environment with other kids similar to her, where she isn't constantly trying to fit in. But that's not going to happen without a statement - but educationally she's ok - she does better than some kids who have nothing wrong, but of course she could do better! 

    If I look at the statistics for the local aspergers / autism school, 0% got level 4 in exams, only 10% got any kind of qualification - but they had a great time, and leave with happy memories and well prepared for the life ahead. So what's the pay off? If she goes special school the odds are high she won't leave with any formal qualification but she will be happy, or keep her miserable in mainstream but will probably educationally achieve more??

    I don't think she has a special educational need above anyone else, but I do believe she has a special emotional and social need - that could eventually ( doesn't right now) affect her education. Which depends on whether she copes the older she gets - so are we supposed to wait till it goes monumentally wrong or take a preventative stance?

    Pea, x

  • Hi sweetpea

    My daughter is aged 13 and was diagnosed mild to moderate ASD last month. I also suspect she has ADHD but the clinical psych said its all related to the ASD. I have just begun the statementing process with the support of school. My daughter is academically average/above average. You can apply for and get statements for non academic issues as they are as important as the academic ability. Have a read of the sen code of practice which you can find here

    www.education.gov.uk/.../DfES 0581 2001

    ipsea and sossen websites also have a lot of info.

  • Thank you for the information,

    I am only assuming she won't get statement as it is based on educational needs? She is middle of the road educationally, could be better but I think her inability to stay focused affects her grades. I am not sure if she could have a statement based on emotional/social needs? 

    Pea,x 

  • Hello xxsweetpeaxx

    I wonder if you might find it useful to speak to someone at the Education Rights Service:

    http://www.autism.org.uk/en-gb/our-services/advice-and-information-services/education-rights-service.aspx

    They'll be able to advise you about what your daughter may or may not be entitled to.

    Here also is some website information about statutory assessments and statements:

    http://www.autism.org.uk/Living-with-autism/Education/Primary-and-secondary-school/Extra-help-for-your-child-in-school/Extra-help-in-school-England-and-wales/Statutory-assessment-England-Wales.aspx

     I assume someone has told you she is not eligible for a statement but was not sure from what you had written how far you had looked into it, so perhaps that will be useful.

    Here is some information about DLA:

    http://www.autism.org.uk/living-with-autism/benefits-and-community-care/disability-living-allowance.aspx

    That could be useful if you decide to try and apply again which could well be worth doing - for more advice about benefits you can call the Welfare Rights Service:

    http://www.autism.org.uk/Our-services/Advice-and-information-services/Welfare-rights-service.aspx

    Good luck with everything, and I hope our other users will also have some advice for you too.

    Sandra - mod

  • DLA is based on care and /or mobility needs. You must prove that your child has more needs than a child her own age.