General Chat

I'm afraid its all political so they can't get envolved in it, which is stupid if you ask me. The reason the LEA gave for turning him down was 'Despite being full, we feel that mainstream can cater for his needs' which to me isn't a reason at all. They couldn't even use that he didn't meet all the criteria cause he does. Have just been trying to get hold of the Head of the AEN department, of which have been trying all week, and do you think I can get hold of him? No cause secretary in out of office or in meeting, and I have to go through her to talk to him. Its stupid as like I have explained we have 4 weeks to find him a school. Urrrrrghhhhhhhhh *screams thats better lol Nicola xxx

Hi Nicola LEA's can be so stupid can't they? we had to go to appeal to get Jamie's statement, after the LEA turned it down 4 times - of course we won, the panel seemed very puzzled as to why the LEA had not given it before! what a waste of resources, time and money - would have been cheaper for them just to agree in the first place! I take it the special school are supporting you and have written to the LEA too? not to mention the specialists you have seen. You seem to be doing everything right, I'm sure it will work out in the end, but I know how hard it is in the meantime, especially for your son. more (((hugs))) for you, hope they come to their senses soon! Maz. XX

Hi Mary thank you I will is hard though. Hello there Maz is hard to recognise who is who on the boards, everyone has been changing their names again lol Unfortunately because its a special school they don't have a say in it, its not down to the school its down to the LEA to give him a place there. There is an appeal process, of which I can't appeal until the final statement comes through and the final statement can't come through until one of the mainstream schools accepts him, of which they are all saying that they won't be able to cater for his needs. So in the meantime, I have to write a letter replying to their decision and along with letters from the schools saying they can't cater for him. We have already had a meeting with the LEA stating that there is no way he is going to mainstream no matter what they say. So until the final statement comes through, I can't appeal against it. If they continue to be stubborn and won't send him to special school, then its a case of going to appeal of which can take up to 6 months and that takes you to January 2008. I have a feeling that they will eventually realise that I won't back down and give him what he needs. They don't like it at moment cause I know too much and know exactly how the system works, every time they try and fob me off I have an answer that they can't argue with lol Nicola xx

Hello Nicola, lovely to see you posting again over the last couple of days :-) sorry to hear you are still having to fight. Is there a way to set up a meeting between the school you want, you and some of the professionals that look after your son? (oh and your son too of course). I am just wondering on what basis they are rejecting him? is there an appeals procedure? can the LEA tell them which children to accept? I know about the head-banging, Jamie does it too, you feel so helpless don't you? You need to stay strong for a little longer - we are all here if you need a rant or a shoulder at any time. hoping you soon get someone to see sense very soon (((hugs))) for you and your son Maz. XX

Nicola - keep on fighting for what your son needs. May you continue to have the strength to do this. Hugs for you and your son and all your family. I do so admire you. Love Mary xx

Thank you for your kind words Purple and Gwyneth. I apologise for my ranting, but it makes me so mad they are messing with childrens lives and they just don't care as all they are to them is figures. The sad thing is most people would have given up as they would of felt there is no hope and also because of the stress it causes. Some don't even realise what their rights are so therefore, just plod along and do what they say. Nicola

Good luck Nicola, it seems we all have to battle for our rights these days, nothing comes along in a straightforward and sensible way anymore, mainly because the people making the decisions see themselves as powerful instead of being more understanding if you see what I mean. Positive thoughts for you and your son to get what is right for him. Liz

Nicola Keep going. There is a bit more of a battle to win yet but you can do it. YOU know your son best and it would seem that the other secondary schools know that you are right. I wish you good luck and success over the next hurdle. Gwyn

nudge

thank you Norah That is the next thing on the list, but first letter has to be done to LEA challenging their decision and proving that the schools can't cope. They should have the letters from the schools by now, just need mine to be sent. I have already told them, that no matter what they say about him going to mainstream school, there is no way that I am sending him, they will have to take me to court. If they do then I will putting all the evidence in front of the judge and saying 'now tell me I am wrong'. They won't have a leg to stand on because there is so much evidence there backing it up. Personally I don't think it will get that far, he's been in the system since he 18 months old and we have had to battle them all the way. I am not prepared to give up on this Nicola

Oh Nicola I do feel for you after all you've been through think nows the time to get the papers and your MP involved I do hope your son gets into the school you want Norah

Update Just when you think that things are only going to get better they don't. It has take a year to get my son a Statement of his Educational Needs, after one huge battle with the LEA. They originally turned it down in December 06, so I appealed, then low and behold the head of the AEN department phoned my sons school and 3 days later overturned their original decision not to access for statement, baring in mind they had no new evidence submitted. He got the state 1 month ago and we stated that we want him to go to special school in September for his secondary school transition. It went to panel and they decided that despite being full they feel that mainstream school can cater for his needs. So no we are battling the LEA again to get him the correct placement. I and his school have argued that there is no way he will cope in a mainstream school. His statement says that has to have 20hrs a week 1 to 1 support and be in small groups with high level of input. He needs to be taught as an Autistic child and needs appropriate support so he can function in everyday life. He no understanding of social situations or in a classroom setting, the sad thing is he is extremely bright child working at level 5 in Science, which is the highest you can get in primary school. Because of this he can't go into the small groups in mainstream because its for children that are under-achieving. I have had to go to all the secondary schools to prove they can't cater for his needs and everyone has said they can't give him what he needs. There are no other special schools in the area that can cater for his needs either, because they are schools for children that are under achieving. The only school is half hours journey away and its the panel for that school that have refused to give him a place. This school is excellent in helping children with Autism that are well above average, the children thrive there and most go onto university and lead normal lives. It beggars belief how they can do this to a child, he is so upset that he hasn't got a school to go to, that it has had a huge impact on his behaviour. So much so that the school have major concerns for his welfare in mainstream school, he has been banging his head on the table and literally pulling out his hair. He has been crawling around the playground pretending to be a cat meowing and purring rubbing himself up against peoples legs. How can they justify doing this to a child that is clearly emotionally unstable and can't cope. Nicola

Thank you Maz We couldn't really do anything till we had this report to back our claims, we have been told that it will take up 8 months to get him the statement so will be well in place before he reaches secondary school. We still don't know where the best place is to send him because down here the secondary schools are not fully equiped for special needs. Which is sad because by rights he should be in mainstream. However, unless we find him a suitable secondary he will have to go to a special school, which he will have to travel as its outside the area of where we live. Nicola xx

Hello Nicola, was only thinking about you the other day and wondering how you were getting on! So glad to hear that you have a diagnosis at last. I presume you have a nice report that you can send to your LEA now to support your application for the statement. You should get that in as soon as possible as you need it in place BEFORE he starts secondary school - they can take ages to get, even with a diagnosis. Jamie was diagnosed in June with Asperger's and I am STILL waiting for the re-written statement!! You really want the statement to specify a particular school, try and make it one with a 6th form. If they haven't got a 6th form, then you will lose the statement when he leaves that school and have to re-apply for support if he goes to college. I hope that others will take heart from your story. Good luck with the rest of it. Maz. XX

Thank you for that Anne I work for a support group for children with special needs and exactly what you are saying, I have come accross numerous amount of parents that say the diagnosis keeps changing and that they are not sure which diagnosis their child has. You would think that they would get it right, they never seem to agree what the other doctor says so come up with something else. Everything is too political and they are too busy working against each other, when they should be working together to make sure that the child has the right diagnosis they deserve. Nicola xx

Hi Nichola, Well done, and thank you for the update. Hopefully you will find a secondary school that will both meet and understand Aiden's needs. Good luck to you both. Jill xx

I have an older son with autism and did a course on Autism at U.W.E. in connection with work. (I am a psychiatric nurse). I was told that pervasive development disorder was on the autistic spectrum. I am glad your son is going to get the help he needs. i expect you will find the labels change over time. We started out with juvenile onset schizophrenia. Autism at the momment seems to be atracting the funding and the research. I found my son has responded very well to fish oil suplements. It seems to improve his concentration. I will bump up the autism thread so you can have a look and realise you are not alone.

so pleased you have a result - so sad it took so long..... I hope the path forward is an easier one for you!! xx

You are right there joan thanks again Nicola x

Well done then Nicola! Sadly some peeps don't understand Autism, most are lucky to have 'normal' children, so they sometimes don't look at those children that are 'different' to theirs in a kindly light. Best of luck for you & your son, :0) Joan