General Chat

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

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

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

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

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