LEA-Statementing-Assessment

Further news. We recieved the panels descision through the post today and it wasn’t good.

Whilst they agree that Megans probably is in need of a Special Needs nursery place, they want to perform an assessment on her. In other words, they’re disregarding the clinical diagnosis given by an actual Doctor who’s spent years in the field and basically saying it needs to be done again. There was no mention in the letter of how long this assessment would go on for, or who the people were who would be carrying it out, or what would happen afterwards.

The absolute worst thing though is the fact that they want to carry out this assessment at a SEN nursery over 11 miles away from us. Neither of us drive so we will be refusing their ‘kind’ offer. Yes, they could offer to transport her by taxi but what parent would be happy about letting their three year old pre-schooler go off with people who don’t know her and whom she doesn’t know? What happens is she needs us quickly? Not happening. The hell of it is is that there is a SEN Nursery in our home town less than 2 miles and 1 easy bus journey away- what goes through their heads?

So, as I say, we’ll be appealing both loudly and constantly. We’ll also be talking to the people at our local branch of the National Autistic Society as they sometimes advocate successfully on parents behalf so we hear.

The ultimate downside to all this is that it will further lengthen the time before Megan gets into the education system. The LEA has the power to refuse to proceed with the Statementing process until a child has been assessed and getting a child with Special Needs into the education system without a Statement is akin to educational suicide for that child. So, thanks very much Stafford LEA.

I dunno, a more cynical sould might suggest its all a cunning plan to protect their budgets- less kids with Statements equals less expensive educational resources needed. I wrote to my local MP awhile ago outlining the issue too- no response from him whatsoever. Think I’ll try the local papers too. Its appalling that some nameless, faceless, totally unaccountable entity can meet in secret, refuse to listen to either the child or the childs parents then make a decision based on one half hour visit which totally ignores the two week assessment carried out by specialist child development doctors, speech therapists, play therapists, SEN advisors, social workers, GP’s, SEN Health Visitors etc.