special need kids

[teresa]

hi does anyone on the forum have kids or kid that is A D H D and do not have a statment at school,and how is the at school or secundary do the get the suport that they need because my son is ADHD and its been a battle with the school for the past 2 years to try and get help thanks teresa

[MissM]

Why does the child not have a statement?

[Fuschia]

You might have the best response if you post in the family room.

[teresa]

he does not have a statment because primary school always said they could cope with him and i am having loads of problems know on secundary school thanks teresa

[Fuschia]

There is a fashion now not to statement pupils but for the school to meet needs rom its existing resources. If my child had SEN I would fight for the statement though as it is a passport to a choice of secondary school, protection from perverse exclusions etc etc

I think you can request a statement

[Fuschia]

http://www.adders.org/info17.htm

[MissM]

What help does your child specifically need? What reasons have they given you for not giving him a statement? Is there already additional help set up for him? Is he on medication and what does your GP suggest he needs?

I'm not sure there's a fashion not to give the child a statement. The school would want the extra resources and every teacher that I know genuinely wants the best for every child and has a duty to provide that.

Sorry for the questions! My mum is a deputy head teacher at a primary so i'm asking her!

[Fuschia]

I am business manager of an allthrough primary/secondary and in our LA no new statements are issued now except if the pupil is expected to need a place at a special school, or similar support in mainstream. The vast majority of pupils are supported by the school using a sum of money allocated annualy for this purpose (ie most of the LA's SEN budget has been devolved to schools)

THis is happening in many LAs. This is what I meant by it being 'the fashion'Actually I think it is a policy.

But parents can still insist on a statement, and I would always encourage them to do so, as it brings with it otehr protections - priority under school admissions codes, protection in case of exclusion etc where special consideration is needed as to whether the school has been meeting special needs adequately.

[Fuschia]

Article about how few SEN pupils are now statemented:

http://www.publicservice.co.uk/news_story.asp?id=8479

[Fuschia]

Helpline for parents: http://www.ipsea.org.uk/How-we-can-help

[MissM]

Which LA are you? My mum's in Greenwich and I know funding is a massive issue as they are so tight!

The teacher quoted in that article sounds like she's in the wrong job!

[Fuschia]

Me. I'm in Waltham Forest.

I think almost very LEA is struggling with huge overspends on SEn, hence the pressure to devolve to schools and let schools sort it out...

[teresa]

hi thank you for your comment my son is on medication have sent paper work to tribunal but the school says dont have funds and the schhol thinks that i have a big mouth because that i am very protective of my son he has not learn nothing in this 2 years at secundary every time some thing happens the know my tele number if i try to get incontact with them never get a call back my son is in a southwark school that is supose to be very good not for kids like he how do parents cope i am lossing it with the school thanks teresa

[Fuschia]

I think I'd call that helpline and pur your concerns in writing to the LEA asking for an assessment of his needs