School Based Review

[tiglet]

I've received a letter from the school asking for my permission for a school based review. does anyone know what this is and whether I have the right to attend?

[Bookworm]

School-based review of WHAT? Curriculum? Statement? Food policy? A bit more info might be useful.

[tiglet]

Exactly - all the letter states is a school based review.

 

Knowing how well-disposed the school is towards me, I am obviously paranoid.

[Bookworm]

Well, you know what they say, Tigster, simply cos you're paranoid....

 

Let us know once you find out, will you? ;-)

[tiglet]

I'll go in and ask in the morning - I'm not giving my consent to anything unless I know what it's about and who's involved.

 

Do I ahve the right to be at any meeting where they discuss my child?

[tiglet]

OK, well apparently it's a termly meeting where there is CAMHS, specialist teachers, ed psych, speech & language, OT etc. to discuss the children with SEN in the school. Seems it's the first time they've decided to include my son in this meeting (obviously being very assertive and making legal threats does something).

 

I obviously can't attend as other children will be discussed - however, I am obviously very worried about what the outcome of this will be and how it will affect the fact that I am starting the statementing process. Is any decision they make binding and can I refuse to accept their decision?

[Bookworm]

No, the only binding one is what the SoN says... and as you know, you can be very, ermmm, vocal on what goes on in that one. ;-)

 

Edit: Obviously, if different reports from different agencies were to go against what you yourself believ,e it would make things difficult for you to get what you want out of the Statement. But hey, that's what SENDIST is for should it come to that.

[tiglet]

Thanks.

[tiglet]

Hmm .. even more paranoid now.

 

I received a letter from school with the results of this "review" which are as follows. I know what I think it means, but I would be grateful for input from others:

 

"A review of progress against IEP targets was carried out, using notes form intervention

 

It was agreed that Xxx is making progress against these targets

 

The private EP report was used to ensure that recommendations identified were being considered by the school

 

LEA EP advised the school to continue to monitor progress through this method and would not see Xxx unless it was felt he was not making progress

 

It was felt that Xxx should be given time to consolidate and apply the skills he was currently focusing on, in independent situations

 

The school will continue to liaise with the private tutor to inform school based intervention"

[Bookworm]

Well, on that alone, it looks good, as in they're using your EP report to try and target issues properly, which is all good... but... sorry I have lost track, but where are you at in the the Stat Ass/SoN process?

 

I'm not sure I'd be too happy with the "given time to consolidate..." part, that's classic stall and do SFA talk... unless they mean on a daily basis, not rushing him, then that's ok... but it's unlikely that would be entered specifically in that report.

 

Hmmm indeed. :-|

[tiglet]

Well, I have his IEP review meeting on Friday so I will ask then - "time to consolidate" does rather worry me.

 

We are about to apply for the stat assess again - just waiting to get half-term over and done with.

[Bookworm]

Oooh, then def not good.

 

Scenario: Tig applies for Stat Ass. LA looks at school review and "time to consolidate", says "ooh, you're not giving him enough time here" and says no.

 

Next: Tig does SENDIST. Ooo-er. ;-)

[tiglet]

Tigs will CERTAINLY do SENDIST (I thought as much, but didn't want to be necessarily paranoid about this).

 

Hmm, and then it will be "Oh, he goes to senior school in less than two years - let them sort it out" - I don't think so.

[Bookworm]

Quite right.

 

1) 2 years in a child's life are a huge amount of time.

2) Kids who don't have the right provision in place before they get to secondary are a lot less likely to get the right provision full stop.

3) This government and the previous one and no doubt the next one are determined to wipe out statements under the supposedly equalising blanket of "inclusion, inclusion, inclusion"... and LAs are far too happy to comply so that they can get out of their legal (and costly) obligations.

 

[emmaf01]

How's this going Tiglet? Any news?

[tiglet]

Er, yes, I'm actually getting together a meeting of some quite senior people at LEA to discuss, amongst other things, breaches of the DDA, and the school SENCO seems to be on-side.

 

I will update next week - I have a set-aside for a statutory demand on thursday, so am trying to get that sorted first!