LA and private diagnosis.

[hazma]

Our son has been diagnosed with aspergers syndrome and adhd.The aspergers was diagnosed at a developmental centre dealing with autistic spectrum disorders.We have been awarded dla.School has been a problem for many years and his current school say they dont have to accept dx because the local authority wont.What are the legalities of something like that because we have recieved lots of conflicting advice.

[poppynurse]

Have you requested a formal assessment of your child's SEN from the LA? Have the LA told you why they won't accept the diagnosis?

[Bookworm]

School has been a problem for many years and his current school say they dont have to accept dx because the local authority wont.

How do they know? Has the school tried already with your child? Because if they haven't, then they're just blowing you off, frankly. And as for "they don't have to", read "they don't want to". If they had your child's interest at heart, they would accept it so they know what they're dealing with, so from the start, it seems obvious to me that they are simply not interested in helping you and your child.

 

So, onto the next step: Statutory Assessment. The school can request it (and it helps if they're on your side, but it can be done without their assistance), but if they won't, then you can initiate the request yourself.

 

Independent Panel for Special Education Advice (IPSEA)

 

contains templates to help you start the process.

 

How old is your child?

Is he on School Action or School Action +? If not, why not?

What are his specific difficulties, learning, behaviour, etc?

 

What do you want to achieve from the process? Help within a school which seems uninterested in his needs? Transfer with support to another mainstream school? SN school? You need to think long and hard about this because how you will handle the school and LA will depend on this.

 

You need to get a copy of the SEN CoP here:

Teachernet, SEN Code of Practice

 

which you can order or here:

 

Teachernet, Document bank to get by .pdf. It's huge, so I would order it (it's free).

 

There is revised guide for parents too which is a good introduction to the whole SEN structure here:

 

Teachernet, Document bank. If you have no idea where to start, that probably is the best place.

 

One word of warning: The whole system is now geared towards one goal, inclusion, inclusion, inclusion. My personal belief is that inclusion is far from the answer and in fact is very often the problem with AS children, so be aware that if you want your child out of mainstream and into a SEN school, you are going to have to fight twice as hard, because that is going to cost your LA a whole load more money, and that is all they are interested in, not your child's well-being, regardless of what they might try and have you believe. They will delay, lie to you, mislaad, make false promises, anything they can to stall you or make you give up. Just so you know. One parent who gives up = tens of thousands £££ saved, hurray! You're the one who has to drive this campaign to help your child, and the people you think would be the ones to back you up are the ones who will do anything but, because they have their budgets to think of first.

 

Any questions, or even if you just need to vent, we're here.