UK Disability Resource of Disabled Needs

Just a quick question.

Thomas is now statemented for 24.5 hours.

In the last two years I have learnt by accident rather than being told of when his statmented hours were being used (He had 18.9 hours for the first two years). Therefore I found out that Thursday afternoons he had no one to one support etc.

My question is:

Should a parent be told in writing how the hours are being used? My reason for asking is that the statement comes to me and as a parent it is my responsibility to keep tabs on it. If there is something wrong it would be me as a parent who challenges the LEA.

What do you all think?

Please bear in mind I have never asked for the information - I just found out some things by accident but maybe by nowing i could have prevented some of the issues that have arisen.

I would think that as his parent you should be informed but I think many parents are not kept up to date with what's going on.

I would check the legalities and responsibilities with IPSEA. They have a help line and a website.

I think the help line may be difficult to get through to at times but they are very helpful so it is worth the wait.

Does your son's school have a home school liason person as that may also be someone to ask.

I'm a bit out of these things these days so not much good at this type of advice.

I do always say though to keep every in writing so that you have a record of what's going on.

Maybe write to them to say that it has come to your attention........ and see what their response is.

I'm sure someone here can advise better than me but just a few ideas there.

IPSEA: http://www.ipsea.org.uk/index.htm

Just found this bit on the IPSEA website which may be useful.

How do I know what my child should be getting?
This should be ‘specified’ in Part 3 of the Statement.

Do the LEA have to “arrange” this help?
In law, the LEA must “arrange the special educational provision” specified in a Statement.

When should I complain ?
If you discover that your child is not getting the special educational provision specified in Part 3 of the Statement or that the provision is being removed or reduced without the Statement being amended.

Should I speak to the school about this?
Yes, definitely. Speak to your child’s class teacher and the Headteacher about your worries as well as writing to complain to the LEA.

What if the school offers to write on my behalf?
It is OK for the school to write as well, but the most important thing is to write yourself. You, as a parent, are the only one who can take legal action in order to ensure that your child receives the provison specified in her Statement. The head can't do this, even if he or she wants to!

Who should I write to?
Write to the top person at the LEA, usually called the Chief Education Officer or the Director of Education. You can find out what the top person is called in your LEA by asking at the school or the local library.

Remember: keep a copy of any letter you send and ring IPSEA if you don’t get a reply after two weeks or if you want further advice.

Model letter
Dear Sir or Madam,

(Child’s name) (date of birth)

Complaint that special education provision is not being made

I am writing as the parent of the above child, who has a Statement of Special Educational needs and attends .................. school.

Under Part 3, the Statement specifies the special educational provision my child should receive and I understand that you have a legal duty to “arrange” this provision.

I am sorry to have to inform you that you are in breach of this duty, on the grounds that the following provision is currently not being made:

Please reply to this letter as soon as possible, but in any event within 5 working days of receiving it, confirming the steps that you will take to ensure that the special educational provision specified in my child’s Statement will, in fact. be made.

I look forward to an early reply and trust that it will not be necessary to take this matter further.

Yours sincerely,

http://www.ipsea.org.uk/sevenfixes.htm#NonImplementation

Thanks both.

I am not concerned about the provision per se. I knw that his one to one works more than her 18.9 hours for his statment (now 24.5) and I have already taken the LEA to task over provision of statemented issues and that is sorted.

It is more the fact that thre is a 30 hour school week and my sone has 24.5 hours covered. The statement does not specifiy that the school should tell me. I can ask the school and they will do it - I am just wondering should they have done it? I will have a read of the website and see if there is any guidance. As well, hindsight is a perfect thing

Also, another thing crossed my mind. What happens to your children when their one to one is absent. I have been very lucky in that another person will be assigned to Thomas where he needs it - apart from the class teacher Thomas' school is fantastic and I guess it is just that I do nto like her and think she causes some of the issues not that she is not a good teacher per se.

However, I have heard horror stories from other parents (first hand) from differnt schools that children have not been adequately supported. How can we as parents make sure that children are looked after via their statment. Obviously if a teacher is ill they get in a supply, so why not for a one to one? I know of two little boys who were left to flounder in class including having toilet accidents because no one was there to take them when they asked and their physical difficulties meant that they could not go by themsleves. One little boy also did not get fed one day as his one to one was not there and no one fed him. These happened at Resourced Schools. Thomas is at a Mainstream non resourced school mainly because I felt that at a Resourced School his statement hours may be lost on other children which, don't get me wrong - all children should get the help they ned but the school should not be able to skimp.

Sorry to ramble, I just get these questions in my head and wonder - maybe I should do some work and then I would not have time to wonder!