Upsy Daisy Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 Hi there, This is not an early years issue as my daughter is nearly thirteen years old. We have had a turbulent few months since she started high school and she is now unable to attend school due to her high levels of anxiety and newly diagnosed Asperger's Syndrome. There seems to be very little provision which is likely to meet her needs (she is very academically able across the board) because she cannot cope with the size of the high school and has not been in regular lessons at all since September. We have requested a statutory assessment and I would love to hear from anyone who has gone through this process and achieved a private school placement fro their child. I've been chucked in the deep end with all this and I know I have only one chance to get it right for her. Any good advice would be sooooo appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 Hi. I haven't got experience of this exactly but something along similar lines. Have you contacted your local Parent Partnership for support? They would be best placed to advise what has happened in your area and also for further support in general. Good luck and I hope things get better for you and your daughter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JacquieL Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 I think that you would get good advice and support from the NAS if you contacted them. I think it can be particularly difficult for children with Aspergers, as obviously they are not picked up as having a Learning Disability, and their needs may not be recognised or catered for properly. http://www.nas.org.uk/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Upsy Daisy Posted March 31, 2010 Author Share Posted March 31, 2010 Thanks guys. Parent partnership have been advising me but understandably are a bit reticent about discussing private provision at this early stage. I've spent many hours looking at the NAS website and I've learned an awful lot but again I can find only basic information about the statementing process. I'm kind of hoping that I can find someone who's been through this process and can tell me what helped them to succeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 Hi Upsy Daisy I am not sure if this helps as my daughter's situation is a little different but here goes. My daughter has been ill for the past two and half years and was increasingly missing school. This was getting to be an issue as she was about to go in to her GCSE year 11. I had spoke to school and to pupil welfare for help but their main concern was her attending school. The fact that she was anxious and suffering in class seemed of no significance to them. Twelve months ago I asked the hospital consultant for some emotional help for her as her they were not getting to the bottom of her physical symptoms and she was feeling isolated. The consultant agreed and referred her to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services or CAMHS. I think at the time the consultant thought it was all in her head!! Her therapist was brilliant and at last she felt she could talk to someone about her worries and fears as well as her feeling of being cut off from her peers. Whilst this assessment was being done we finally got to the bottom of her feeling ill - it was in her head as it turned out - but it was very real as they discovered she had a brain lesion. The therapist from CAMHS recommended her schooling be transferred to the SLC or Specialist Learning Centre where they have been able to cater for her needs very well. She has accessed her core subjects there with extra subjects being covered at home via her original secondary school. When she is in treatment/hospital they can home tutor or e-mail work and the good thing is she is in a small centre with classes no bigger than 5. I suppose what I am trying to say is ask what is out there to help your daughter meet her potential. My daughter is a totally different young lady now. Many days she struggles with her health but loves going to the SLC. She has built up a small group of friends there who have their own issues but know were she is coming from. She is doing well and goes for an interview in April at Sixth Form College.......something that eighteen months ago seemed impossible! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mundia Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 Hello Upsy daisy This is s tricky one which must be like a mine field for you. I do hop the support networks work for you. I know that in my area private schools cannot get funding for children with additional needs /statements and the cost has to be passed onto the parents. However and its a big however, that is because schools are expected to make the necessary adjustments to support the needs of the child and so support would only be funding for the state sector. I am not aware of this happening (so other members please do tell if you know more about this) but it is possible that if you can build a strong enough case to say that no state school is able to meet the needs of your child, then in the statement request you can request the school of your choice. I don't know what happens in your area, but in ours, all requests for statements go to panel and the panel decide if the child needs a statement and if so what provision would be the best for them etc. You would need a lot of support to achieve this, obviously a really good SENCO who knows all the ins and outs would be a good starting point..does the school have one? Sorry I cant be any more help than that, it is really tough sometimes fighting for what your child needs so her's hoping another member will have much more information for you to build on. Keep us informed.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mundia Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 Forgot to say, can you look at the SEN code of practice, or enlist the help of someone who knows it back to front.. there is a whole section on naming a school so worth a check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JacquieL Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 Thanks guys. Parent partnership have been advising me but understandably are a bit reticent about discussing private provision at this early stage. I've spent many hours looking at the NAS website and I've learned an awful lot but again I can find only basic information about the statementing process. I'm kind of hoping that I can find someone who's been through this process and can tell me what helped them to succeed. I think you actually need to contact the NAS and talk to one of their regional officers, who have a lot of experience of all the issues involved. If you click on the contact at the top of the page it will give you a way of contacting someone who covers your area and also parent support groups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Upsy Daisy Posted March 31, 2010 Author Share Posted March 31, 2010 I think you actually need to contact the NAS and talk to one of their regional officers, who have a lot of experience of all the issues involved. Oh right. Ok, Thanks Jacquie. I'll add that to tomorrow's list of jobs to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Upsy Daisy Posted April 3, 2010 Author Share Posted April 3, 2010 I opened my welcome pack from the National Autistic Society today. It made it feel very real Still not really managed to get any advice about how to move forward even through the NAS advisors. I'm beginning to think we'll have to pay for legal advice through on of the solicitors who specialise in this sort of thing. Since realising that my younger daughter is showing very similar traits and finding out that her school have concerns about her social interaction, I have decided to withdraw from my foundation degree. I am gutted to say the least because I was really enjoying it but my diary is full of appointments with schools, psychologists and doctors. To be honest I haven't absorbed a single thing I've read this term anyway. I feel like I'm in a horrible dream. I would have laughed at anyone who told me what was in store for us a few months ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunnyday Posted April 3, 2010 Share Posted April 3, 2010 Oh I'm so sorry........ Can't think of anything to say that could possibly help you..........just wanted you know that I am thinking of you xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 3, 2010 Share Posted April 3, 2010 I opened my welcome pack from the National Autistic Society today. It made it feel very real Still not really managed to get any advice about how to move forward even through the NAS advisors. I'm beginning to think we'll have to pay for legal advice through on of the solicitors who specialise in this sort of thing. Since realising that my younger daughter is showing very similar traits and finding out that her school have concerns about her social interaction, I have decided to withdraw from my foundation degree. I am gutted to say the least because I was really enjoying it but my diary is full of appointments with schools, psychologists and doctors. To be honest I haven't absorbed a single thing I've read this term anyway. I feel like I'm in a horrible dream. I would have laughed at anyone who told me what was in store for us a few months ago. Thinking of you! Nona X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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