Hello, i need advice please, my son is 5 years old, he was born with spina bifida, he had an op as a baby and thankfully this is ok, although he does have problems with bowels, he is a late developer, at one point we had to learn sign language, but through speech therapy this is no longer needed, although his behaviour is a real concern at home at the moment, he is on autistic spectrum, im worried for his education.

He is in a mainstream school, and has delayed development, , on i.e.p plan at schol and goes out of class in a small group few times a week, i feel he would do better at a special school, smaller class one on one approach, and this would improve his development, when i approached the school this week, i felt like i was a mother over reacting!!!, school say no he fine he doesnt need it, they are not will to assess him or statement him, surely as a mother as shud do whats right and feels whats best for my son, yet school think there is no need what so ever, i feel my son could catch up and benefit from a special school, but have no backing from mainstream, im just so upset that they not willing to help me.:

by law you can write a letter to education for you child to be assess you dont have to rely on school to do this

just thought i give you an example

Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to request an assessment of my daughter/son’s (give your child’s
name and date of birth) special educational needs under Section 323 of the
Education Act 1996.
I am making this request as is my right under Section 329 of the Act.
I believe (child’s full name)’s special educational needs are as follows:
List your child’s special educational needs
I think they need more help than the school (give the name of your child’s
school) can provide because:
Say what help your child has been receiving and why it isn’t meeting your child’s
needs
I understand that you are required by law to respond to my request within 6
weeks. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours sincerely,


school might be upset with you for doin this with out them but its tough
its your right for him to be assessed

if you need any help ive been told that the ipsea can help
http://www.ipsea.org.uk/

and this from contact a family
http://www.cafamily.org.uk/pdfs/educatio.pdf
they could help too

Many thanks for your reply, when i spoke to the sen department at our local authority , the sen co cordinator just kept repeating herself saying it's a wonderful school, your sons teacher is a wonderful teacher, like i said to her i'm not discriminating the school or teacher as i have 3 others in the same school (different years), but i felt because she was "good friends " with the teacher, i really stood no chance in my son being assesed, or moving school, or them willing to help me any further, the final advice was sit tight and see if he improves!! i really felt let down.

Many thanks for the information you sent i will follow it up. :0)

(02-04-2011 11:43 AM)proud mum of 5 Wrote:  Many thanks for your reply, when i spoke to the sen department at our local authority , the sen co cordinator just kept repeating herself saying it's a wonderful school, your sons teacher is a wonderful teacher, like i said to her i'm not discriminating the school or teacher as i have 3 others in the same school (different years), but i felt because she was "good friends " with the teacher, i really stood no chance in my son being assesed, or moving school, or them willing to help me any further, the final advice was sit tight and see if he improves!! i really felt let down.

Many thanks for the information you sent i will follow it up. :0)

it may be a wonderfull school
but you are intitled for your child to be assessed by law
usually a educational scycologist will assess him (excuse spelling)
also the othere people involved with youre son ie physio , ot etc will assess him too
it sounds like you could do with someone on your side
they do have parent partnership that could help you out
but ive heard mixed reviews about them thats why i told you about the ipsea