Diary of a Confused MFW

keld

happymumto2 wrote: »

Did your LEA carry out a statutory assessment on your DS? Or are they telling you from the records the school send in that he doesn't warrant a statement?
Reason I'm asking is my DS has probs, which were acknowledged by the school, and they were keeping records but said they had to gather more information before requesting a statutory assessment. After 6 months I had had enough as he was falling further behind, he was getting assessed by various people but getting no help in class. I requested myself he have a statutory assessment by the LEA which was carried out, that was in May 08, his statement and 1-1 were in place by Oct 08, and he has greatly improved in the short space of time she has been working with him. Although I am currently under appeal as she only works with him half time! Rest of day he is back to his old tricks!
Even the headteacher has said parents requests move the LEA quicker than school requests, and a statement is nothing to fear if it gets him the help he needs to get a good education.

The LEA Educational Psychologist has assessed him (Oct 07) and revisited him (March 08) and says that our LEA only statments children on or under the 1 centile. His worst is 4 for spelling, which is not improving, although he is beginining to try to spell if pushed! Do you think it would be worth writing in formally?
We have already been in correspondence about the Ed Psych's visits, as initially the second visit wasn't scheduled for until June 08:mad: , but then it would have been the end of the school year and we would have been no better off. She now says that she's done all she can and will only revisit if the school request it.:mad: Sorry about the rant.
I'm pleased to see things are working out for you, even if it's not as good as it should be.;)

keld

Just got my mortgage statement. At the end of 2008 I owed £55,002.89 :j- wish I'd known and I could have OP'd £3 and been under £55,000.:D

StuartGMC

Keld
Well done, it's all going in the right direction

setmefree2

StuartGMC wrote: »

Keld
Well done, it's all going in the right direction

:T

keld

Haven't posted in a while as things are :mad: at work, everythings hanging in the balance, I feel like Democles:eek:. So even though this month we've managed to save an extra £475:D, which should go as an extra to our regualar OP. I've put it in the rainy day account or should that be monsoon account:rolleyes:.

Thanks for all the support.:beer:

(Still waiting for my DS appointment with DA, things move so slowly, and I'll worry about funding that later:o.)

keld

Just a little bit of an update.

Rang and got my mortgage for the end of March, wish it was online like my bank. We've broken through the £54,000 barrier, just, at £53,933:D, which was slightly more than my projection, so when (if) I get time I'll have to work out what the difference is (well it was £265.05, but where it is coming from). However should still clear by March 2017, if we can stick to this plan. Still need to action my cashing in of the endowment policy:o, all filled in waiting for a response from the mortgage lender.

Eventually DS has had his planning interview with DA and starts his weekly sessions on 20th April 2009 :j, so hopefully that will give him the support he needs. They say that usually a student is with them for about two years, so he would be finishing just as he goes to secondary school, which feels like good timing. Now we just need to get his school to get their finger out, and research which secondary school will give him the continuing support he needs.

We've been making savings by doing the grocery challenge and minimising our use of our child minder as much as possible, so we might be able to afford to carry on overpaying.:D

setmefree2

well done going sub £54K

keld

Just updated my signature, now £53,485:D. Paid DS Dyslexia Action tution and kept up April's and May's OPs :j.

However I need to review our mortgage as our current fixed deal runs out at the end of August (hopefully at a cheaper rate). So I'll need to act fast, it seems to have come around quickly. Does anyone know when it becomes unviable to switch lenders, does your mortgage need to be over a certain amount?

StuartGMC

Keld
Well done; you will usually find quickly if lenders have a lower limit to lend (e.g. offset) which will assist you in your question. However you then need to look at the fees vs that as a percentage of the balance remaining and thus if the new package will save enough to warrant changing. I think at £53k you are still in the territory where you will benefit but it may be the next change which is borderline at e.g. £30k

You may find that an offset with a current account is a good choice, now, or next time because your current account cash which usually earns no viable interest, could offset as a good % of what you owe. Why not look at them now to see if the product would be suitable for your needs either now, or next time round. Working for us, but not for everyone.

setmefree2

keld wrote: »

Just updated my signature, now £53,485:D.

Fab