Question re: dla for children

teabag29

I have posted a few threads before regarding my dd and her behaviour problems and disturbing issues. CAMHs have written to me to say they have accepted the referral for her and will contact me with an appointment. In the meantime the school are organinsing a caff after half term to help support me and dd as she has gotten alot worse in the past month.

I made a claim for dla (on advice from social services) a few weeks back and they have written to me to say they require more info and have requested a report from school. The thing is the school dont see half of the issues with dd and she is not as bad at school as at home. For example they dont see that i have to force her to bath and wash her myself because she wont etc

I am having a bit of a battle with the school at present as my dd is on school action under SEN but i believe she should be on school action plus as she is 5 years behind (reading age of 7 maths age 8, she is 13 this year). School are saying they have more children with higher educational needs.

I'm guessing school are going to write a report as if it were a home report and try and find all the positives as this is what they did when they wrote to my gp asking him to make the referral as they are an education establishment and its not their job. They failed to mention that in the 6 moths she has been there she has stolen off numerous people, cannot get on with other children, truants, puts herself in danger constatntly and shop lifted from the local co-op to name but a few things. All they put was she has only had 20 behaviour logs.

If this is the case i'm assuming dla will be turned down on the basis of the school report? but seriously school dont see half of what i do

Dainty1976

Hi Teabag,

I dont know if the DLA will be turned down on the basis of the school report alone however I would ask the school to get the Ed Psych involved for an evaluation, which will generate a report that you can send to the DLA - I think the school are obligated to follow up on that request but I also understand (and I could be wrong) that if a CAF is being raised, there is certainly enough evidence there to warrant an ED Psych evaluation anyways. Also, any evidence from CAMHS can be sent by yourself as well as from the doctor or OT etc if you have any. If you get turned down or dont have that information in time for the current DLA consideration you can appeal or request a supersession and submit other evidence at that time. If it is decided that you should be inreceipt of DLA it will be backdated to the point of the original application.

Hope that helps!

teabag29

Well you would think so wouldnt you and the doctor has asked school for a ed psychologist report but they have refused saying they have other children with higher educational need than dd and her problems are more emotional and therefore a referral to camhs would be better. She has been accepted for camhs but school wont do the education psychologist report and doctor said 'we are fighting the system'. I would have thought being 5 years behind would mean she does take priority but obviously not. I'm hoping camhs will help with that.

lilly81

Hiya,
Well my advice is:
When school say " School are saying they have more children with higher educational needs." Say that you are only interested in your own child's case (harsh yes, but needs pointing out).
Since she is so far behind with her reading ask why she has not been statemented and threaten to apply for a statement yourself.
I would strongly advise getting parent partnership to give you an independent parental advisor to go to meeting with you, that way school see you are serious and stop the BS!
Have you looked into changing schools?
CAFF can be useful, but a bit long winded, if parent partnership go with you, they take notes and will ask the questions you want if you get too upset to.
Can you get a report from another proffesional that see's your daughters problems? even the social worker? The more evidence the better.
I am talking from experience, if you want to PM me with any questions thats fine.
Good luck
Lilly

teabag29

I wrote a letter about her SEN and they say she is making good progress so its fine. The thing is she has come home with awards for most improved and since starting the school she has moved up from 4months in her reading (from 7 years 4 mths to 7 yrs 8 mths) so the way they see it is she is making good progress. However I dont think its enough progress. She cant tell the time yet, her 2 weeks ago was to master her 3 times table (shes 12). Yes its great she has improved by 4 mths but she only gets 5 extra hours help a week on school action and I feel with more 1 to 1 help she would improve so much more. I also think she is dyslexic and mentioned this but the senco said she isn't...no test or anything. Now that camhs are involved surely school action plus would be considered as school action plus is for when outside agencies are involved?

I have heard of parent partnership and have tried to ring with no luck yet but I shall keep trying. I havent got a social worker, I rang them a few weeks ago for advice as im having trouble getting dd to school because I have the younger ones to take for the same time (different direction) but she isnt safe going on her own. I rang to see about help with transport but they couldnt help, they just suggested making a claim for dla as she will be entitled to transport if she is awarded. Other than that there are no ther professionals involved until camhs see her.

lilly81

Social service- request a carers assessment, they will come round and see if you are eligable for some kind of support.
Parent partnership- leave messages, send and email, even send a letter if you dont get any response after a week, they are very busy but you need the support.
Has the dr witnessed/heard of her differculties?
Make sure that CAMHS and social services are invited to the CAFF
If she is making some progress then she may not get school action plus (sorry) but the CAFF might help to change that?
If you have money (i know its always money) you could have a private assesment for dyslexia? or ask CAMHS?
What is her actual diagnosise at the mo???

daska

Parent partnership may well be overloaded with school place allocation appeals at the moment. Try sending an e-mail or even a letter to them outlining what the problem is and asking them to contact you. Also invite your daughter's school head to attend the CAF - puts them on the spot with other professionals and there will be minutes that you can use as evidence if appropriate.

snoopy58

The CAF must be completed with you and the (usually senior) member of school staff; this could be the Head of Year/House/SENCo. In a large, busy secondary school it would be most unlikely that a head teacher would attend an initial meeting. You need to agree with what is put on the CAF or the form won't be valid: school cannot leave out anything that you feel to be important. If Parent Partnership are unavailable to attend the meeting with you I would suggest that you do have another person with you for support and be clear in your dd's needs and your expected outcomes from the meeting. The completion of a CAF should lead to a home visit (usually by the member of staff who has completed the form) and then very often a TAC (team around the child) meeting, which will consist of all professionals involved. All of this can take quite some time; I would suggest that you do everything in your power to expedite early appointment dates. Try not to leave any meeting without making the next appointment.

Your GP can make a referral for your dd to see the Ed Psych, as can the school & community paediatrician. Don't be fobbed off by them - they can do this.

Once there are external agencies involved your dd should be placed at school action plus on the school SEN register. With regard to her reading age - ask what her standardised score is (in very broad terms a standardised score is akin to an IQ score - but don't make the mistake of calling it an IQ score - where 100 is the absolute average, and scores of 85 through to 115 being considered within 'normal' parameters. Here students would need to have a score of 70 or less to be considered for statementing for literacy difficulties). This is a far more accurate way to assess her needs and may indicate whether she is meeting the criteria for statementing or for any other additional intervention in school. Do you know if your school has the funding for one to one tuition aimed at literacy and/or numeracy? Do you know if your dd receives any of this additional tuition?

I would suggest that you keep a diary, starting now, and take this with you as evidence of behaviour difficulties and other extreme behaviours, to all subsequent meeting.

Hope this helps.