Statement Special Need - Old better than new System?? Help!

bikebarbie

hi,

my son started secondary school and we recently were called in for a meeting where the school announced that they believe that our son has Aspergers and want to do a SN Statement.

My son can be very difficult, volatile and when I read about aspergers I can see that he displays some traits, however sometimes he is very well balanced so I am not sure if he is fully clinically has Aspergers.

The school explained that the Overhal with the new Educational Bill that has just come out, will not benefit new students.
They say that they want to plan over the old criteria as the Council will have to stick to the old guidelines and will give the shool more money than the new system.
Since my son is academically doing well and he expresses the wish to go to University, which the school is aware of, they said that the old Statement System will support him until he reaches university, where they explained that the new system will cut off the support sooner.

However I read that the cut-off age for care will be raised from 16 to 25 years old to allow provision for further education.

They said that they will first build a 'case' with an educational psychologist, to have all the proof that my son needs a Statement so that they are sure they wont be turned down or delayed by the council.

Im concerned if this decision to go for the old criteria is not truly benefiting our son but the school more so. We have not signed any paperwork yet to agree to the Statement but expect to be called any time now.

Can someone advice please

Thanks

when_will_it_end

I have just been reading bout the new proposal, at this stage it does sound like it will be benifiting more children as the parents will have more of a say plus the rise in age limits is great i wish this had been done sooner as my DD is now 18, so whilst right now it all looks good will it look the same once all the small print so to speak has been finalised

im sure someone who has more info will be along soon, but i would say to hold out for the new proposal HTH

zaksmum

All three of my sister's sons were statemented. She was devastated at first but soon came to realise that it was beneficial for her boys' confidence to be the most able in a special needs class, rather than the least able in an ordinary class.

I don't know enough about the new system to comment but I do know that a statement of special needs can be the best way forward for a child who needs it.

bikebarbie

hi Zaksmum, I am not against the Statement. Im looking for advice whether the old or new system would benefit my son best.

bikebarbie

Can someone please help I really dont know what to do

Karena_3

Hi.
I may be of some belated help.

The school may well be making an attempt to get some pupils Statemented before the Government decide whether to go through with proposed changes.If they can make a case that is strong enough to obtain a Statement for a pupil they may obtain increased funding.However currently very few LAs are issuing Statements unless there is a strong case.
If a Statutary Assessment is nor needed it will be turned down at the first hurdle.

As a parent you cannot prevent the LA conducting a Statutary Assessment if school request one as there is no provision within the law for a parent to do this.
If school do go ahead and request a Statutary Assessment then the LA have to write to you asking you for your views,you could write and give a view then.

IPSEA and NAS both provide telephone advice and you could contact them too.
Karen.