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Post by monkey on Oct 23, 2013 19:28:40 GMT
What is the point in parents being able to refer their child for Statutory Assessment?
We did this, on the advice of our child's psychologist at CAMHS, and the LA have responded stating that they are not going to assess as "there are no outside agencies involved" and they feel that the request to assess is premature.
What is the definition of an "outside agency"? Is CAMHS not one?
MMx
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Post by sooz on Oct 23, 2013 21:43:40 GMT
It is my understanding that it's when outside agencies are involved with school.
School action indicates there is an additional need.
School action plus indicates an additional need and outside agencies are involved.
My ds started school on school action plus as he was already having speech and language involvement at nursery which was to continue at school. Then educational psychologist assessed him at school, camhs assessed him at school....
Maybe your child needs to be on school action plus before you could proceed to statutory assessment?
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Post by monkey on Oct 24, 2013 17:59:31 GMT
Hi Sooz
She's already on School Action Plus.
I'm just not sure what the definition of an outside agency is. We have regular family input from CAMHS and we are shortly to start therapy with them. Does this not count as an outside agency?
MMx
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Post by moo on Oct 24, 2013 18:16:48 GMT
Would have thought so monkey but not been in your position..... 
Hope the wise ones are along soon for you....
Xx. moo. Xx
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Post by leo on Oct 24, 2013 19:57:48 GMT
Yes, CAMHS does count as an Outside Agency. The trouble is, Local Authorities want to see a history of involvement over at least six months (two years in some LAs) and a lack of progress during that time despite intervention. I hate it that we have a system that needs children to fail before they can receive any proper support; it's so damaging for many children but for 'ours' it is truly awful.
I would go into the school and speak to them about whether they believe your child meets the criteria for applying for assessment. There are a set of criteria for each category of SEN eg. in our LA a child has to be at least 3 years behind their chronological age in Literacy or Maths to meet the criteria for Learning Difficulty.
You could ask the LA for a copy of their banding descriptors as these give very clear guidelines on what 'level' of SEN a child is deemed to have. Very sad to categorise children in this way and it completely lacks any holistic approach as, in our LA at least, you can only apply for a Statutory Assessment under one category.
Mad, completely mad! And all about to be changed anyway!
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Post by kstar on Oct 24, 2013 20:01:41 GMT
I don't think CAMHS actually does count as an outside agency no :-( not for special needs statements, although possibly for behaviour statements. Outside agencies are normally more along the lines of speech therapy, occupational therapy, a consultant's referral, or language services.
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Post by donatella on Oct 24, 2013 21:42:34 GMT
Just started the process ourselves. Luckily (!) ds2 has been assessed for and dx with ASD this year and so has been assessed by all sorts. And school are hugely supportive anyway. Waiting for a reply to see whether they agree to assess. If not I will appeal.
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Post by haze on Oct 25, 2013 18:09:55 GMT
CAHMs are an outside agency but they want agencies involved in school & they would want to see involvement for the ed psych at least & evidence of failed interventions over an extended period of time at school action plus. They may want to see SALT & OT input, PRU involvement, etc but it depends on the nature of the need & how old the child is.
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