Legal bods, LEA tribunal

Axe_meister

Any legal bods on here?

We have a tribunal in March, regarding the refusal of our LEA to statement our son.

Now we can't afford a solicitor for this.

We are of the understanding if we are not represented by a Solicitor then the LEA should not
appoint one either.

Having looked up on linked in the LEA representative we have found that the LEArepresentative is not in fact an employee of the LEA, but works for a solicitors firm.

Is this legal?

xSkarloey

First off, do you mind me asking which Local Authority you live in? 

Is there an independent advice service in your area? 

Where I live in South West London there is an independent 3d party advice service who are okay, but I don't know whether there is a legal requirement to provide one for parents across the country. 

If you don't get an answer from anyone here (I'm sure you might get something more useful than this post of mine at least!) you could also go back to the LA and clarify it with them. After all, the law's the law and it's not like they should withhold any info from you vis-a-vis your concerns. 

Axe_meister

I'm in SE London, just had advice from the Autistic society alas it is totally legal. The process has been weighted against us from the start, with every divertional and intimidation tactic in the book.
They do every thing to make you give up. Nothing to do with the child, just how much money they can save. We're not even asking to send him to a private/special school just that he gets the care and attention to help him achieve to his ability (he has a very very high IQ). But the system is totally failing him.
He was neat the top of his class in private school that I had to withdraw him from due to financial reason, to middling/bottom in a state school.
He hates school now and has real problems making friends.

xSkarloey

There's always hope mate. Keep fighting.

What I can recommend is getting in touch with Me, Too and Co. They're a charity based in Richmond Borough (St. Margarets/ Twickenham area). 

They're a parent led charity covering mainly Richmond Borough, but the website says they're available to families in the surrounding areas too. 

I'm assuming by 'surrounding areas' your home might well fall within that definition. Maybe give them a bell to check. 

http://www.metooandco.org.uk/about

Why I mention them is because they have a specialist solicitor who's in most Fridays. I've been to see her before and she's very good and the advice she provides is free during the drop-in sessions. 

http://www.metooandco.org.uk/activities/senadvice

What's the SENCO like at your son's school? Are they worth talking to in-depth for advice and guidance? 

Fretwired

@Axe_meister .. contact these guys .. http://www.scomo.com/index.php .. socially minded legal firm who'll give you impartial advice. They do pro bono work and legal aid.

daveyh

Has your son been officially identified as autistic outside of school?

Axe_meister

Yes he has. He is on the ASD spectrum formally known as Aspergers.

WezV

I spent 10 years working in schools. In that time the number of SEN children went up quite a bit, but the number with statements dropped massively. Most of the other ASD children no longer got statements.... All because of the funding associated with it. But obviously all ASD children are different, but the parents who had the most success with it were the pushy ones, rather than the children who needed it most. Be pushy, and always think about the bad days even when its uncomfortable. Too many people focus on what they can do, rather than what they cant. Easy to talk yourself out of funding doing this

daveyh

Is he able to function in school? If so, this is a different issue to achieving his potential.

Axe_meister said:

Yes he has. He is on the ASD spectrum formally known as Aspergers.

Axe_meister

He just about gets through a school day. It's when he gets home when everything kicks off. If he was violent at school the whole thing would be a different matter.

underdog

Axe_meister;495643" said:

He just about gets through a school day. It's when he gets home when everything kicks off. If he was violent at school the whole thing would be a different matter.

I understand you completely, I have a 12 year old that is exactly the same, well behaved in school though very socially awkward and can't make friends, but at home she is violent and nasty.

We've fought since she was 4 years old to get help and we are still fighting all the while her life suffers.

xSkarloey

Axe_meister;495643" said:

He just about gets through a school day. It's when he gets home when everything kicks off. If he was violent at school the whole thing would be a different matter.

Someone I know is in exactly the same boat as you describe.

They've been getting free ongoing legal advice, which has helped and given them more options.

I'd urge you to consider it if possible.





Best wishes.

daveyh

That's very true. The difficult thing is that a statement is for learning, for difficulties at school. If he's functioning at school then arguably the statement isn't necessary, particularly if they can evidence this.

Axe_meister said:

He just about gets through a school day. It's when he gets home when everything kicks off. If he was violent at school the whole thing would be a different matter.