Wandering Lonely

2007-03-29T04:29:00.000-07:00

2006-11-21T14:33:00.000-08:00

Lewisham can't stop statements but as I understand it Lewisham would like to issue less of them. Statements protect the rights of children with special needs to have their needs met however they are legal documents which have to be prepared in cirtain ways over cirtain time spans. They cost a lot of money to prepare.
There are arguments that for all sorts of reasons it would be better for schools to have budget to meet the needs of children with special needs without the delay or expence of a statement. These arguments are about "high insidence low need" conditions where the support needed can be provided in a farely clearly percived way. For example a child needs hand outs in a cirtain font on a cirtain coloured paper. A T.A. has time allocated to do that or a child has problems with the physical act of writing, she is provided with a keyboard and time each week to talk over problems or a young person at secondary school cannot carry a heavy bag between split sites so assistance is provided when that event occurs. with a bit of money the problem is solved and without spending several thousand pounds and 6 months writing a statement.
My child had a statement before starting school. We have only really been interested in it's content when there have been difficulties for example when her primary school did not want to deal with new needs and when there were issues around secondary transfer. It is reveiwed every year but hasn't changed much in a long time. Her needs are met by her school so I don't need to constantly remind them what her needs are.
Children who need education in a special school have to have a statement, but it might be hoped(!) as years go by that as society equips itself to be flexable in its aceptance of difference they will be the children with high level needs for whom a document laying out how those needs are to be met is a necessary and wothwhile thing.
The question is who are statements to benifit? Are they documents which allow a school to get necessary funds which they can't get otherwise and without which a childs education falls short? Are they documents which give schools the ammunition to reject a child because "the school cannot meet their needs"? Are they a document which allow over demanding parents to barrate teachers who don't jump every hoop on command? Are they documents which make sure children with SEN are trated in an equitable way within our system?
Maybe there are better ways to spend money than writing on bits of paper. Maybe schools can be given budgets will will meet the needs of most pupils (I always think when schools say something like "42% of our pupils have special needs" well thats not "special" is it?). Maybe we can stop looking on difference as equating to wrong. Until it all feels "safe" parents will still ask for statements when needs might be met otherwise but until it all feels safe maybe I can understand that.

2006-11-21T10:30:00.000-08:00

Wow! Someone's found me and commented already!

2006-11-21T02:41:00.000-08:00

In January next year there is going to be a formal Statutary reveiw of Lewishams SEN provision. At the moment there are information meetings being held for various interested groups (stake holders???) these are being disrupted by "protesters" or the time for them consumed by people who seem to feel there is a formal consultation going on at the moment. In order that I can contribute in an informed way when it counts (ie when the Statutary consultation is takeing place) I want to be properly informed and so want the informal discussion and information meetings to be conducted without protests from people who are so worried about their own issues (which they are entitled to be!!) they have stopped listening or contributing constructivly to the process.

It is very important to me that when the consultation starts every voice is heard and matters. to that end everyone involved in the process needs to be well informed and know what the consultation is offering. At this stage it is listening anf talking not shouting that needs doing even if we do not agree with what is being said.

Those who do not usually participate need to be encouraged to participate in the consultation not terified that if they don't shout loud enough now their contribution will count for nothing and they may lose a resource they rely on.

Listen contribute and organise. The bolt once shot is lost!!