Re: Moving to the UK - schools??

[Guest guest]

Dear

Jess,

There will be other people to answer your

questions more fully than I can (if noone else answers I’ll have a go) but

I just wanted to say that my LEA in the South West is called Plymouth and is the pits!!!

(I think Bath, Cornwall and Somerset are probably the better

ones but I could well be wrong)

Sara

Moving to the UK - schools??

Hi everyone

We're deciding to make the mad move back to the UK from NYC (for family!) and

I'm trying

to get a

handle on the school systems and how to get the best out them. We're not sure

where to

live

but want to stay in the West country either near the Welsh borders or further

south down

to Devon,

Dorset, Avon etc etc.

So here's my 'help' school qu.'s

I understand that I have to get a LEA to statement Flynn

which can take 10-12 weeks.

1. How soon do you get services after statementing?

I have the nightmare scenario that I won't have an address in the area we'll

live in until

July/Aug next yr so i'm sure we can't get services by Sept next yr- yikes

unless the local

LEA will let us start statementing whilst we're in the US eg flying in for a

week for testing.

2. Are there any LEA's that are better, than others in terms of amount of

services support

they offer, easyness of getting support?

3. Will I need a lawyer to get a decent amount of services/support? If so any

recommendations?

4. Has anyone put their child into a private school (hoping those grandparents

might chip

in !!) with a small class size so its not so stimulating - thinking of

Montessori/Steiner etc

5. Does the LEA allows sen's into private school classrooms - how common is

this ?

6. My understanding is that sens and statementing are for educational

development -what

services/support is there for social/ emotional development and v.mild

behaviours (we're

down to 2 tantrums a week -leaving books but he can now be reasoned out of

them) and

how do I apply for these ?

7. Left of field - is anyone doing RDI therapy, introducing it into schools etc

-just

thinkings as I'm starting it with Flynn.

I should add that I have been really spoilt for services in NYC -35 hrs of Sp

ed 1:1 for 3

years. Flynn needs to be around NT kids as he flourishes around them and is

very social

but I don't know how he will manage without any support.

Apologises for the 100 qu's I know my own US system really well so feel I'm

starting cold

turkey again but with a kiddie who'll be 6 3/4's when we come back.

Ta loads for any thoughts

Jess

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[Guest guest]

Jess - are you sure you want to come back to UK? I can't advise

what SW LEA's are like as I live in London but it took us over 10

months to get a final statement. We have been through 2 days of

Tribunal hell and have still not won VB programme despite the

Tribunal pulling the LEA provision to pieces!

I do not know of any LEA paying for RDI in the UK - VB/ABA is hard

enough to win.

My husband and I have been considering transferring to NY so that we

CAN get the right provision for our son.

We currently pay for 30 hours VB a week plus Independent school fees

(to get the really small class size, there are 12 children in T's

class and he goes with a VB shadow). We get no help from the

LEA /government - not even speech therapy. Its no fun in UK - you

will fight for everything.

I do hope someone from the SW LEA's chips in and contradicts

everything I have said.

Gail.

>

> Dear Jess,

>

> There will be other people to answer your questions more fully

than I can

> (if noone else answers I'll have a go) but I just wanted to say

that my LEA

> in the South West is called Plymouth and is the pits!!!

>

> (I think Bath, Cornwall and Somerset are probably the better ones

but I

> could well be wrong)

>

> Sara

>

>

>

> Moving to the UK - schools??

>

>

>

> Hi everyone

>

> We're deciding to make the mad move back to the UK from NYC (for

family!)

> and I'm trying

> to get a

> handle on the school systems and how to get the best out them.

We're not

> sure where to

> live

> but want to stay in the West country either near the Welsh borders

or

> further south down

> to Devon,

> Dorset, Avon etc etc.

>

> So here's my 'help' school qu.'s

>

> I understand that I have to get a LEA to statement Flynn

> which can take 10-12 weeks.

> 1. How soon do you get services after statementing?

>

> I have the nightmare scenario that I won't have an address in the

area we'll

> live in until

> July/Aug next yr so i'm sure we can't get services by Sept next yr-

yikes

> unless the local

> LEA will let us start statementing whilst we're in the US eg

flying in for a

> week for testing.

>

> 2. Are there any LEA's that are better, than others in terms of

amount of

> services support

> they offer, easyness of getting support?

>

> 3. Will I need a lawyer to get a decent amount of

services/support? If so

> any

> recommendations?

>

> 4. Has anyone put their child into a private school (hoping those

> grandparents might chip

> in !!) with a small class size so its not so stimulating -

thinking of

> Montessori/Steiner etc

>

> 5. Does the LEA allows sen's into private school classrooms - how

common is

> this ?

>

> 6. My understanding is that sens and statementing are for

educational

> development -what

> services/support is there for social/ emotional development and

v.mild

> behaviours (we're

> down to 2 tantrums a week -leaving books but he can now be

reasoned out of

> them) and

> how do I apply for these ?

>

> 7. Left of field - is anyone doing RDI therapy, introducing it

into schools

> etc -just

> thinkings as I'm starting it with Flynn.

>

> I should add that I have been really spoilt for services in NYC -

35 hrs of

> Sp ed 1:1 for 3

> years. Flynn needs to be around NT kids as he flourishes around

them and is

> very social

> but I don't know how he will manage without any support.

>

> Apologises for the 100 qu's I know my own US system really well so

feel I'm

> starting cold

> turkey again but with a kiddie who'll be 6 3/4's when we come back.

>

> Ta loads for any thoughts

>

> Jess

>

>

>

>

>

>

> --

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17/07/2006

>

>

>

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> Checked by AVG Free Edition.

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17/07/2006

>

[Guest guest]

A good question! Our Tribunal ran for 2 days as the Chair adjourned

after day 1 to " allow the LEA to reconsider their school placement

in part 4 - this was after the panel agreed that we had proved that

the LEA provison named in Part 4 was totally inappropriate for my

son.

Also, The Chair of the Tribunal interpreted a Wiltshire judgement

that states that the Tribunal cannot order 'Education otherwise' if

a school can provide appropriate provision. The judgement actually

says that they cannot order edu otherwise (what VB comes under) if

the school in Part 4 of the statement can meet childs needs. But our

Chair asked our Ed psyc a hypothetical question - could any school

any where meet Tom's needs at any point in time, then ordered him to

answer - he replied that in the future he could see Tom will reach a

point where a school education was appropriate but at this point in

time it was not. That was enough for her to state that she could not

order VB.

What they actually did was shocking! The Tribunal ordered that the

LEA should provide Tom with a mainstream placement in a school with

a separate unit headed by a teacher with qualifications of and

experience teaching ASD children. This has now allowed the LEA to

try and put him in a language unit. So after 18 months and £1000's

we are no further forward - and if we want to fight on our only

redress is to go back to Tribunal again. That's why I'd stay in USA!

The reality is that Tribunal Chairs can be vastly biased towards the

LEA's, it all depends on who you get. If you are going to Tribunal

asking for a home programme make sure you know that Wiltshire

judgement inside out.

Gail - sickened by the system

> >

> > Dear Jess,

> >

> > There will be other people to answer your questions more fully

> than I can

> > (if noone else answers I'll have a go) but I just wanted to say

> that my LEA

> > in the South West is called Plymouth and is the pits!!!

> >

> > (I think Bath, Cornwall and Somerset are probably the better

ones

> but I

> > could well be wrong)

> >

> > Sara

> >

> >

> >

> > [Autism-Biomedical--Europe] Moving to the UK - schools??

> >

> >

> >

> > Hi everyone

> >

> > We're deciding to make the mad move back to the UK from NYC (for

> family!)

> > and I'm trying

> > to get a

> > handle on the school systems and how to get the best out them.

> We're not

> > sure where to

> > live

> > but want to stay in the West country either near the Welsh

borders

> or

> > further south down

> > to Devon,

> > Dorset, Avon etc etc.

> >

> > So here's my 'help' school qu.'s

> >

> > I understand that I have to get a LEA to statement Flynn

> > which can take 10-12 weeks.

> > 1. How soon do you get services after statementing?

> >

> > I have the nightmare scenario that I won't have an address in

the

> area we'll

> > live in until

> > July/Aug next yr so i'm sure we can't get services by Sept next

yr-

> yikes

> > unless the local

> > LEA will let us start statementing whilst we're in the US eg

> flying in for a

> > week for testing.

> >

> > 2. Are there any LEA's that are better, than others in terms of

> amount of

> > services support

> > they offer, easyness of getting support?

> >

> > 3. Will I need a lawyer to get a decent amount of

> services/support? If so

> > any

> > recommendations?

> >

> > 4. Has anyone put their child into a private school (hoping those

> > grandparents might chip

> > in !!) with a small class size so its not so stimulating -

> thinking of

> > Montessori/Steiner etc

> >

> > 5. Does the LEA allows sen's into private school classrooms -

how

> common is

> > this ?

> >

> > 6. My understanding is that sens and statementing are for

> educational

> > development -what

> > services/support is there for social/ emotional development and

> v.mild

> > behaviours (we're

> > down to 2 tantrums a week -leaving books but he can now be

> reasoned out of

> > them) and

> > how do I apply for these ?

> >

> > 7. Left of field - is anyone doing RDI therapy, introducing it

> into schools

> > etc -just

> > thinkings as I'm starting it with Flynn.

> >

> > I should add that I have been really spoilt for services in NYC -

> 35 hrs of

> > Sp ed 1:1 for 3

> > years. Flynn needs to be around NT kids as he flourishes around

> them and is

> > very social

> > but I don't know how he will manage without any support.

> >

> > Apologises for the 100 qu's I know my own US system really well

so

> feel I'm

> > starting cold

> > turkey again but with a kiddie who'll be 6 3/4's when we come

back.

> >

> > Ta loads for any thoughts

> >

> > Jess

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > --

> > No virus found in this incoming message.

> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> > Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.1/390 - Release Date:

> 17/07/2006

> >

> >

> >

> > --

> > No virus found in this outgoing message.

> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> > Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.1/390 - Release Date:

> 17/07/2006

> >

>

>

>

>

> --

> No virus found in this incoming message.

> Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.1/391 - Release Date:

18/07/2006

>

>

>

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> Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.1/391 - Release Date:

18/07/2006

>

[Guest guest]

Jess,

I would recommend that you post your questions to ABA-UK group. Perhaps others there can give you some further information on borroughs that fund ABA.

Re the Steiner schools - we had our son down for a local Steiner school prior to dx. We now understand that while our son could go to the school with a tutor or Learning Assistant the school would not receive the additional funding for taking on a Special Needs kid because they are outside of the system. You would have to thoroughly review your sons needs with the Steiner school, they would have to agree to a tutor being present, and you would have to pay the private tuition yourself.

If I were you I would plan to have no ABA provision and then if/when you do receive it count it as a bonus! It's hard going, it's a very uneven system that is completely unpredictable and full of absolutely ridiculous shennanigans. You may waltz in, get fully funded without tribunal or you may spend tens of thousands of pounds and get nothing.

As far as a lawyer, we have been advised to spend most money on Ed Psych, OT and SLT. Those are the reports that are most effective in proving your son's case. You can shell out from £4,000 for a lawyer for tribunal to £15,000 for a lawyer to take your case from application to tribunal. We did not think it was money well spent at this time (we are going through statementing right now). You may also have to self-fund for a time prior to receiving funding. I think this depends on how well you are able to establish your case using the reports that you have now.

Personally, I don't know of any emotional support, psychotherapy, psychological support provided for our kids. I'd be happy to hear of it if there is. There are some clinical psychologists hanging around for kids but the wait is long and the requirements are high. (like they have to be homicidal, etc)

We discussed RDI with our consultant and he is happy to integrate some of the exercises into the ABA/VB therapy. So there is knowledge of RDI, eperience, etc but I don't know about using it is schools, etc.

All the best, it's a tough decision. I hope we haven't scared you off from the UK. It's actually quite nice here!

Darla

London

DH Boban

DS 2 years 2 months

In a message dated 18/07/2006 17:46:13 GMT Standard Time, whimster@... writes:

1. How soon do you get services after statementing?I have the nightmare scenario that I won't have an address in the area we'll live in until July/Aug next yr so i'm sure we can't get services by Sept next yr- yikes unless the local LEA will let us start statementing whilst we're in the US eg flying in for a week for testing.2. Are there any LEA's that are better, than others in terms of amount of services support they offer, easyness of getting support? 3. Will I need a lawyer to get a decent amount of services/support? If so any recommendations?4. Has anyone put their child into a private school (hoping those grandparents might chip in !!) with a small class size so its not so stimulating - thinking of Montessori/Steiner etc5. Does the LEA allows sen's into private school classrooms - how common is this ?6. My understanding is that sens and statementing are for educational development -what services/support is there for social/ emotional development and v.mild behaviours (we're down to 2 tantrums a week -leaving books but he can now be reasoned out of them) and how do I apply for these ?7. Left of field - is anyone doing RDI therapy, introducing it into schools etc -just thinkings as I'm starting it with Flynn.I should add that I have been really spoilt for services in NYC -35 hrs of Sp ed 1:1 for 3 years. Flynn needs to be around NT kids as he flourishes around them and is very social but I don't know how he will manage without any support.

[Guest guest]

We also used Tracey. There is an independent SLT that Tracey put me

in contact with - Jackie Harland, her co is Ruth s and

colleagues. Tracey has the number - or google am sure will come

up. Not sure where you are based though.

Bests

Gail

>

> On this subject. We are using Conrathe's colleague – Tracey

> Eldridge-Hinmers and she has also said that it all depends on the

people in

> the tribunal as some of them are very anti/ pro ABA. she has just

advised us

> to get an independent SLT report and an independent OT report. Two

things we

> hadn't budgeted for which is difficult enough BUT I can't find any

SLTs at

> all and the only OT I can find is in Dorset (far away and

expensive). Can

> anyone help with any SLT or an OT nearer to home?

>

> Thanks, Sara x

>

>

>

> Re: Re: Moving to the UK -

schools??

>

>

>

> In a message dated 20/07/2006 07:26:14 GMT Daylight Time, gail@...

> writes:

>

> The reality is that Tribunal Chairs can be vastly biased towards

the

> LEA's, it all depends on who you get. If you are going to Tribunal

> asking for a home programme make sure you know that Wiltshire

> judgement inside out.

>

> >>>MY buddy had Conrath act for her. Lots of dosh. He told

her before

> they went in he would be able to tell whether or not they would

win by who

> was chairing it - which they didn;t know until they got in there.

>

>

>

> He winked at Pip at they walked in.

>

>

>

> They won, not only to keep the VB programme but as they were

getting 38

> weeks funding from LEA and 12 weeks funded by the Social Services

Dept (to

> the value of respite she would otherwsie have had) - educational

funding by

> SS is illegal so they LEA was ordered to pay the full 50 weeks.

What a

> result.

>

>

>

> However, he has now completed his programme any which way you look

at it and

> test him, the school provision is S-H-I-T. Mainstream WOULD wortk

with the

> appropriate and willing school but there isn;t one, the poor lad

screams and

> crys when visiting the only specioal placement on offer (its MLD)

and I

> spoke to her yesterday and she is pullign him out to home ed

without funding

> because there is no placement for him.

>

>

>

> She has 5 kids, between 9years and 12 months. Two on higher rate

> DLA..................... HYPERLINK

> " http://cdn-cf.aol.com/se/smi/0201d20638/09 "

>

>

>

> Complete madness, however, there are a couple of options in Dorset

for Jess

> if the grandparenst are willing to pay, will write later

>

>

>

> Mandi x

>

>

>

>

> --

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18/07/2006

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>

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> Checked by AVG Free Edition.

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18/07/2006

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sara

Just answered this on relpy to your SLT query - then saw that you

live in Plymouth!! Will be down your neck of the woods next w/e -

my parents live down there and eldest son going down for a week with

the Gramps.

Send me an email offline if I can give you more info re Tribunal etc.

Gail

> > >

> > > Dear Jess,

> > >

> > > There will be other people to answer your questions more fully

> > than I can

> > > (if noone else answers I'll have a go) but I just wanted to

say

> > that my LEA

> > > in the South West is called Plymouth and is the pits!!!

> > >

> > > (I think Bath, Cornwall and Somerset are probably the better

> ones

> > but I

> > > could well be wrong)

> > >

> > > Sara

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > [Autism-Biomedical---Europe] Moving to the UK -

schools??

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Hi everyone

> > >

> > > We're deciding to make the mad move back to the UK from NYC

(for

> > family!)

> > > and I'm trying

> > > to get a

> > > handle on the school systems and how to get the best out them.

> > We're not

> > > sure where to

> > > live

> > > but want to stay in the West country either near the Welsh

> borders

> > or

> > > further south down

> > > to Devon,

> > > Dorset, Avon etc etc.

> > >

> > > So here's my 'help' school qu.'s

> > >

> > > I understand that I have to get a LEA to statement Flynn

> > > which can take 10-12 weeks.

> > > 1. How soon do you get services after statementing?

> > >

> > > I have the nightmare scenario that I won't have an address in

> the

> > area we'll

> > > live in until

> > > July/Aug next yr so i'm sure we can't get services by Sept

next

> yr-

> > yikes

> > > unless the local

> > > LEA will let us start statementing whilst we're in the US eg

> > flying in for a

> > > week for testing.

> > >

> > > 2. Are there any LEA's that are better, than others in terms

of

> > amount of

> > > services support

> > > they offer, easyness of getting support?

> > >

> > > 3. Will I need a lawyer to get a decent amount of

> > services/support? If so

> > > any

> > > recommendations?

> > >

> > > 4. Has anyone put their child into a private school (hoping

those

> > > grandparents might chip

> > > in !!) with a small class size so its not so stimulating -

> > thinking of

> > > Montessori/Steiner etc

> > >

> > > 5. Does the LEA allows sen's into private school classrooms -

> how

> > common is

> > > this ?

> > >

> > > 6. My understanding is that sens and statementing are for

> > educational

> > > development -what

> > > services/support is there for social/ emotional development

and

> > v.mild

> > > behaviours (we're

> > > down to 2 tantrums a week -leaving books but he can now be

> > reasoned out of

> > > them) and

> > > how do I apply for these ?

> > >

> > > 7. Left of field - is anyone doing RDI therapy, introducing it

> > into schools

> > > etc -just

> > > thinkings as I'm starting it with Flynn.

> > >

> > > I should add that I have been really spoilt for services in

NYC -

> > 35 hrs of

> > > Sp ed 1:1 for 3

> > > years. Flynn needs to be around NT kids as he flourishes

around

> > them and is

> > > very social

> > > but I don't know how he will manage without any support.

> > >

> > > Apologises for the 100 qu's I know my own US system really

well

> so

> > feel I'm

> > > starting cold

> > > turkey again but with a kiddie who'll be 6 3/4's when we come

> back.

> > >

> > > Ta loads for any thoughts

> > >

> > > Jess

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > --

> > > No virus found in this incoming message.

> > > Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> > > Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.1/390 - Release

Date:

> > 17/07/2006

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > --

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> > > Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> > > Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.1/390 - Release

Date:

> > 17/07/2006

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > --

> > No virus found in this incoming message.

> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> > Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.1/391 - Release Date:

> 18/07/2006

> >

> >

> >

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> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> > Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.1/391 - Release Date:

> 18/07/2006

> >

>

>

>

>

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> No virus found in this incoming message.

> Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.1/391 - Release Date:

18/07/2006

>

>

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> Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.1/391 - Release Date:

18/07/2006

>

[Guest guest]

Jess,

this is a good suggestion of what to do as there was a discussion on

this very thing not long, of which i was part, join and check the

archives. Be warned though the lady decided not to come back to the

UK cos of the advice given!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nikki

>

>

> Jess,

> I would recommend that you post your questions to ABA-UK

group.

> Perhaps others there can give you some further information on

borroughs that fund

> ABA.

>