Re: Tribunals/Evidence/Bringing Bad Practise to th...

[Guest guest]

Hi Alison

I think this is a great idea! I am a member of the AS-U-R support group here in Poole who are one of ten groups in the UK chosen for to be part of the TreeHouse Constructive campaigning project.

Anyways last meeting the Treehouse peeps came downn to give a presentation which was great. For some reason the chap from the NAS tribunal assistance team came too.

He gave us the impression that if you did things right then you will win at tribunal (! - bless him). Several of our members shared their stories and still he seemed to think it was OK.

I asked him if he really believed in the system and he looked shocked that I should question it. I told him about my buddy locally who lawyer told her he could tell a soon as they got there whether or not they woud win by who was on the panel - he winked at her when they went in. She came out not only with keeping her VB programme but an order that the LEa should fund it for 50 weeks per year.

Helen explained how the LEA lied through their teeth at her sons tribunal, that the whole proceeding was outside the law and how there was nothing she could do about it.

I said that base don the experience of fellow parents, I was not prepared to risk my families small amount of saving on a process that was meaningless or even dangerous. That I had decided to consider school as respite and take on the responsibility for my sons education myself. He seemed totally horrifed and said of the cases they assist with that 98% win. Helen said she thought that might be the type of cases they get..................

The NAS man was very nice and genuine but he really had not got a clue about the real world of tribunals.

I will get Helen to write up her story and send to you Alison, thanks for doing this

Mandi x

[Guest guest]

Hi Alison, Mandi is right on the money as regards to who is Chair, I was told as soon as I got to the venue that we had an anti-parent chair, and so it was, to the point I had no choice but to complain three quarters of the way through.

Few people can afford these amounts of money and to have your barrister tell you all that expense may be for nothing on the basis that someone has preconceived ideas is appalling, but I have to say I was only told 3 days before by counsel that this could be an issue, I was given a likely odds of 80% to win on first meeting which seemed to drop to 50% for no particular reason 3 days before tribunal.

I'm interested in this figure Mandi quotes from the NAS of 90% success for parents, I have heard very similar, but wondering if this success depends on what the parents are asking for, things like ABA funding may only be for a few yrs, an independent placement is for the childs entire school life and can be three times as much in monetary terms to the LEA, per year.

As with everything parents need to know all the facts before they commit themselves to anything especially legal proceedings where the odds are possibly stacked against them from the outset, I feel I have been very naive indeed, having said that I would probably do it all again if there were the slightest chance I could help my son, heads they win, tails we lose.

Vicky

[Guest guest]

Hi Alison, Mandi is right on the money as regards to who is Chair, I was told as soon as I got to the venue that we had an anti-parent chair, and so it was, to the point I had no choice but to complain three quarters of the way through.

Few people can afford these amounts of money and to have your barrister tell you all that expense may be for nothing on the basis that someone has preconceived ideas is appalling, but I have to say I was only told 3 days before by counsel that this could be an issue, I was given a likely odds of 80% to win on first meeting which seemed to drop to 50% for no particular reason 3 days before tribunal.

I'm interested in this figure Mandi quotes from the NAS of 90% success for parents, I have heard very similar, but wondering if this success depends on what the parents are asking for, things like ABA funding may only be for a few yrs, an independent placement is for the childs entire school life and can be three times as much in monetary terms to the LEA, per year.

As with everything parents need to know all the facts before they commit themselves to anything especially legal proceedings where the odds are possibly stacked against them from the outset, I feel I have been very naive indeed, having said that I would probably do it all again if there were the slightest chance I could help my son, heads they win, tails we lose.

Vicky