Re: Speaking of schools.........

[Guest guest]

---Wow Zoe,

What an amazing job!!! Well done!!

BW Nina x

In Autism-Biomedical-Europe , " Zoe "

wrote:

>

> .......of course it will take a while for us to develop a flexible

> thinking school here but at least the feasibility stage has started.

>

> In the meantime, we have been battling with our LEA for almost 3

> years now about a suitable school placement for Philip.

>

> Finally, after having been through 2 tribunals, loads of stress,

and

> most recently, the LEA complaints procedure, our LEA has recognised

> that 'there is nowhere in Oldham that will meet Philip's needs'

> and 'it is time to look at out of area placements'.

>

> The school that we originally wanted is back on the agenda......and

> put there by them!!

>

> I can only attribute this to our dogged persistence, to the fact

> that we have very calmly just used the procedures throughout, and

to

> the fact that I have been spearheading a local campaign for better

> education for children with autism - and this has been playing out

> quietly in the background.

>

> We (our local Consortium of 4 groups) are on the cusp (if we secure

> funding) of commissioning independent research locally that

> addresses the question:

>

> 'What are the barriers to providing or accessing appropriate

> education for children with autism and related developmental

> difficulties in Oldham, and how can any barriers be overcome?'

>

> I believe this, along with the formal complaint and our contact

with

> the Councillor responsible for Children's services, has focused

> their minds and worked to our advantage.

>

> What said in a recent message about local action certainly

> rings true for me - it is the only way that things are really going

> to change.

>

> Zoe

>