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Evidence from school for child's DLA
- Teri
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7 years 10 months ago #190192 by Teri
Evidence from school for child's DLA was created by Teri
Hi
I would like to approach my Asperger son's secondary SENCO for a letter to support a claim for his DLA appeal. DWP haven't written to them yet. I did get a letter from the doctor.
Can you advise me what things I should ask to be put in the letter. He doesn't have an iep (requested but school said it was for kids who were behind in work) or one to one ( maths one to one support discussed but son refused as its mainstream and he would get bullied, already been bullied over other things).
Can you help?
I would like to approach my Asperger son's secondary SENCO for a letter to support a claim for his DLA appeal. DWP haven't written to them yet. I did get a letter from the doctor.
Can you advise me what things I should ask to be put in the letter. He doesn't have an iep (requested but school said it was for kids who were behind in work) or one to one ( maths one to one support discussed but son refused as its mainstream and he would get bullied, already been bullied over other things).
Can you help?
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- Gordon
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7 years 10 months ago #190215 by Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gordon on topic Evidence from school for child's DLA
Terri
DLA awards for children are based on two connect requirements; that the child has care and/or mobility needs in regard to their bodily functions and that those needs are in excess of those for a healthy child of the same age.
So I would phase your letter to encourage the SENCO to comment on these requirements.
One thing you can try is to ask them to comment on particular areas as covered by the DLA claim form, for example; eating, washing dressing, etc.
Whilst you can set the areas you are asking them to comment on, you should be careful of providing too much information about your son's problems, you want their opinion, not a re-hash of what you have told them, as the latter is unlikely to carry much weight.
Gordon
DLA awards for children are based on two connect requirements; that the child has care and/or mobility needs in regard to their bodily functions and that those needs are in excess of those for a healthy child of the same age.
So I would phase your letter to encourage the SENCO to comment on these requirements.
One thing you can try is to ask them to comment on particular areas as covered by the DLA claim form, for example; eating, washing dressing, etc.
Whilst you can set the areas you are asking them to comment on, you should be careful of providing too much information about your son's problems, you want their opinion, not a re-hash of what you have told them, as the latter is unlikely to carry much weight.
Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- Donna2512
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7 years 10 months ago #190237 by Donna2512
Replied by Donna2512 on topic Evidence from school for child's DLA
Hello Teri
DWP will send a form to the school as it is virtually unheard of that they don't and that's where your problems will lie as the form is a tick box one that basically questions what support your child needs in school that is over and above that given to their peers.
Because the SENCo will be unable to tick the box detailing that he has an EHCP/ statement of SEN or an IEP then it is likely that the DWP will consider him to have no additional needs as he has no extra support in school.
For this reason I would ask the SENCo to fill in the part on the form that asks you to give details of someone who knows the child and their needs. Doing that will stop the need for the tick box form and will allow the SENCo to detail any difficulties such as challenging behaviour/ need for warning and preparation for change/ need for small group work/ social skills support etc.
My dc had statements so it was easier that way but asking SENCo or HT to fill in the form seemed to speed up the process anyway.
Good Luck
DWP will send a form to the school as it is virtually unheard of that they don't and that's where your problems will lie as the form is a tick box one that basically questions what support your child needs in school that is over and above that given to their peers.
Because the SENCo will be unable to tick the box detailing that he has an EHCP/ statement of SEN or an IEP then it is likely that the DWP will consider him to have no additional needs as he has no extra support in school.
For this reason I would ask the SENCo to fill in the part on the form that asks you to give details of someone who knows the child and their needs. Doing that will stop the need for the tick box form and will allow the SENCo to detail any difficulties such as challenging behaviour/ need for warning and preparation for change/ need for small group work/ social skills support etc.
My dc had statements so it was easier that way but asking SENCo or HT to fill in the form seemed to speed up the process anyway.
Good Luck
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- Donna2512
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7 years 10 months ago #190247 by Donna2512
Replied by Donna2512 on topic Evidence from school for child's DLA
Should also add that the form asks questions such as" does the receive support with dressing in changing for PE?" If the school ticks that he dresses independently in school then they will disregard any needs you might have detailed he needs at home with dressing.
Likewise it will ask about toileting so if he doesn't receive support in school with managing toilet needs then they will disregard any needs that you might have detailed at home and similar for eating and getting around.
I always found it really unfair because I know that many children aren't as fortunate as mine to have a statement and one to one support and don't receive support in school even if they need it.
You perhaps need to ask the SENCo to detail what support would be useful rather than what he receives because if support was freely available I suspect the answers would be different. Trouble is they may be wary to do so for fear you would push to get the school to provide useful support.
Likewise it will ask about toileting so if he doesn't receive support in school with managing toilet needs then they will disregard any needs that you might have detailed at home and similar for eating and getting around.
I always found it really unfair because I know that many children aren't as fortunate as mine to have a statement and one to one support and don't receive support in school even if they need it.
You perhaps need to ask the SENCo to detail what support would be useful rather than what he receives because if support was freely available I suspect the answers would be different. Trouble is they may be wary to do so for fear you would push to get the school to provide useful support.
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