W is happy in his kindie year at school. He is technically in Year 1 of primary school here (UK), but as I took the decision not to send him to a mainstream school (due to the overcrowding of the classrooms - our area have roughly 40 pupils per class - and the fact our Local Authority would not provide him with any assistance), he is still classed as a kindie student (along the lines of the US and Montessori way of schooling).
He is in a class of no more than 12 children, and has a lot of one to one teaching.
I have just begun the process of applying for a 'Statement' for W, although it is now called an 'EHCP' (Education Health and Care Plan). To actually get the required forms to apply for this was a challenge, with numerous answer phone messages being left with the SEN department of our LA, emails being sent (with the courteous automated acknowledgement replies from their inbox), and mis-information being offered by someone in their office, which confused and delayed the supplying of the forms to me by several weeks.
Our LA do not provide provision for VI children under 16. They may, at a push, offer a few hours a week of an SEN assistant to help out during school hours, but for the most, it is a kind of "get on with it yourself" attitude. Only a few miles away, but not in our catchment, is a specialist school for VI children, and also a unit attached to a mainstream school that is for VI children, that is equipped fully with all the useful tools to help with the teaching and education of a VI child.
There is a person who works 'for' VI children, via the LA, and advocates what assistance there is in schools, but he just has leaflets to give out, and spouts a lot of hot air, which doesn't do much. When asked about the schooling just outside the catchment, he closes down faster than an MP being asked about his expenses fiddle. He has a grand job title, is paid by local taxes, and doesn't actually 'do' much - quite common nowadays.
As W has oral motor delay as well as his VI, it should not be too much of a struggle to get a Statement (EHCP). It is then with this, I can push the LA into action, and either get them to allow him to attend one of the VI schools, or to pay for his education at his current provider, to which I am funding myself currently.
There is a fabulous primary school for SEN children (aged 4-11), which is where my eldest son, J, who has severe autism and learning difficulties attended, but this wouldn't be suitable for W, as although they provide excellent tools for communication, PECS, equipment, sensory, and outstanding staff, (yes I am biased as they are truly amazing!), W is not impaired cognitively or socially, and so it would not be appropriate schooling for him - plus the school is in such high demand, being the only SEN primary school for autism and learning difficulties in our LA. They have expanded once already, and are expanding again. Testament to A) the school being led by a wonderful Head Teacher, and B) how many more children are needing special education.
Yes I could just put up and shut up and just send him to a mainstream school, but he wouldn't receive tailored teaching to his needs, and he would fall behind (quite literally as he has balance and co-ordination limits due to his depth of perception ). If the schools were not so over crowded, under funded, and had more trained staff for SEN, then I would consider it, but I just can't push him into a cattle market conveyor belt of education.
I still have all the paperwork from J's (my eldest's) Statement application and process. It was a lot of work, and took time to achieve, but it was smooth and almost effortless, as there was not doubting he would get the Statement, due to his severe disabilities. It was also carried out in a different area, and the LA where we were then were a lot more practical and approachable.
This time around, almost 10 years on, and in this current LA, I think it will be a lot harder to obtain, and the obstacles placed by the SEN team of the LA, will no doubt test my limits of patience. I have had several dealings with them in the past, in relation to J, and it can be like wading through knee high mud, with someone throwing water balloons in your face. They make it hard for the parents/carers ( I have spoken to many, many parents like myself who have struggled with them too), which is terrible, considering we are already dealing with our children's special needs.
