[eal-bilingual] New Arrival EAL with AEN needs

The SEN code of practice allows parents to request a statutory
assessment from the LA. This applies to all children whether in school ,
in independent school or educated at home. Health services and social
services can also request an assessment.

Perhaps parents could be supported to make a request.

Hermione 

-----Original Message-----
From: eal-bilingual-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk
[mailto:eal-bilingual-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk] On Behalf Of CATHARINE
DRIVER
Sent: 15 October 2007 21:06
To: For practitioners involved in teaching pupils from ethnic and
linguisticminorities
Subject: Re: [eal-bilingual] New Arrival EAL with AEN needs

I have been in the middle of dealing with just such a case. You're
right, it's tricky and really the school has to be willing to put in
some of their own resources to make things happen.

  We took on a year 7 Turkish speaking new arrival in February. 
  I paid for a bilingual assistant part time for the first 6 weeks in
order to collect enough evidence for an Education Psychologist's
assessment. This was finally done [with interpreter] about 10 weeks
after the boy started school. The statement request goes to panel this
week [ 8 months now..] meanwhile we have tried to manage as best we can
to accomodate the boys's needs, using existing LSA and EAL support.
  The poor boy is not still not making much progress with learning
english and is socially isolated, and a mainstream school is probably
not the best setting for him. However, I still feel that he is better
off in this situation than sitting at home with his mother watching TV
all day, and getting no nearer to having his needs met.

  Catharine

  Murphyandjazz at aol.com wrote:
  Some advice/suggestions please.

Recently there have been a number of new arrival EAL pupils (new to UK,
not 
previously attended any UK school) who present with complex AEN.eg 
hearing/visual impairment, on ASD spectrum, Downs Syndrome etc. It is
difficult to 
find appropriate placements for these children in local schools due to 
bureaucracy of placing students in special schools when available - need
statement 
from UK professionals which cannot be put in place until schools can
prove that 
the resources/strategies they have used cannot meet the need of the
student 
and significant outside help is required. These professionals will
assess 
when the student is placed in a school for approx. 6 weeks, but schools
(already 
stretched with needy pupils) are generally reluctant to take a student
who 
obviously is not suited to mainstream placement. A vicious circle!!

Is this something colleagues have come up against in other areas? Have
you 
managed to come up with a solution which suits everyone without
disciminating 
against English students waiting for placements in special settings?

Any ideas/suggestions gratefully received.
Many Thanks
Una

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