[senco-forum] Access fund for computers

Dapne -- the specification -- "access to relevant ICT" is too vague and guarantees nothing -- it is an unlawful, unquantified, wording. It also delegates responsibilty to arrange provision to another agency -- which is unlawful. See Ian Coats letter to LAs written last November warning LAs (quoting primary law, the CoP and Case Law) that statements must make clear exactly what the child will be provided with. You can find it on IPSEAs website for downloading. Parents should not accept this kind of vague wording as it sidesteps the LAs legal duties -- and does not provide the protection a statemented child is entitled to. Parents can object to vague specification at proposed statement stage, and appeal a finalised statement that is not specific and quantified, within 2 months of issue. Parents can also appeal an amended statement within 2 months of amendment -- even if it was not concerning the disagreed wording (e.g., When Part 4 is amended at primary-secondary transfer -- parents can appeal on Parts 2 and 3 -- even if they agree with the Part 4 change of named school for the next September). BTW all phase transfer statements must be amended by 12 Feb of the year of transfer to name the forthcoming school. Good opportunity to tighten up unlawfuly written vague statements. Brendan 

-----Original Message-----
From: daphnedriver at yahoo.co.uk
To: senco-forum at lists.becta.org.uk
Sent: Thu, 30 Nov 2006 6.12PM
Subject: [senco-forum] Access fund for computers

Hi Everybody - I lead a team who support the inclusion (full time) of 
SLD/Complex needs pupils in their local mainstream school. Using the Access fund 
I've been able to buy computers to support my pupils - they need switches and 
specialist software not usually found on mainstream networks and need a 
dedicated computer to support their learning and in some cases their 
communication. I have now been told that this fund will no longer be used to 
provide computers but I can buy specialist software and switches with it. The 
reason I have been given is that schools have plenty of laptops!!! and my pupils 
should have one of those.Most of the pupils statements say access to relevant 
ICT. Can anybody help Thanks Daphne

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