Obtaining absence figures

[2curious]

Does anyone know if you are able to obtain your child's absence figures through the LA? School had ds on part-time hours for almost a year with no work supplied. The end of year absence record showed that he had been recorded as being 'educated elsewhere'. When I queried this I was told that it was a 'genuine mistake' and an amended record was then sent. I would like to find out whether the official records were amended too.

[2anddone]

Yes you should be able to as it is data held about your child.

[2curious]

So a FOI request would be the way?

[tethersend]

Why was your DS on a part time timetable?

Did you agree to it?

It could be seen as an illegal exclusion.

[2curious]

Tethers - it was due to his behaviour apparently (SEN) and it went on a lot longer than it should have. LA were fully aware but totally supported the school in whatever they did and claim that they are 'as inclusive as you can get' apparently .
When he eventually went full time at our insistence they said that they couldn't meet his needs and permanently excluded.

[narmada]

This sounds a bit fishy to me.

I think you need to make a subject access request - here

If you haven't already done so you may wish to contact IPSEA for advice on SN, or SOS-SEN.

[tethersend]

That's disgraceful.

I'm not a lawyer, but you could have challenged the part time timetable as an illegal exclusion- without knowing any of the details, this could also be grounds to challenge the permanent exclusion, should you wish to.

I would get legal advice if you are planning to appeal the permanent exclusion.

Does your son have a school place now?

[2curious]

Will pm you tethers if that's o.k.

[tethersend]

No problem.

[narmada]

Yes, by a bit fishy I also meant diagraceful and on shaky legal ground potentially.

I think if you called up one of the support orgs they may tell you that 'education otherwise' is something some LAs/ schools are keen to 'encourage' SEN kids/parents into to get them partly off the books

[narmada]

It may also be worth bearing in mind that LAs and schools have recently recieved new DfE guidance which discourages flexi-schooling because there are, it says, inadequate funding mechanisms to support it and no clear legal basis for doing it..... perhaps that is another reason for school/LA to try and deny you have had a flexischooling arrangement

[2curious]

The LA said it was the responsibility of the school to provide education for a statemented child but the school just ignored any pertinent questions that they didn't want to answer.

[2curious]

I queried the legal basis but was told that children can legally be on part time hours as part of a PSP if the school deems it appropriate.

[tethersend]

A part time timetable can only be used as part of a reintegration plan (perhaps as part of a PSP) with parental agreement.

[narmada]

It mihht be the day to day responsiblity of the school to deliver agreed support but IIRC it is down to LA to make sure statemented provision is delivered. They have the legal duty re statement being fulfilled. think you really would benefit from specialist advice.

Re Flexi, yes, I think to date it has been considered fine if head agrees with it, but current administration wants to change things.

[narmada]

see [ www.ipsea.org.uk/what-you-need-to-know/common-myths-about-sen-provision.aspx here]] regarding the common myth that it is up to the school to arrange SEN provision.

[2curious]

Would love some legal advice but cannot afford it. School and LA are so slippery though they make sure that they can get away with these things if challenged unfortunately.

[narmada]

oh, gah, here

[narmada]

IPSEA and SOS-SEN are free I think.