DS1 is still unable to attend school. The head is now saying that unless I provide him with 'official confirmation', as evidence, that absence is due to anxiety/stress, it will be counted as unauthorised. This is said to be necessary for the records as they will be inspected by ofsted and the DfE.
From the email it is clear that this is not evidence being demanded by the EWO or the LA EOTAS team. I know, from past experience, that they do not accept a GP letter or certificate as evidence for 'medical' status but require a consultant's or hospital doctor's letter. The evidence provided when DS1 failed secondary transfer makes it clear that he does not suffer from generalised overwhelming anxiety/stress at all times but that this is secondary to ASD and school related.
The academic circumstances are almost identical - last time it was transition to KS3 combined with a realisation that he had not made adequate progress to keep alongside his classmates and would have a f/t 1:1 or be in an access class at m/s, and this time it is transition to GCSE combined with an even worse (for him) realisation that despite boarding (which he hates) and attending a specialist school he has still not made adequate progress and now faces being streamed off into functional skills whilst his classmates study the GCSE curriculum (plus a new head and a new head of boarding).
I feel partly responsible because I took my eye off the ball whilst my Mum was ill and dying and for some months afterward During this time the school announced that they had done their own SALT and OT assessments (not a repeat of the ones done pre-tribunal and for which there is statement provision) and decided that DS1 did not need SALT or OT. In fact, he never received it. First, he 'settled in' and then they carried out assessment. Several months later (in-between AR - and whilst Mum was in hospital and I was battling with NHS to get Continuing Care) I received reports from OT and SALT saying that direct support was not indicated. At that time (spring 2014) the school were reporting academic progress. Since that time progress has either plateaued or regressed.
I have had a long and frank discussion with the SENCO but the school response (following discussion with the head and all staff) was just to train up a Gappy to act as a mentor, as if this would be sufficient to persuade DS1 to return.
I'm just so pissed off and disappointed with the school that I can't think logically about what I am supposed to be doing to cover my arse with the school and (when they find out about it) the LA. I am also massively distracted by the appeal of the final statement for DS2. Margo S visited last Friday and I had a meeting with the school and LA on Monday. DS2 has two school visits booked and DS1 has one visit booked (in case I can never get him back or decide that it is not the right place for him to go back to) and an indi SALT reassessment booked. It is all too much
Given the circumstances, I don't think the head is merely box-ticking and would be happy to accept a GP letter.
Any advice, please...