Really need Some advice please - bullying, absence,appeal, de--register???

[Masonj377]

My daughter is 7 (y3) and has been bullied since she was in reception. I have really tried to work with the school but the short version is that they refuse to acknowledge the bullying. The school have denied that there is a problem to our GP and also to the LA when I submitted a request to move schools.

My daughter was disagnosed with anxiety when she was 5. My daughters anxiety has progressed and she is deteriorating. My GP has now referred her to cahms

In September my daughter simply did not want to return to school - she refused to sleep until 4.30 am the night before they were due to return. She completed 3 days. My daughter was getting more and more anxious about school to the point where it triggers an abdominal migraine and causes her to be very sick and in pain.
She has barely been at school since they returned in Sept and our GP has now referred her to a specialist for the migraines

All local schools are full and I have an appeal in place to be heard early next week and hopefully a decision by the end of that week.

My problem in the short term is my daughters attendance - she is almost at the level of being referred to ed welfare officer and Im not sure how to manage this until we get a decision regarding our appeal.

If we fail at appeal then I will withdraw her and home educate unless a place becomes at a nearby school.

Im reluctant to deregister in case it has a detrimental effect on the appeal - our GP is happy to provide letters to cover absences that we have already taken but isnt sure if he can sign a child off for yet another 10 days ??

I ve lost all faith in the school and dont really want to have a meeting with them as I feel it is pointless. I need a plan of action to get us through the next 10 days - I just dont know what to do for the best

[JenNtonic]

Hi :-)
This is hurrendous. First of all fuck the ed officer, it will all come to light and you'll be fine as you have the evidence. Practically, your little girl needs you now. I know it's flustering and you don't want any more trouble but seriously, tell them that's the least of your worries. This is too much pressure for you and you'll end up bloody signed off yourself. Get the 10 day letter as a back up get back to your little one xx

[grasspigeons]

I am not sure I understood the bit about an appeal. Do you mean you applied for a different school, didn't get into that school and are appealing on specific grounds?

If so, I don't think your daughter being home educated will have an impact on the appeal so I wouldn't worry about that aspect.

I don't know if you can call education welfare yourself and say you are de registering her and would like some out of school education provision - if your GP is supportive and would say the anxiety and migraines are stopping school

[Masonj377]

Thank you both xx - Sorry it was a bit garbled i do feel a bit stressed xx
The bullying has been ongong since 2015 - in july this year i submitted a request to move schools for sept 2017 - the school i requested a place at is full (which I knew) so I submited an appeal for a place at that school. This hearing is next week.

My daughter has missed 12 school days (all covered by letter from GP). I have 10 days to get through until I shuld have had a decision. Our LA advises schools to refer to welfare officer after 15 days of missed education which we have almost reached.

although my GP is supportive he will only back date absences. Once my daughter hits 15 days the welfare team are supposed to investigate and look at providing other education & then of course I would be on their radar for x amount of time.

If I fail the appeal I will def deregister and home school - i just dont know whether to sit it out and see what happens or to bite the bullet, de register her & see what happens with the appeal. Im just worried it will look bad at appeal if I am under welfare officer but also concerned that removing her from school would look bad and be detrimental xx

The recent letter from GP covering absence for last week confirms the anxiety / migraine are due to school issues and that my daughter has been referred to a specialist.

I just want to get the school off my back one way or the other - we dont have the best relationship xx

[JenNtonic]

Mason don't worry about the welfare team, they should be looking at your daughters welfare not the flipping schools welfare!

You've got all the evidence you need and you've got enough on your plate. They've seen and heard it all before and this is evidently a genuine case !

Keep doing what you're doing, because it's not detrimental it's quite the opposite and well done because you're smashing it !!

[Masonj377]

Thank you xx

[GreenTulips]

I agree, the welfare officer is just that, they suppprt your child's welfare. In this case you have a legitimate reason supported by medical evidence. Further you are being proactive in correcting the problem (moving schools)

I would welcome their input to be honest and may work in your favour.

[Masonj377]

thank you xx

[GrockleBocs]

I can't remember the reason or specific sites for advice but I do remember reading "Don't withdraw your child". I was slightly hysterical when I came across it in safeguarding issues but it was implied you might give the LA or the panel the idea that HE is a prospect.
Make sure you have things in writing. Let the EWO come and see dd. Ask for that to be documented.
I know appeals are for a school rather than against a school but it helps to establish the case for prejudice if you can show why disallowing the appeal will be bad.

[Masonj377]

Thank you xx