What to expect from school when asking to release child's records?

[Rizzlekicks]

Despite my ds having been statemented for the past 4 years, all I got given when i requested his records were 4 months of a few pages of behaviour records. Should I have had access to academic records, phone/ letter correspondence between school and LEA, etc? What am I entitled to and how can I get it?

[jandymaccomesback]

Different records are probably kept by different people. The SEN records are probably kept by the SENCo. I asked for DS1s records and got a (very large) file of behaviour records including witness statements, copies of letters home etc.

[streakybacon]

I got bugger all. All records, including his workbooks mysteriously 'disappeared' .

[claw4]

You need to ask for a copy of your child's school record and state that this should include everything including his SEN file or any other information which might be held separately from his general file, including emails, meetings, phone calls etc and then state you would like copies of everything relating to your child.

[devientenigma]

I got what they wanted me to see, including a hand written report about how much of a dominatrix I am lol.............hubby and I now go into meetings and he will say to me....is it ok if I sit here? can I speak now? They just don't get our joke lol, the SW does and tells us off jokingly haha

Good luck.

[claw4]

Yep as Devient says, you often get what they want you to see, but you can also get some stuff they dont want you to see.

I discovered quite a few things, that were left in there, that i shouldnt have!

But i suppose the whole point is if you have asked for everything, they cant them produce something to suit them. You can then also point out anything that should be there, thats not.

[Rizzlekicks]

Do they have an obligation to show you everything and if so, how is it best to word my request?

[claw4]

Yes they are required by Law.

Address it Chair of the Governing Body, c/o the school
Dear Chair of the Governing Body,

Re: childs name and dob

I am writing to ask for a copy of my childs school record, this should include his SEN file and any other file or information held separately from his general file, emails, meetings, phone calls etc. In short I would like copies of everything relating to my child.

I understand I am entitled to this copy within 15 days under the Pupil Information Regulations and that you may charge up to a maximum of £50 for photo copying, which I am happy to pay.

Thank you for your attention to this.

Yours faithfully

[bochead]

Thanks for that model letter claw4 - I'm never sure how to go about these things!

Are you entitled to the records from previous schools etc too? Ds has been to 3 primaries & a behavior unit. I want to move next year and want a copy of ALL his records to take with me. For example the behavioral unit was fantastic (run by a mother of an asd kid!) and I've always been REALLY irritated that I've never managed to lay hands on any paperwork from there in particular.

The rest woud just be useful to have.

4 years of my son's medical notes went missing from the GP, and have never been found. This came to light at a really critical time last year. I've circumvented that issue now, but it's left me thinking - you never know when summat could be useful.

I'd just feel much better if I could have a copy of EVERYTHING in my possession when we move to a new LEA.

[claw4]

Yes you are, just include name, dob and dates of when attended, if you can.

Also all medical records. All info held by SALT, EP, ASD advisory, the LA, NHS everyone. Subject access request, i think its called.

[bochead]

Ds's last school refused point blank to comply - nothing you can do in that situation. Likewise I've taken the 4 years missing GP's notes to the top & got nowhere.

If they want to they can hide behind CP legisalation to deny access (that wasn't done to me, but I've seen it happen to others!).

Sometimes it comes down to how many fronts you are prepared to fight on. At the time my sole focus was geared towards Tribunal.

I now advise everyone to retain every email & scrap of paper they possibly can and never have a verbal conversation with anyone without following up with a confirmation email at least. I was saved by being a compulsive squirrel so had kept letters etc from years back.

Some records can be obtained from alternate parties so write to any hospitals, outside experts such as SALT etc with the same request (how I filled in the missing 4 years).

If you have a homeschool book, that's worth anything, photocopy it once a fortnight, as they go missing when nearly full.

[claw4]

I have never had that happen, but i dont doubt for one minute that some schools etc would. They are required by law to do it, but as you say, its just how far you are prepared to go and how many battles you want to fight, for how long and what else you have going on at the same time.

I have encountered how much schools and even some other professionals etc are prepared to lie, provide false documents etc, proof came about from receiving a copy of ds's file. So well worth applying for, but doesnt surprise me in the least, that some might just refuse point blank.

Couldnt agree more about saving everything and following everything up in writing and hitting everyone with a request at the same time.

Ive lost count of the number of times conversation didnt take place or ds wasnt sent home for school for that reason or that incident didnt happen.

Ds's home/school book 'disappeared' once i started asking some awkward questions. I typed everything out of there on a daily basis as a back-up.

Now school just dont reply to anything i write in ds's home/school book, but at least i have a record.

[streakybacon]

In my case I made an access request using a similar letter to claw's, asking for everything that was held on file about ds. The HT claimed it was against the Data Protection Act to give me anything other than his attendance record and personal details, and that no other documents were held. This was a lie of course, but by that time they'd claimed that I'd been sent everything I was entitled to have (that would be five pieces of work that had been wall-mounted) and it wouldn't have made any difference how hard I fought for it, the stuff didn't exist any more because it had been destroyed. I'm quite convinced that was the case.

Schools will break laws if necessary to protect themselves. It happens a lot, I reckon.

[kaitlin27]

Hi i need to get a copy of my sons record.can anyone tell me if in this record there is minutes from meeting,witness statements from people if your child has been in trouble and can you get it from the day they started the school ,because all i have received is afew behavior comments and his attendance from the last month.

[Ineedmorepatience]

You need to start a new thread asking your question kaitlin