Please could you proof read this for me?

[nothinginthefridge]

Dear SENCO

DS2(12) returned home from school today extremely tearful. After an hour of coaxing, he told me that the child I reported to you earlier this week for threatening to beat up DS, has done just that to DS and his friend. This happened in a lesson, and was carried out with the help of another child. The teacher was not present.

On questioning DS, it appears that the majority of the class were in the next room watching a DVD. As there was not enough room for the whole class it appears DS, his friend (also from the resource unit, both SEN) and 2 other children were left in the classroom next door. The 2 other children are known bullies (one confirmed by the Resource Unit Manager by telephone to me just yesterday). In fact I understand bully no1, has only just returned from 4 days spent in Room For Improvement (think cooler Great Escape/Waterloo Road). I understand the reason for him being in the RFI room is in relation to his fighting with other pupils.

Can I ask why the teacher felt it appropriate to leave 2 SEN children alone in the classroom with 2 known bullies, one who was reported to you only this week as threatening to beat up my DS? I do not care to know how long they were left alone, as it was clearly long enough for DS to come home covered in bruises.

I expect my DS to be safe at school, especially during lesson time.

I am most disappointed in the situation. I shall expect a phone call on the first day back in school, whereupon receiving a satisfactory explanation, I will allow DS to return to school.

Yours.......

What do you think? Am I being too over the top? I'm really angry tbh. Ed Pysch is coming on Monday. I think he is gong to try and persuade us to send DS back to local school, which is really unsettling us all as we don't know what to do.

[SallyBear]

Use more angry language.
"What was the teacher thinking that it was appropriate to leave two vulnerable children at the mercy of two known aggressively behaved boys. Did this teacher not learn about safeguarding children when they received their training. Is this not part of your procedures?

I am extremely disappointed etc"

Something like that?

[SallyBear]

Nothing Secondary schools are big scary places though. That's so awful. Your poor boy. We've had a similar issue.

[MaryZcary]

I think you are being very restrained.

What Sally said.

Leave out the last line - instead of saying "I will allow ds to return" ask for a meeting on the first day of term so you can discuss how they are going to guarantee his safety should he return.

[StarlightMcKenzie]

I'm all for keeping emotive language out of letters but tbh, this probably calls for an element of it.

You must be livid.

[Veritate]

Take some photos of the bruises.

[ProcrastinatingPanda]

I agree with mary, also with others saying to use more emotive language. How did it affect DS when he came home, if he was upset/anxious/angry then add that too so they understand the full extent it affected DS.

[StarlightMcKenzie]

and yes to mentioning 'selfguarding' and also 'risk assessment'.

Perhaps ask to see the risk assessement they carried out when making the arrangements that led to your ds being harmed.

[MaryZcary]

I would also want to know why he wasn't watching the dvd.

Either it was educational, in which case the whole class should have been there, or it was a "fun reward" in which case why was he not included?

[ProcrastinatingPanda]

Yes I was a bit that 4 children were excluded from watching the DVD because there wasn't enough room. I'd definitely be wanting more information about that.

[bialystockandbloom]

I agree with the others, think you have been very restrained. Your poor ds.

I'd throw in a few phrases about dereliction of duty to ensure the safety and wellbeing of a student known to be particularly vulnerable to attack from this specific other student.

Also agree with MaryZ about saying he won't return unless adequate measures are in place to ensure his safety.

I hope your ds is ok.

[bialystockandbloom]

Yes that too!

[starfish71]

I really hope your DS is ok and recovering. Secondary school can be awful, as it was for DS1, I honestly hope your school is better and deals with this well. Your letter reads well.

Hope you and your DS sleep and rest well over half term x

[nothinginthefridge]

Thanks everyone. It's difficult to get full details out of DS has he has SLI and so we get things in dribs and drabs, pieced together with info from the other SEN DC's mum and what he has said.

Turns out it wasn't a DVD as he first said, but all the class needed their own computer to research which was the best tablet/Ipad thing.

Still, makes you wonder why the 2 SEN children plus the 2 bullies were the 'chosen ones' to be in a different classroom, all a bit suspicious if you ask me (i.e. put the less able and trouble makers together so the rest in the class can get on??).

The other mum is e-mailing school tonight as SENCO picks up his e-mails at home. I think I will wait until I've calmed down.

Took DS to Dr's just so that the bruises were seen by someone else and recorded (wouldn't have bothered if school were back next week, but it's half term here). He has also said take pictures which I will do tomorrow when the light is better. Will show the Ed Psych his bruises on Monday.

You are all so right RE: safeguarding & risk assessments, dereliction of duty and will use those quote's in my e-mail, thank you all so much. Plus I will also say 'should he return'.

Trouble is my next move. Do I keep DS in a school where the teachers/TA's on the whole (IT excluded!!) are very aware of SLI and it's impact (he has one lovely 'SLI trained' TA/key worker only that covers most of the lessons... virtually unheard of in Secondary around here). DS also gets his speech therapy 2x per week. However, we've had lots of incidents of DS being bullied, punched, kicked etc. Already had to keep him off school for 2 days in yr7 until they could prove he was safe.

Or do I return him to local high achieving 'outstanding in all areas' OFSTED school where pupils are very, very well behaved, bullying is definitely not tolerated, but the teacher's don't understand (actually felt they were the bullies tbh), and where he would have 5 or 6 different TA's???

HELP!!

[MaryZcary]

No. Stay where they understand him.

But make sure you have it on paper that he is never out of sight of a teacher. If you can - I know it is harder in secondary, but really there should be a teacher in every classroom at all times.

[mariammma]

"Inadequate supervision, apparently ineffective behaviour modification strategies, and a lack of risk assessment is a very dangerous combination. On this occasion the violence appears to have been entirely predictable and yet you have failed both bullies and victims by failing to prevent a serious assault"

[mariammma]

Has the other school has kicked out all their unwanted complex dc into current school?