My special needs DS being repeatedly rejected for activity clubs

I agree with Sprinkles 211. This is surely against the Equality Act 2010. No child should be discriminated against due to having a disability. Send is classified as a disability.

It’s sounds like he’s in the wrong school and it’s impacting his opportunities else where.

That’s so rubbish of them, they haven’t bothered to try at all 😞 All about the money. I would definitely complain to the council.

These clubs never provide food? So don't disclose it. Even if they do provide food - much like at school its acceptable to still send your child with a packed lunch. You've probably put your own foot in it with this and over disclosed to the point the people running these clubs have run a mile. Also don't cut off your daughters nose to spite her face - she should still get to go.

I don't think the clubs are discriminating against him, in the sense of prejudicially preferring not to have him. It's brilliant that he's doing so well. But, from their perspective, if he has sufficient needs to be unable to attend a mainstream school (and, nowadays, many quite severely disabled children are forced to do that, which raises the perceived bar to entry to a specialist school) there's no way that less experienced staff in a more ad hoc and less well-resourced setting are going to be able to manage it. There would be reasonable concerns not only about his safety but other children's safety.

In other words, they're not being petty or selfish, and I don't think the fact that your son can't (at the moment, am sure will change if he returns to mainstream education) should prevent your daughter from going.

Hi I complained to the haf vouchers who connected me to a lady in our council who dealt with it. The voucher we got was for us to go to an animal park which was over an hour away I might add so had to pay petrol etc to go and when I looked it up was worth £30 when we were given vouchers in the summer holidays for 10 days of activity. I even had an email saying they agreed that it wasn't suitable and that they are *working on more inclusive activities but couldn't help me any further. I'd just like my little girl to have the same access as other children, and when it's shouted loud and clear from the higher ups that they are supporting these children for votes/praise from the community it makes me so cross it's all surface lies and we're left the outsiders again.

You are talking about his special school and her mainstream school as having the same voucher/clubs? Thats very unusual for the club offers to be identical in settings so different.

Your son’s special school are saying that he is so high functioning he should be transitioning into mainstream, but also saying he is too high need for their clubs? Who IS attending the clubs then?

I'm also shocked his in a specialist school if he can handle extra curriculum activities. My ds is in mainstream but couldn't handle a sen session football team, couldn't listen to do swimming lessons and is struggling at his martial arts I suspect there's more to it why they cant meet his needs Could it be a staffing issue? Not sure if it's in your local area but we have autism support groups that put events on in the holidays which are catered to meet our kids needs. We are off to the santa express Saturday.

I've been there OP. Do you need to use this for childcare or would you be able to stay with him? Just wondering as when we've had this situation with ds2 all clubs etc have said that they can't meet his needs but he can come if I stay with him. This doesn't work for my child because as soon as someone asks ds2 why his mum is staying, ds2 has a screaming meltdown so we just stick to special needs activities now where most of the parents stay so it doesn't matter. It is really hard though. Ds2 is in mainstream school with no ehcp or dla and very little support in school so I find it quite frustrating that no mainstream activity will take him.

Have you tried phoning any of these providers and telling them what you’ve told us? I’m unimpressed that they just gave you a flat no. Some activities might not be suitable but how can anyone risk assess without speaking to a parent?

Providers contracted by the council should do their very best to accept disabled or neurodiverse children. Experienced providers should welcome a chat with a parent about how best to ensure everyone has a positive experience and stays safe, what to do in the event of a problem.

There will be boundaries because funds and capacity are limited. If a child needs 1:1 support for example, you cannot expect the provider to offer this, but the child should be able to attend if they bring their own 1:1.

I have also had my DS excluded from an activity club but I complained. He also goes to a specialist school.

I agree and sympathise with almost everything OP but one thing does stand out - you don’t seem to have passed on any information about your DSs extra needs and how to accommodate them. And he almost certainly will need some kind of extra accomodation, even if it is to ‘let him’ do things like retreat from activities, does he understand instructions, what triggers him. To be in specialist school my DS does need extra accommodations and I pass these on to any activities ahead of time - and go in and chat with them personally as well.

This is as much for DSs wellbeing as anything.

Feel really sad for your daughter that you would stop her going

As he is not in a mainstream school setting at the moment, the club probably feel they won’t be able to offer appropriate specialist provision.

It also sounds quite stressful for a child who likes routine. All the different noisy activities and lots of unknown kids and adults.

My DC has no SEN and I was still nervous about sending him to an unfamiliar holiday club aged 5. It's a new routine, unfamiliar caregivers, a lot for a small kid to cope with and I only did it because I had to work and his regular afterschool club was closed. Unless you need the free food I'm not sure I'd send either kid at this stage. I know others won't agree, just offering another perspective.

On what basis and for what reason have they said he cannot attend?

Is it a blank refusal for all children who go to the special school, or is based on an assessment of him?

I didn't tell people had asd until further along (permission slip) but she wasn't at specialist school. If your ds has severe enough needs for specialist school I'm guessing private providers may not be able to meet his needs. Your local council will provide some activities but they tend to be for 8+ mine went to sn playscheme from a bit older (siblings could attend) but you had to be working to qualify

Honestly they're probably being told they have to be part of the scheme to be registered or insured or something. The clubs won't want to be part of the scheme, they know they don't have the ability to provide adequately.

They know, they just can't do shit about it. And like anything else (e.g. free hours childcare) you may have a voucher, but that voucher won't nearly cover the actual cost of the place.

If the vouchers are specifically for SEN children and their siblings, then there should be funding for them.

If they have been awarded for another reason, then all that your son is entitled to is a reasonable adjustment, and it's unusual for a child of 5 to be in a specialist setting without needing significant adjustments.

Surely your children would be interested in different activities, so saying your DD can't go to any at all, due to her brother, seems bonkers IMO! 😕

Surely you need to go back to whoever is providing the vouchers! If some children are SEN, then the vouchers need to reflect clubs/activities which are suitable for such children.

If the council are providing these vouchers, they need to make sure there is either specialist provision for disabled children or provide staff fir the 1-1 bits they need.

But.... its probably money.