Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to increase his hours

40 replies

Emeraldiisland · 16/10/2024 18:04

My DS has been attending mainstream primary for about 5 weeks. Due to his SEN (they provide him with 1:1 but still waiting for his EHCP) he has been going for 90 minutes.
He's done a lot better than anyone expected. No meltdowns, happy going in but no actual learning is taking place. He plays alongside 1:1.
I'm not massively concerned about that as he is only 4 but I'd like to increase his hours at school so he does a full morning and I'll pick him up before lunch.
Do you think the school will agree? Will they insist on waiting until his EHCP?

OP posts:
EndlessLight · 16/10/2024 18:59

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 16/10/2024 18:53

The reality is that when you have a child with SEN you do need to pre-coordinate things in collaboration with the school so the school has time to request and get the resources to support your child. 1:1 support can’t be magicked up with the snap of fingers. In addition, it takes input from both the parents and the 1:1 SEN TAs that have worked with the child to map out a progression that best meets the child’s needs.

Show quote history

I know exactly what the reality is. I have DC with SEN and I support parents of DC with SEN. It is important to know the actual law/rules rather than what LAs and some school would like parents to believe. Nothing excuses schools acting unlawfully, which is what they would be doing by refusing to have the child full-time unless formally suspended.

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 16/10/2024 18:53

EndlessLight · 16/10/2024 18:30

As while he’s still four there is less obligation on the schools

The admissions code makes it clear pupils can attend full time from the September and that is the parent’s decision whether they send DC full time, part time or not at all, not the school’s decision.

The reality is that when you have a child with SEN you do need to pre-coordinate things in collaboration with the school so the school has time to request and get the resources to support your child. 1:1 support can’t be magicked up with the snap of fingers. In addition, it takes input from both the parents and the 1:1 SEN TAs that have worked with the child to map out a progression that best meets the child’s needs.

ohsohopeful · 16/10/2024 18:31

www.rotherhamsendlocaloffer.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Part-time-timetable-guide-for-parents.pdf

I'm not sure which Local Authority you're under, but the info in this link applies to all and might be useful.

EndlessLight · 16/10/2024 18:30

As while he’s still four there is less obligation on the schools

The admissions code makes it clear pupils can attend full time from the September and that is the parent’s decision whether they send DC full time, part time or not at all, not the school’s decision.

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 16/10/2024 18:30

Emeraldiisland · 16/10/2024 18:28

I am going to try and get a meeting sorted with the head, apparently he's not been there this week, but I got his email today so I'll email him and ask about upping his hours and maybe see what they suggest.

Yeah, see what they suggest. It is the goal they should have and totally fair to ask to plan for it.

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 16/10/2024 18:28

It is really short, I agree. I am suggesting collaborating with the school on planning the increase in time and when, rather than dictating “2hrs before half term”. They are the ones with him and I think have valuable insight into how much more he can do and when. They also have experience with SEN kids and so will be able to apply lessons learned from doing similar with many kids that your child can benefit from.

Namenamchange · 16/10/2024 18:28

Have you signed a reduced hours form? What were the reasons stated for the reduced timetable?

When is he five? As while he’s still four there is less obligation on the schools and parents part.

How did he cope with nursery?

EndlessLight · 16/10/2024 18:28

You don’t need the school to agree. You can decide to send DS full time or part time until he is compulsory school age. You could also decide not to send him at all until he is either compulsory school age or the beginning of the summer term, whichever comes first.

What week of the EHCP process are you on?

Original poster
Emeraldiisland · 16/10/2024 18:28

I am going to try and get a meeting sorted with the head, apparently he's not been there this week, but I got his email today so I'll email him and ask about upping his hours and maybe see what they suggest.

OP posts:
ohsohopeful · 16/10/2024 18:27

PP is right, they can't refuse. Ultimately he is absolutely entitled to a full time place, and it is up to the school to work out how to provide the support he requires. It sounds like he is coping really well with the environment, is it likely that the school has capacity to provide 1:1 for more hours? If not I'd potentially be wary that putting him in regardless might place him at higher risk of exclusion, particularly if it's before his EHCP is through. I'd ask for a meeting with the head, his teacher/1:1 and the senco to discuss increasing his hours and decide from there. Good luck 😊

Original poster
Emeraldiisland · 16/10/2024 18:25

Yeah it is a big step but he used to 9 hours a day at nursery 4 days a week. I know school is different but 90 minutes is so short. When he saw me today he tried to walk back in to school!

OP posts:
BlueMum16 · 16/10/2024 18:23

I'd be asking to increase to two hours next week, before half term. After half term return with two hours and by end November increase to 2.5.

This isn't rushing things but allowing your DC to gradually do more.

Original poster
Emeraldiisland · 16/10/2024 18:21

I don't think they can refuse either but I expect there is some rule about it being unfair to the children /teachers because his 1:1 which changes every day is a TA. So I'm assuming that a class is left without a TA so she can do 1:1.
All of them say how well he does so thats not the problem it's just if they will agree to loosing a TA for the whole morning.

OP posts:
SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 16/10/2024 18:19

It’s too soon to change his day again imho. Going from 90mins to a half day is a big step that he likely could not cope with after only 5 weeks.

It is a valid goal and so I would talk to the school about how the goal is to get him up in hours for age 5, and ask them what kind of ramp up schedule they’d suggest to accomplish that.

LIZS · 16/10/2024 18:16

He is entitled to attend full time so I don't think they can actually refuse.

Swipe left for the next trending thread