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Original poster

Looking for info on flexi schooling

42 replies

SuperSue77 · 11/11/2023 12:38

Just wondered if anyone had got their child’s secondary school to agree to this at secondary and if it worked? My year 7 ASD/ADHD son is finding it tough but doesn’t want to be out of school either - just wondered if this might be a better solution to maintain his MH and stamina for school. No EHCP and haven’t got the energy to fight for one since our request to assess was refused. He’s really bright, just struggles with how overwhelming a 1000+ secondary school is.

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WantToChangeUsername · 05/12/2023 23:34

@SuperSue77 that's brilliant news! Smile

Alltheyearround · 05/12/2023 21:49

Fantastic. You went in well prepared, and have done a great job as advocates - well done!

I always say if you don't ask, you don't get.

Sometimes it can take a hell of a lot of asking, but in this case it seems you have cracked it! Wonderful news for your son. And maybe, just maybe, this is how things change in the longer term for many more families like yours.

Phineyj · 05/12/2023 21:05

That's really positive news, well done!

Original poster
SuperSue77 · 05/12/2023 20:33

@Alltheyearround hello, thought I’d update you! School have received the request and my husband and I met with the Assistant Head last Friday. They are really supportive! Even suggested an extra half day on a Friday that we hadn’t asked for! We’re hoping to get it agreed for start back in January. They’d not heard of flexi-schooling before but took everything we had to say on board and are keen to make it work for our son’s benefit. I think they too see the issues, as fortunately he doesn’t mask too much at school, so they can see where he is struggling.
The article you shared was so helpful. @WantToChangeUsername thank you for suggesting the Facebook group - I am
now a member and that has been really helpful too.

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Alltheyearround · 13/11/2023 12:24

Good luck @SuperSue77. Fingers crossed for you and your son.

Well done for being such a good advocate for him.

Perhaps not many people tell you this, as most of the people you deal with see you as a 'problem'. It takes courage to keep going in spite of this, so well done.
I'm sure you'll look back on this in years to come and feel satisfied that you did everything you could to protect his MH and wellbeing - which is something so precious and sadly often slips through the gaps within the school system.

Let us know how you go on.

WantToChangeUsername · 13/11/2023 11:46

@SuperSue77 there is a Facebook group dedicated to flexischooling (has list of schools that allow flexi schooling as well as information on criteria etc), it's called flexischooling families uk, might be worth a look.

Original poster
SuperSue77 · 12/11/2023 23:22

@Alltheyearround I have written a covering letter to my son’s Head and just working on the proposal for a suggested one day a week from home. The review you shared has been invaluable, and I’ve found some other resources too and joined a Facebook group for it too! If the Head agrees this will give my son some much needed respite without the 2 yr wait for an EHCP which is likely to be less than adequate anyway (based on all the appeals I see parents making due to their child’s EHCP not providing the support they actually need).

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Alltheyearround · 12/11/2023 12:39

It has been a really good discussion, have learned quite a few things, always useful! Thanks everyone and especially @SuperSue77 for starting the thread.

As a SEN parent I would have gone mad a long time ago were it not for FB groups and MN sharing their expertise at navigating the systems and getting the best possible for DS. He's in a placement that suits his needs and is broadly happy (even though he can't wait to leave school, but I'd say that's a fairly normal yearning to be 'free' and not SEND related).

I just wouldn't have got here without the help and advice found within the SEN parent/teacher community. Never under estimate how much you help one another.

@SuperSue77I hope you get to where you want your son to be.

Its hard work but worth it. @Phineyj I hear you about piles of paperwork. We need a new cupboard for ours, its taking over the living room.

NASEN are great and have free CPD online for parents/educators/teachers.

I'm going to look at doing one of these myself.

https://nasen.org.uk/events

Events listing | Nasen

https://nasen.org.uk/events

distinctpossibility · 11/11/2023 18:45

Apologies , hope I didn't confuse the issue by mentioning PT timetables. I meant as a temporary / stopgap while other options are explores. I do think as others say that reapplying for EHCP needs to be a priority as flexi can be (shouldn't be, but is) a tough sell to headteachers at the best of times. I'm really glad I found this thread as.loads of interesting info here.

Phineyj · 11/11/2023 18:29

That NASEN report's really interesting!

I'll see if I can get my Head to read it.

Passepartoute · 11/11/2023 18:11

Send another request for assessment. An awful lot of local authorities say no automatically precisely to weed out people who won't fight it further - but of those who appeal against the refusal, 95% win or have the appeal conceded by the LA. It requires very little energy: all you have to prove is that your child has or may have SEN, and that he may need support via an EHCP.

BlueBrick · 11/11/2023 17:54

It is important not to confuse flexi-schooling and part time school/part time provision otherwise than at school made by the LA; they aren’t the same thing.

Phineyj · 11/11/2023 17:51

The SEN threads can be a bit tumbleweed-y.

Original poster
SuperSue77 · 11/11/2023 17:49

Alltheyearround · 11/11/2023 14:43

https://nasen.org.uk/news/can-flexi-schooling-children-send-support-educational-outcomes

Try and look at it from the head teacher's point of view.

You'll have to persuade her/him to be on board as they have the final say (LA may also be involved).

This report is so comforting! It’s as though someone has met my son and understood him and written about how his needs could be best met while remaining in mainstream. I’ve not got time to read it in full yet - only read the intro so far, but it looks anazing!

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Original poster
SuperSue77 · 11/11/2023 17:42

As an after thought I thought I probably should have posted this in an SEN thread rather than Secondary, but actually I’ve had some really helpful advice so far, so thanks everyone for commenting.

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Phineyj · 11/11/2023 16:24

EHCP support thread - www.mumsnet.com/talk/special_educational_needs/4834986-ehcp-support-thread

I hear what you're saying about time and energy!

I've had to step down from a charity board position that was easily compatible with my PT teaching job because I just couldn't do it along with the giant pile'o SEN paperwork.

I have also completely changed my mind on what school is for.

As a classroom teacher, you are absolutely doing the right thing providing the laptop, messaging individual teachers etc. SENCOs are absolutely overwhelmed everywhere (although they could be trying a bit harder with a year 7, but anyway).

I always appreciate it when parents get involved like that.

Have you got the book "Smart But Scattered"? I found it quite useful.

LeoLeo2 · 11/11/2023 16:15

One of my children has been flexi-schooled throughout secondary, with the 2 days a week out of school classed as Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS). The Local Authority therefore have a duty to provide other appropriate educational activities during those days - we have a mix of sport and more academic tutoring, but it can be anything deemed useful for the child.

You will need an EHCP first though, because this flexible provision is unusual even with one securely in place for many years.

Original poster
SuperSue77 · 11/11/2023 15:31

Alltheyearround · 11/11/2023 14:37

There are flexi schools near us but only primary, it is perfectly legal and not to do with p-time timetables.

Secondary you're going to struggle I think.

Bums on seat = money for the school at the end of the day.

Plus they may be concerned about whether he will be able to sit exams in Y11.

Worth a conversation but I wouldn't hold up your hopes too high OP.

I would have liked to do this with OP but he has an EHCP and the flexi school we applied to (and primary) said no - too complex with EHCP funding apparently.

Could you home ed? Is that an option? And try what pp have suggested as reasonable adjustments for his SEN?

Full time EHE is not going to work logistically for us and we want our DS to interact with others and make friends and the other benefits that come from attending school.

It’s funny, I have always been such a strong supporter of schools as places of education. My eldest has never missed a day of school (barring Covid) and my other daughter rarely misses days (she has asthma so had a few days off sick, but still attendance in the high 90%s.
But with DS I have a completely different mindset, he’s totally challenged my view of it all. I’d never have thought I’d be the parent to give him a “mental health” day. I’m rather traumatised by watching my sister’s eldest deteriorate in front of their eyes. They’re in college now but only 3 days a week and can’t manage all of those. EHCP only awarded after multiple trips to A&E and self-harming. I don’t want my son to go through that.

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Original poster
SuperSue77 · 11/11/2023 15:08

Alltheyearround · 11/11/2023 14:43

https://nasen.org.uk/news/can-flexi-schooling-children-send-support-educational-outcomes

Try and look at it from the head teacher's point of view.

You'll have to persuade her/him to be on board as they have the final say (LA may also be involved).

Thanks for sharing this - I’ll have a read. I’d already found the school run article on a Google search but this one looks really interesting.

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Original poster
SuperSue77 · 11/11/2023 15:01

Itfelloffwithaclunk · 11/11/2023 14:54

Please forgive me for asking, but why was the indie school more bothered about profit than a child's well being. Surely an indie school would want "bums on seats" (as a pp says) precisely to get a greater profit, so it might be easier to get into? I'm sure I'm missing something. Sorry.

Edited

We live in a very affluent area so the indies can pick and choose as there are enough people lining up to pay the fees. The one we tried a second time with has a reputation for being nurturing and supporting kids with SEN, but they seem to be trying to manage those kids out now and turning any new applicants down. It’s a real shame as the number in the whole school is the same as the number in DSs year at his current school! It’s also much closer to us and we could have walked it instead of having to get in the car. Also close to his sisters’ school.

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Itfelloffwithaclunk · 11/11/2023 14:54

Please forgive me for asking, but why was the indie school more bothered about profit than a child's well being. Surely an indie school would want "bums on seats" (as a pp says) precisely to get a greater profit, so it might be easier to get into? I'm sure I'm missing something. Sorry.

Alltheyearround · 11/11/2023 14:52

@BlueBrick ah that is interesting. Learn something new every day here!

Our DS can tolerate it and not in crisis but we would both have preferred p time, but possibly that's not a strong enough argument!

He attends a special provision within a mainstream so its more adapted to his SEN and not as hectic. I think he still finds it a challenging environment but only 2.5 years to go.

BlueBrick · 11/11/2023 14:45

Contact the SENCO again. Request an EHCNA even if the school is not supportive of that.

Alltheyearround with an EHCP, if full-time school is inappropriate you can get part time school and part time other provision written into the EHCP. It’s not flexi schooling and you don’t require the school’s permission. If the LA won’t amend the EHCP to include that you can appeal when you next have the right of appeal.

distinctpossibility as you say, part time timetables should be short term aimed at reintegration. Longer term, if DC cannot attend school full time the LA should be ensuring alternative arrangements are in place to ensure they receive a suitable full-time education under s19 of the Education Act 1996. (Where possible, in a small minority of circumstances full-time education (not the same thing as full-time school and the scope of what is considered educational provision is far wider than many realise and many LAs care to admit) in any form is not in the pupil’s best interests.) Is the LA doing that for DD? This should begin once it becomes clear 15 days will be missed.

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