This Is My Child - the new MNHQ campaign. Everyone come look please!

I don't know the families myself. I have a reliable source but I can't post the details atm as that will close down the options for the families, but they are taking action.

But the thing is, there is absolutely NO incentive for a school to work with parents of children with SEN, and huge incentives for them to find ways of ensuring that their school isn't either picked, or suitable.

Schools get money for children with SEN, but they have to then use this money before the LA top up anything over £10k.

If they managed to spend none of their SEN money on SEN, the LA doesn't get it back. The school gets to keep it. With the new rules I imagine it won't be long before HTs could award themselves a bonus for their 'financial efficiency', or simply attract families who will ensure their SATS results are going to be high without having to spend money on support for those children.

And SEN money needs to be both adequate and ringfenced.

I know of a primary school, that in the last 2 years has managed to 'get rid' of 6 pupils with SEN. Their SATS this year were 100% across the board, which justifies this decision to the HT and to the 'other' parents.

The bullying nature of this school has thankfully, raised some interest in a Local Councillor but I doubt it will go further than his 'interest'. Those 6 families won't get the support of the other parents, nor of the staff of the school, nor the LA.

TBH I can understand it.

No school in this competitive age wants to get a good reputation for SEN especially an outstanding school in an affluent area (which is where parents of children with a statement are likely to try first), as they get less FSM and other monies and are desperate to keep their SATS scores. If they are kind to one kid or engaging with the parents who knows where it will lead?

Trouble is, they ALL do it. So you are left without a school or at least without a school it would be impossible to work in partnership with as the terms of the relationship are defined at the show-around when they make it clear that they don't want you then, and whilst you are there will continue to find ways of encouraging you to leave.

Sorry, should have said local PRIMARIES!!

That's my experience too Jake. When moving and visiting many local primary, they fall over themselves to assure me that his needs won't be met there.

What they see when they see us is them being forced to spend their un-ringfenced SEN money on ONE child, instead of on a vegetable garden for ALL children and an attraction for affluent MC parents.

Schools can vary and imho some can talk the talk but be utterly crap. I have visited several secondary schools as my DS is about to enter Y6 and I need to choose a school for 2014. From my experience it appears that he role of the secondary SENCO with regard to prospective parents is to dissuade them from applying to their school. I have not been impressed.

My DS's crime apart from being autistic is to have mild learning difficulties...he wont be adding to their league table results and therefore they don't want him. I have no choice but to send him as socially he is ahead of children in the special schools I have visited. I do wonder about home education but because of DS's autism I feel he needs a school environment.

Slipper that sounds really awful. Do you mind me asking what he was expected to apologise for?

slippersock - that is terrible. I cannot believe they expected that Inclusive, my arse!

Great campaign but sadly it's not just the judginess of the general public that causes upset to the families of disabled children.
Apparently, according to school, I should apologise for my disabled son's actions upsetting the staff. This is apparently regarded as a 'very inclusive' school too! . If the schools that are teaching our children can think and act like this what hope is there?

This is great. I like the tone; I like the name. The section on how to help as a 'lay person' is good too. Well done... I think this fills a gap.

Been said already but well done for raising awareness!

Have been following closely - thought I ought to post in support, rather than just reading and nodding! What a validating campaign - well done us

Fantastic campaign.

I never assume to understand any other child's disability other than my dd's

I think this is so important to remember, and its back to everyone being an individual. 2 people may have the same diagnosis but that doesn't mean it will effect them in the same way. Especially with something like Autism which covers such a wide spectrum.

One thing which really annoys me is parents of asthmatics saying "well my child can do that/that doesn't trigger him" well good for you but your child isn't mine!

Well done done mn for a much-needed campaign. There are some lucky children out there with you lionesses for mums. But I know it's not easy. My gran had a very tough life and worried about my mum's sister every day of her life.

The photos are gorgeous. Thank you for posting them. You can see the grit and character shining out of their little faces - or in her whole demeanour in the case of the little girl hiding under her hat. Loved the captions, too.

I just wanted to say to alwayswaving (much earlier on in the thread) that you sound amazing and your daughter is very very lucky to have you as a mother. You did the only thing you could do to keep you both on the planet. Well done; I have so much respect for you.

I know Ripping, but even one person saying it is unacceptable.

lottie

i was on that thread about DLA and HRM, there were quite a few of us singing from the same hymn sheet as you

'Even with the campaign (and this thread) there is a sense of some disabilities count and some (asthma, diabetes) don't. It really shouldn't be like this.'

Yes, I totally agree. On another thread I read yesterday, someone attacked the mum of a child who wanted to apply for higher rate mobility for her child who has autism and was told 'Just be grateful your child can physically walk' and worse insulting comments. I tried to address it but got the distinct feeling my efforts were unsuccessful. And this was on the Special Needs board. If the current government are responsible for this kind of thing then the sooner they are out the better.

Thank you so much for this MNHQ- I have just read the Guardian piece and am rather annoyed to see some willfully ignorant comments underneath. Some people just don't want to understand.

And, sadly I must say that some of the worst attitudes that I have come up against come from other parents of children with SN who assume that no allowances should be made for my dd if she does anything different from their child with SN. I never assume to understand any other child's disability other than my dd's - she has severe autism.