Are part time timetables at schools illegal?

[ParttimeOrNothing]

DD is 6, year 2.

She had covid a few weeks ago very badly.

She’s still very tired and getting over it. She also developed a chest infection and tonsillitis, she’s physically much smaller than the other children so her body is working really hard to fight this.

She has some SN and medical issues (Dyslexia, Dyspraxia/DCD, Hypermobility, Asthma and developmental issues with no known cause) so I am on a few SN groups on SM but also I attend some in person groups when they run. Two of them in particular are very vocal about part time timetables and insist that in all situations they are illegal. One group even insists that when schools use them it’s a way of starting the process of getting the child out of the school.

Due to the covid it was decided DD should do parttime at school. This was suggested by the GP in a letter and school have agreed.

They actually don’t agree with the GPs timetable, he wanted half days until half term and school have asked that we review it after a week and either slowly build back up to full time or send her back full time.

DD is well managed with her SN at school, she’s behind but very happy, has lots of friends and while she was off with covid (over 2 weeks) I had messages from her friends parents and also her teacher asking how she was and when she’d be back. The teacher wanted to try her in fulltime to start with but it was the Headteacher who said they can’t ignore medical advice – so I do think school are wary of using a part time table. School say she’s lovely and she’s progressing slowly but well.

We are hoping that after half term DD should return fulltime – or mostly fulltime, she might need to do a mixture of full and part time, but school seem flexible and have suggested that we see how she is with sitting out of PE.

But the groups I’m on are telling me I’m on a rocky road, and should be insisting on fulltime or finding a new school.

I absolutely do not want parttime to carry on indefinitely but DD literally is so tired by lunchtime its all she can manage, and some schooling is better than none at the moment. I wanted to keep her off longer but due to her SN the longer she’s off the harder it will be to get back into school and she’s getting too hard for me to manage on my own, so this way she’s not totally out of routine.

So are part time timetables illegal? I can’t find anything online about it only that if they’re part time it should be reviewed regularly and that its only a temporary solution in exceptional circumstances.

No they are not. Enforcing a part time timetable to reduce the amount of time a child with behaviour issues can be considered an illegal exclusion.

It’s fine when it’s mutually agreed and only a short term thing for the child’s beneift.

It’s when it’s used as a long term thing for ease for school that their is an issue

It’s only illegal if it’s not in a ECHP and a parent disagrees.

@MyDcAreMarvel

It’s only illegal if it’s not in a ECHP and a parent disagrees.

@MyDcAreMarvel No EHCP, in the process of getting one

No not illegal. I have one on a part-time build up timetable after Covid complications.

If the GP has recommended it then school would be negligent in not going through with it. Phased return from illness isn't uncommon for adults or children. Sounds like school are trying to support.

In my experience (ex teacher) part time was offered to children who needed it and it was generally very successful at building back up to full time hours.

@Fallagain

No they are not. Enforcing a part time timetable to reduce the amount of time a child with behaviour issues can be considered an illegal exclusion.

this.

part time due to medical needs as agreed by GP and parents, perfetcly fine.

Thank you everyone, I'm certain I'd know by now if DD had behaviour issues at school, I've been to many meetings about her SN including with people who assess and diagnose and they've all said she's polite, funny and chatty. So I am certain the school is wary in case they're seen as excluding her rather than because they want to iyswim.

You agree to the reduced timetable and there is a plan to increase her hours.
There are schools that use reduced timetables because they can’t manage a child’s needs but it doesn’t sound like it’s the situation.

No they aren't if you are happy. What isn't allowed is for part time timetables to be put in place without a parents agreement (often to manage a child with SN). If you are happy with the arrangement and it's working for your dd it's fine.

Generally, the majority of long term part time timetables that are not aimed at reintegration are unlawful whether or not parents agree, as all CSA pupils are entitled to a full time education. OFSTED and the LGO are quite hot on schools using unlawful part time timetables to their benefit and not the child’s.

However, temporary part time timetables to meet a child’s medical needs like the GP has suggested are ok. Don’t allow the school to push you to increase DD’s hours too soon, it could be counterproductive and mean she is off/part time for longer in the end. Children who can only manage part time at school longer term due to medical needs should be offered other provision when they aren’t at school, so if it continues longer term or DD can’t manage to attend at all for now the LA should organise alternative education.

Gov guidance here and IPSEA’s page here.

I don’t really understand your question, you gave the school a note from the GP recommending part time, you say you feel like it makes sense, the school seem to be open to moving to full time sooner rather than later… what is the problem?

The complication here is the GP letter
Go back to the GP

@LovelyLovelyWarmCoffee

I don’t really understand your question, you gave the school a note from the GP recommending part time, you say you feel like it makes sense, the school seem to be open to moving to full time sooner rather than later… what is the problem?

for many SEN children, the school pushes a part time timetable to manage their behaviour. That is illegal as it is preventing the child from accessing a full time education to which they are entitled.

It is also often a step by step process towards pushing the child out.

Schools do this illegally and push parents into it.
Hence the caution from the other mums on SEN fb pages.

In this case it is in the child'd best interest, and for medical reasons.

Surely it’s illegal when a school is doing it because they haven’t got steps in place to manage the dc needs. Your gp is saying medically she’s not well enough and needs a phased return. That’s not school refusing her education this is an example of a school working with a parent and gp to prioritise the needs of the dc.