Concerns about school, is this ‘off rolling’

[Secsch]

DD is at a ‘good’ secondary school and was diagnosed with SEN this school year as she has processing difficulties. Since then the school have been very punitive towards her. She has repeatedly been sent to isolation for not doing enough work and she gets targeted by the SMT for uniform checks, masks, equipment and having her coat searched. She ended up being excluded for forgetting an item which wasn’t even in the uniform policy. We’ve since found out the school have put other pupils on the SEN register and are punishing them in the same way, and forcing them to wear a different school uniform to their peers to make them more visible. This is resulting in them being alienated by the others and it’s affecting their self esteem. I couldn’t understand why the school was acting like this then a read an article about off rolling. Although it’s illegal it’s becoming more common practise with schools not wanting pupils on their register who won’t give them the top grades that make their schools look good. The pupils who are being off rolled don’t face very positive futures though. I’m actually really shocked that they can do this and get away with it, it’s destroying young peoples lives! Has anyone else experienced this?

This doesn't make sense. The uniform isn't different, but you feel your dd is being told off for incorrect uniform more zealously? I seriously doubt all non SEN girls are getting away with short skirts and only the SEN ones are picked up on it. Are you getting your information from a reliable source?

@IcedOatLatte Other parents in the school have approached me about what is going on, if your DD is in trousers it stands out and it’s fair to say it’s been imposed on them for a reason. My DD isn’t silly either, she knows who’s doing well academically

Can you get your DD a skirt that is the correct length so she doesn't have to wear trousers?

[quote Secsch]@IcedOatLatte Other parents in the school have approached me about what is going on, if your DD is in trousers it stands out and it’s fair to say it’s been imposed on them for a reason. My DD isn’t silly either, she knows who’s doing well academically[/quote]
What is the school trying to do?
They can't get rid of them.
What happened when your daughter was excluded, what was on the information?

@Maybepossibly22

Off-rolling is when a student hasn’t attended and is removed from the school roll without any other provision to attend or without following the right avenues to permanently exclude.

In your case, if you do remove your DD due to feeling pressured then it could be looked upon by the DFE as off rolling but it isn’t while she’s still at the school.

Could you speak to the LA for advice OP? Hope things get resolved soon for you and DD

That isnt what off rolling is

It is where a school deliberately removes students or by its actions encourages them to leave.

have you considered home education
what about a part-time timetable
the school down the road is really small and great with children with SEND- shall I arrange a visit?
have you thought about moving to a school with more girls

@SleepingFrog

Steps I would take:

1. Download and read through the SEN code of practice legal document that educational establishments must abide by as part of the law.

1. Request a meeting with the SENDCo to voice your concerns. Have it minuted by an impartial person. Have a SENDIASS representative attend with you.

1. If problems are not resolved, request a meeting with the headteacher and repeat the above. At the same time, complain to the local authority SEN team.

1. If still not resolved, follow the formal complaints procedure for the school and await their response.

1. If still not happy, make a complaint to Ofsted.

I would suggest that what they are doing are breaching the SEN code of practice (law) and also safeguarding laws too.

As this but also cc board of governors in.

The reason I’ve posted on here is because it doesn’t make total sense to me. DD did okay at primary school passed her SATs. She started secondary school and was doing well then lockdown started so she worked from home. This school year has been hard on her and we’ve been contacted constantly by the school about various issues. It started off with she’d forgotten a mask, or equipment to she was distracting others by asking for help. They put her on report and they kept sending her to isolation for talking (asking others) and started to fall further behind. She started to get upset about constantly getting sent to isolation and would ask to stay in class but they said she was being defiant and would give her extra days in isolation because of it. She was excluded because due to covid they needed to wear year group identifiers and she’d forgotten hers. All of her behaviours have been low level, she’s struggling and anxious. Then DDs friends started to tell me of their experiences and other parents started contacting me as well asking what was happening. Many had had similar experiences. The uniform issue isn’t a major concern for me but it is for some if the other pupils. I trying to understand why the school are taking this approach, not only with her but with pupils in similar positions. There has been some good advice on here which I will look into.

What year is she in?
What category additional needs does she have?.

A lot of children with SEN have high ability and are in top sets, they’ll still be on the SEN register. Are they having to wear trousers too? If part of your childs SEN is poor memory/ organisational skills I’d personally put in a disability discrimination complaint. Have they taken any positive steps to help or just punishment?

I might be wrong but I understood off-rolling to be getting rid of children with SEN or behavioural problems by making their school lives unbearable, in other words exclusion by the back door. If things were done officially then it would lead to a managed move or a PRU/special school place but I don't think schools like to admit they can't cope - maybe they lose funding or something.
I've never heard of different uniforms for SEN children before, I can see how it could work eg no ties/softer fabrics for autism/sensory difficulties, but agree it would make those children stand out more. An idea I had was if the children are in the base all day anyway, why can't they wear their PE kit instead? I guess it depends how severe the difficulties/how integrated they are at the time. It would be more inclusive to have a more relaxed uniform for the whole school, then nobody stands out.

This isn’t off rolling but it’s terrible, If it is true I wouldn’t stand for it; kick up a huge fuss, contact ofsted, these kids needs advocates

DS is dyslexic and his problems stemmed mainly from teachers not understanding his difficulties. They targeted the very weaknesses and put him on report - time keeping, forgetting things etc, needs to be more focused - all on his assessment.

I complained to get teachers training and understanding.

Maybe that’s the issue?

Maireas, Y9, moderate learning difficulties and from your previous comment not following instructions if I remember correctly!

Threetulips, that sounds very similar snd she does have mild dyslexia so do a few of her friends who are in a similar position

It doesn't sound like the school have done anything other than apply a very inflexible behaviour policy.

She talked when she wasn't supposed to- they sanctioned her.
She didn't want to go where she was asked- they sanctioned her.
She didn't have the right equipment- they sanctioned her.
She wasn't wearing her skirt correctly- they sanctioned her.

The government's latest guidance about how to 'tackle behaviour' is ALL about sanctions. It might not work for your DD and could well be making her miserable, but I'm not sure you'll have a leg to stand on with the school as they are just 'following guidance'.

The only argument you might have is if it is discriminating against a disability your DD has. Does she have a diagnosis, or an EP report that states weak organisational skills etc?

I have noticed that students getting more attention from staff - do get caught more when they flout school rules. Other students talk in class but are more discrete and don't get caught. The child that talks at normal volume and fails to keep an eye on where the staff are and what they are doing won't get away with talking in class.

I don't think it's always a case of students being specifically targeted and discriminated against.

This is very clear disability discrimination. Is it an Academy? They're the ones that seem to go in for this sort of conduct most.

I would suggest that you ask for copies of all your daughter's school records including in particular every occasion when she has been disciplined and why - you are entitled to them under the Data Protection Act. Also suggest to other parents of children with SEN that they do the same.

Ask also for an analysis of how many girls have been required to wear trousers, and how many of those have SEN or disabilities.

Whether you get those records or not, write now to the Head pointing out that your child is effectively being punished for being disabled and that they have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for her disability, including for instance giving her work which she is able to finish rather than punishing her when she can't; and helping to set up appropriate reminders to ensure she has the right books, equipment etc. If they say they can't do that, for instance due to lack of staff, ask whether they will support you in applying for an EHC Plan so that the right support can be put in place, if necessary with extra funding.

@2reefsin30knots

It doesn't sound like the school have done anything other than apply a very inflexible behaviour policy.

She talked when she wasn't supposed to- they sanctioned her.
She didn't want to go where she was asked- they sanctioned her.
She didn't have the right equipment- they sanctioned her.
She wasn't wearing her skirt correctly- they sanctioned her.

The government's latest guidance about how to 'tackle behaviour' is ALL about sanctions. It might not work for your DD and could well be making her miserable, but I'm not sure you'll have a leg to stand on with the school as they are just 'following guidance'.

The only argument you might have is if it is discriminating against a disability your DD has. Does she have a diagnosis, or an EP report that states weak organisational skills etc?

Applying a very inflexible behaviour policy that does not make reasonable adjustments for SEND is wrong - very wrong indeed.

What government guidance are you talking about? The consultation on amending it has only just closed, so no recent guidance is out at the moment. As unsatisfactory as the proposals are, they do acknowledge the reasonable adjustments duty.

OP has said that her daughter has been diagnosed with SEN.

@Maireas

Also, you can't get rid of students now, believe me, permanently moving students is very complicated and difficult. It would be virtually impossible with such a group as you say are being targeted.

Not true, unfortunately. There were over 5000 permanent exclusions last year (which, for obvious reasons, wasn't a typical year) and almost 8000 the year before.

However, it is true to say that some schools do try to get round the complications of permanent exclusion by basically trying to freeze inconvenient children out, occasionally using tactics like those that OP describes.

You don't get put into isolation for talking,or excluded for forgetting an item. Especially at a state school where exclusions statistics are monitored. There's also no way schools can force students to wear trousers either, unless perhaps it was advised if they were so very tall the skirts were that short,but that would surely be one in a few hundred.
As all things in life, pick your battles.if you think the school are not making reasonable adjustments for example with the talking then focus on that.

Well, @Fulmine, I'm only going on my experience as a member of a secondary school SLT, and how complex and difficult it is. I'm not saying that young people aren't excluded, but it's certainly (and rightly) harder than it was. An expensive solution for us is to pay for some off site education for the very disruptive students.

I think you've been given some good advice on here OP, as the situation definitely isn't right.
They're certainly not supporting her MLD needs, at the very least.

As unsatisfactory as the proposals are, they do acknowledge the reasonable adjustments duty.

Yes, the consultation is what I was referring to- apologies, I forgot it was only in consultation phase. However, I would say it only just, barely, acknowledged the reasonable adjustment duty. The main suggestion for pupils struggling to follow behaviour policy seemed to be accessing a tier of AP, not the school itself doing anything to help them.

One thing I would perhaps focus on is having a very detailed passport, statement of needs,or whatever your school calls it. whereby the school have it written down what your dd's needs and struggles are and most importantly what staff should do to minimise the likelihood of these resulting in difficulty learning.for example,sit alone at the front away from window, allowed a pencil case of spare equipment to be stored with form room, give a days grace with homework if forgotten,that kind of thing. Then you have something to challenge the school with if your dd is given a sanction.
Also,I'm sure you are, but also be willing to recognise when your dd has done something worthy of a sanction not linked to sen, for example heard swearing in corridor or whatever.

My sons school rules were basic and simple to cover all bases yet I knew he would have difficulty in following

Arrive on time - nope dyslexics have little concept of time and often distracted
Follow instructions - well if there’s five instructions at once he’s forgotten the first few as they don’t have much working memory
Do not distract others - has to do this to find out what to do - he’s forgotten or zoned out
Focus in class - yeah right!

I would compare the school rules to there diagnosis and see how that looks