No parents on school grounds for Years 4 and above

[MakeItEasier]

DD is 8, about to start Year 4 and been told today no parents in the ground sunless the child has an EHCP for years 4 and above – if there is a child in a younger year then a parent can grab the older child.

DD doesn’t have an EHCP as we’re awaiting it. I’ve spoken to the HT about the rule but she says until the EHCP is granted she can’t make an exception. I only have DD. No other DCs and I don’t have any family with DC at the school either.

My DD is suspected dyslexic and dyspraxic/DCD, she also has severe hypermobility. She falls over thin air, and is very unbalanced. She still holds my hand walking to and from school. She also has processing and memory issues, she’s prone to forgetting things 2 seconds after she’s told it, and school hand all letters directly to me as DD has a habit of putting them down and forgetting where they are.

Years 2 and 3 are left on the playground but go to their classrooms round the corner alone, so she is used to leaving me and going in herself.

I’m more worried about pickup, I won’t be able to wait right outside the gates as the path is really thin and it already creates a bottle neck as there’s a Nursery opposite and parents wait for their preschoolers on that part as well.

I’m going to have to wait at the end of the road the schools, there’s a little park there, and it’s about 200m from the gate. We then live a half mile further away (0.7m total from school gates).

So any tips on preparing DD for this?

If you don’t think it’s safe for her ask school for a copy of the risk assessment

But there isn't room at the school gates, that's the point. We drop off at the gates but the SMT are there making sure the kids go through and down. At pick up the same SMT call the parents in on year group to go and get them because otherwise you've got potentially 90 parents coming out with kids and 90 parents loitering nearby to grab their kid.

Also @MakeItEasier the few days before school starts I'd call and see if yo u can get the SENCO and see where the EHCP is at

This sounds all sorts of wrong. They have an obligation to meet need as best they can whether the child has an EHCP or not. If she has needs that mean she can't manage then they need to let you in.

It's not like it'll cost them money to let you in. Either she is safe coming out by herself or she isn't, EHCP or no. If anything an EHCP should bring more support by school staff, so the adaptation of you coming in would be MORE needed by a child who has additional needs but no EHCP yet.

@SleepingStandingUp I can see where the EHCP is at as it's all online.

We finished yesterday for the year. Been told the 20 weeks is only term time so it's likely to be Christmas before we get the EHCP.

In your position I would ignore it and just walk in to collect her as normal. It's unlikely they'd challenge you, they just bank on people doing as they're told.

If you are challenged then request a meeting with the Head and the senco.

Well it's obviously rubbish the HT saying she can't make an exception. Of course she can. Or she could say 'EHCP or those undergoing an EHCNA' are the exceptions.
I'd quietly ignore if you don't feel she's safe.

It seems insane to me that they would just send an 8 year old out at the end of the day without releasing them to a known adult. Especially an 8 year old with disabilities that make them vulnerable. They're just going to let them all go out of the gates alone?

I really can't wrap my head around this. It would never happen at either of DC's schools and if they tried it, then I'm confident there would be a lot of parents requesting meetings with the head, speaking to the LA etc. Have they risk assessed this? I would have thought they would need a risk assessment.

It's got nothing to do with having or not having an EHCP. It's a reasonable accommodation. She is entitled to reasonable accommodations regardless of where in the EHCP process she is.
I'd lodge a formal complaint if you want to collect her yourself and they won't allow it which is ridiculous.
My school made exceptions to a whole range of things ahead of being granted an EHCP - they don't need a piece of paper issued by the council to do this and unless you get an EP to specifically write in needs around collection it's unlikely your EHCP will necessarily specify it anyway. I've had 2 EP reports and neither mentioned collection arrangements but that hasn't been an issue as I have a flexible supportive school.

I really don't think the school is doing the best for your dd. You have a reason to be worried. I think school should make exception. But if they don't, there's nothing stopping you to get on to the school ground. You may get some people say things, but who cares, the most important thing that matter is your dd's safety. It's not like you are breaking a law.

I don't understand why a school would allow children to leave without a parent. If they don't have a teacher/staff on the gate, how do they know a child has been collected (or worse- taken by someone who shouldnt)?

Usually schools don't allow home walking til y6/later in Y5 and this is essentially what they are doing "bye, off you go" with no accountability for them being safely collected.

Good point above - who would actually stop you entering the yard?

There is usually a teacher on the gate as the kids leave, thought I'd mentioned this in my OP. There's been the odd day with no-one there though because they've had to deal with something. But usually the HT or DHT are on the gate at the start and end of the day.

I'd still chance it. If foundation - year 3 finish at the same time that's a lot of parents coming in at once, even if only one class per year. Are they really going to analyse each face? Half the time they'll be talking to another parent. I really don't think you'd be challenged.

But usually the HT or DHT are on the gate at the start and end of the day

Surely they won't let dd leave then if you aren't actually there.

I get your concern (as I have a DS with issues that school sometimes didn't make sufficient allowance for) but I think there's been a couple of good solutions offered so I'd suggest you do as the school asks, with an agreed meeting place and her walking out with friends but also asking the parents of the younger children to keep an eye on her. If it goes well then you're one step towards greater independence. If it doesn't go well (eg she falls over and hurts herself, she panics because she can't find you) then you have ammunition to force the school to make reasonable adjustments. What I don't think you should do is make her think she won't be able to manage it as that will be self-fulfilling. Hope it works out.

I doubt they’re going to be holding all the children in waiting for parents that is why it’s only years 4 and above

"Been told the 20 weeks is only term time so it's likely to be Christmas before we get the EHCP."

No it's just 20 calendar weeks although there's a bit of a loophole for the long summer holiday. It's a bit like buying a house, you need to keep an eye on dates and keep reminding them of the legal timeframes, or it'll slip. Squeaky wheels and all that.

Put deadlines in your diary, use templates from the IPSEA website to complain if they miss them. Get to grips with the process yourself and don't wait for school to chase them. It makes a big difference.

But usually the HT or DHT are on the gate at the start and end of the day.

Do they question every parent, do they know who's who while mass of parents walking passed? I doubt it. So I would just do what your instinct tell you, and ignore the guidance.
But I agree with other pp, that if you think she can, maybe it's a good thing to try out, while maybe asking other parents to keep an eye, to see if she can manage.

Of course the HT can make reasonable adjustments for a disabled pupil who doesn’t have an EHCP.

We finished yesterday for the year. Been told the 20 weeks is only term time so it's likely to be Christmas before we get the EHCP.

This isn’t correct. There are limited exceptions to the 20 weeks (If the LA request advice during the EHCNA from school when it is closed for more than 4 weeks or in the week before that closure and it delays the process. Or if you or DD have exceptional personal circumstances or are absent from the LA for a continuous period of at least 4 weeks.) but it isn’t a blanket exception and only applies if the LA can show it would be impractical to stick to the timescales. And they still have to complete as soon as practicable.

Not entirely relevant to the OP but just to correct some misinformation- it’s perfectly possible for schools to let children in year 3 and above out by themselves, it depends on the school. My DD’s junior school lets parents into the playground and afaik all the year 3 parents do this, but there’s no school intervention as to when they start walking out by themselves. My year 4 DD comes out of school and along the road to meet me, no issues.

As @seramu says, it’s reminiscent of the other thread!

Depends how big the school is and if it's free for all for other parents or called in by year.
Oh Head is on the gate calling one year at a time, she def knows which parent is for what year and has admonished my friend before for going down early (you're meant to wait for later time if you have kids in different years but friend goes down the earlier time) so def possible

Ask them in writing for it to be a reasonable adjustment for her disability (hypermobility: long term condition affecting everyday life) if they refuse ask them why it is unreasonable.

Ask for her to be escorted to the gate by a member of staff if not. Complain if she falls that they are not accomodating her disability.

I have a dd whose legs occasionally stop working and she just collapses.

Frankly, if your preparations over summer don't work out, I'd just ignore the stupid rule and go in.

If the HT challenges you at the gate just keep walking, and call out something vague over your shoulder about a meeting with the teacher or something.

I’m a HT. They have to take into account your request in a reasonable way. You should follow the complaints policy. Set out in writing your concerns to the HT immediately and ask for a response. Then follow the policy. Unfortunately as schools are about to break up you may not get resolution straight away. Seek support of your local parent send information team or those who have helped with the EHCP - Ed psych? It doesn’t seem reasonable to me to exclude your child because the EHCP isn’t granted yet. You have to make reasonable adjustments and allowing your child to have the same status as those with an EHCP seems reasonable to me.

Why can you not stand at the gate at home time? Then your DD will see you as soon as she gets to the gate.