Advice on what to do if your child's school is not meeting their needs.

[User6363283727374]

Posted here to hopefully get more responses as posted on SN boards before and didn't get much response.

ds 11 in year 7 at his new secondary school is diagnosed with autism, undiagnosed adhd, anxiety, is displaying traits of ocd and learning delays. He is working well below the curriculum for year 7.

despite this he was pretty well supported at his primary, in fact we couldn't fault them really so on paper it looks like he coped well - with support.

he has an EHCP and has done since he was 4. The LA does not seem to have a case worker for our area anymore so can't even contact them.

because he coped well at mainstream primary we put him into one of the local mainstream secondary's, I always knew it was going to be a risk but it seemed unlikely we'd get him into a sen school at this point if his new school. He does enjoy the social aspects, most of his friends from primary are there and he likes the teachers.

but and this is a massive but, the senco is shocking. When I first listed said school into his EHCP, they had a different senco who seemed amazing. They have since had a new one which changed everything.

there are no TA's in the school. He's getting no support in lessons despite working well below even the bottom sets, teacher is teaching and supporting DS, he's getting no movement or learning breaks which are strongly recommended for DS. All the things the TA said she could put in place when I contacted them in 2021 are not in place.

the teachers don't seem to be understanding his needs and getting frustrated with him when he cannot do the work set. We are getting no homework done.

he's well behaved at school, he masks all day and lets it all out when he gets home!

theu have some good well being staff which drop in to see him - amongst others but it's not enough.

I think he needs to be in a sen school but have been told it'll be hard due to lack of places. His new secondary have admitted he's their highest need pupil and even the senco made it seem like they couldn't cope!

I could try and move him to another mainstream but they might not be any better!

any advice?

The LA does not seem to have a case worker for our area anymore so can't even contact them.

You can contact the Director of Children’s Services at the LA.

You need to ask the LA for an early review of the EHCP as it isn’t meeting his needs and sounds vague and woolly. IPSEA have a model letter you can use.


there are no TA's in the school. He's getting no support in lessons despite working well below even the bottom sets, teacher is teaching and supporting DS

Is TA support and other provision detailed, specified and quantified in section F? If so, it can be enforced. Unfortunately if it is vague and woolly, as I suspect, it isn’t worth the paper it is written on.

he's getting no movement or learning breaks which are strongly recommended for DS.

Strongly recommended doesn’t mean they must be provided, sadly.

All the things the TA said she could put in place when I contacted them in 2021 are not in place.

theu have some good well being staff which drop in to see him - amongst others but it's not enough.


Again, is the provision in F?

What does section F of his ehcp state? You really need to have it watertight that he must have a 1:1 in all lessons. We chose to move from a mainstream primary to a specialist secondary as although my dc was okay in mainstream the secondary weren’t interested in complying with the ehcp even though legally they had to. We’re lucky dc is in a small specialist school for children who find the mainstream environment too much.

Have a look at what schools you think might suit your son and call an early review.

Yes to section F.

They must comply with that.

It can't say "recommends".

It must be quantified and specific.

Have a look at sendcop and speak to ipsea or sossen for advice.

If they are following EHCP and it's not meeting needs ask for early review.

If they aren't following it then say you are giving them a week to tell you how they will discharge their duty and then you'll do a judicial review.