Is it possible to contact head teacher during half term?

[elliejjtiny]

The local authority have refused to assess DS5 for an ehcp. Head teacher is not impressed and agreed to come to mediation meeting despite it being half term which we are very grateful for. I let the lady from global mediation know that he was coming 2 weeks ago and gave the school office email address as there wasn't one on the website for the head teacher. I explained that the only email address I had was the school office one but they can pass on stuff to the head teacher. Last week she asked for the head teacher's email again. I explained I only had the office one again. Now today she has said that she has emailed the head teacher via the school office but nobody is responding (understandably) because it's half term.

Meeting is on Thursday this week. I haven't got any ideas of how to contact the head teacher without resorting to things like contacting him via facebook which I am reluctant to do as it feels like crossing the line and something that would be too intrusive of me. I'm really nervous about this meeting going wrong though and don't want to jeapodise it because I was too polite. I've seen children be unsupported during secondary school. One attempted suicide, One caused a power cut at school and several others became school refusers. I don't want this to happen to DS5. He is really struggling and so is his teacher who is trying really hard and has the patience of a saint.

Any ideas on how to contact the head teacher? He already has the link for the meeting (it's virtual) so I'm wondering if what the lady from mediation wants to talk to him about and if she doesn't, will it really matter?

Are you Surrey?
Because they are known for being atrocious.

"Now today she has said that she has emailed the head teacher via the school office but nobody is responding (understandably) because it's half term. "

I mean come on, the woman sounds stupid. She probably only just sent the email. Ask her what time and date she sent it. Ask for a copy. The Head probably hasn't even seen the original email. And no one with an ounce of common sense asks a Head to attend an appointment at 1/2 term. You need to seriously wise up. This is all part of their delaying tactics. Push on to the next stage.

Ds5 has never seen an ed psych or an OT.

Has it been refused. Do you have the refusal in writing, an email from Senco. Is Senco supporting you.
You sound very naieve. Mn is very good at helping, so start a new thread. You need to wise up, realise that these people are not your friends, play the game and be ruthless, like a private investigator.

No not in Surrey. My older son didn't see the ed psych until he was being assessed for his ehcp, I thought that was normal. 2 of my older children saw OT as they had physical delays so the OT sorted out things like grab rails and ramps for school. None of my autistic children who don't have physical disabilities have seen an OT. What would an OT be able to do for my autistic child? His current teacher's partner is an OT so I assume that she would know if he needed one.

Senco has been very supportive as has the head teacher. Senco did a really good application for the ehcp, much better than I would have done. His current teacher has been really good with him but she is desperate for help now.

My county has essentially no OT or SaLT for for autism. If you want them included - even in an EHCNA - then you have to pay for assessments to be done privately and then appeal the EHCP to get their reports included. Even finding someone to do the assessment is a challenge. We had to go into the next county for a private SaLT assessment.

Our experience is that teachers do not feel it's their job to suggest diagnoses, interventions or therapies. The impetus had to come from us as parents. We started out thinking teachers would recommend what they thought was needed, but that did not turn out to be the case. There are so many kids in need, they are just fire fighting those who shout loudest.

Most headteachers will be monitoring their emails during half term. I would assume that if the office email is the only one anyone can use including for safeguarding concerns then someone (possibly the headteacher) will be monitoring it.

I occasionally contact schools for work and if I can't get the right address, I always use [email protected] or [email protected]

There is nothing to be lost from doing this.
It's not guaranteed, but either the HT or the school office might well be picking up emails during the holidays.

Don't start trying to guess random suggestions for his email address. If your school has everything go through the admin/enquiries route, there's a reason for that.

Trust the arrangement is in place (he wouldn't have agreed if he wanted it to be next week in term time) and if anything does go wrong, it can be rescheduled.

I'd be very grateful you're getting such flexibility and commitment, not start bothering him unnecessarily.

Completely forgot that the special needs gym that he goes to is run by an OT so technically he has seen one. He loves it there and is always calm after he has been.

Hi @elliejjtiny , hope the meeting goes well.

I recommend you join the EHCP support thread on the SEN board, there are lots of knowledgeable posters who know the relevant law inside out and they will be able to advise you on the next steps.

Here is the link - https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/special_educational_needs/5077140-ehcp-support-thread-no-3?page=1

Can you guess the headmasters email address from the SENCOs. For example if it’s je.bloggs@school.sch.uk then try just putting his name in

The local authority ehc planning team will have a contact for the head teacher. You can also try looking at emails from other people in the school and use the same initial and surname format with his name

My boys OT helps with fine motor and gross motor skills. No physical disability, but delays in these areas. They can also help with sensory issues and finding ways to get the input they need to be able to cope at school. I hope you get the EHCP and one that includes what he needs.

Hi I only mentioned OT just in case because you'd mentioned the need for a scribe and OTs can look at equipment etc that may help - it may be that your child actually doesn't need to see an OT.

And yes often children don't see the EP until during the actual assessment, but sometimes the school request it earlier but the problem is timescale etc.

Regarding having a decision maker at the meeting and what IPSEA say about it - not sure if not having one is illegal as such, but all of the guidance says it should be done, so it is an extra piece of info you can use should they say 'oh it needs to go back to panel'.

Unfortunately nowadays refusing an assessment is often the default reaction now from LAs because they want to delay things as much as possible.

My eleven year old son with cerebral palsy had an assessment refused when he was about five even though he couldn't even take a pen lid off at the time, they said he was 'too clever'. They used all sorts of tactics to basically bully me into submission.

We tried again at the start of year five, we had a meeting at the school with an LA representative who said 'you get so much support from the school now without an ehcp. I expect you will get an ehcp this time, but I would recommend less support than you are currently getting'. i.e she threatened me.

This time however I was more clued up and tougher and we finally got the completed EHCP a couple of months ago (he's now at the end of year six).

At my last school not all the admin staff were even paid during the holidays. At one point the school secretary had to sign on during the summer holidays. That was 20 or so years ago.

Speaking as a teacher (who has taught many SEN children) and an aunt of an SEN child, Surrey are SHIT at SEN provision. It makes me so angry. They are absolutely failing children.

Not sure if someone has suggested already but the school fb page/friends of page will likely be monitored by a member of staff so worth asking on there for their email adddress/if someone can get in cj tact with them… good luck op

Thank you everyone. Just updating to say that the meeting happened and the head teacher was there which was a big relief. The LA representative tried to say that DS5 was too intelligent for an ehcp but the head teacher told her that was rubbish. The case has gone back to panel which will meet on Friday next week.

Don't, just don't!

Great @elliejjtiny . Hope you get a good outcome.

Omg that's what they said about my son. It's infuriating. Thank goodness the HT challenged it. Fingers crossed you get a good outcome 🤞

Good. Pleased.

Still push Senco for him to be seen by OT and EP because the wait will be long.

Do not contact the headteacher over Facebook. I know lots of headteachers and SLT members and I can’t think of a single one, me included, that wouldn’t find that shockingly inappropriate and uncomfortable. Professional advice would also dictate that they shouldn’t respond to Facebook communication from parents. Awkward all round. Don’t be that parent. Email the school yourself, copy in the LA, hope for the best.

Apologies, I cross posted. Pleased it worked out.