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Original poster

Year 1 School place at outstanding school

14 replies

lovelymumof2 · 09/10/2024 10:59

Hi - My Lo was going to a good school for reception which has a lot of children with special needs. He himself didn't have any special needs, but is very naughty, curious, mischievous. I have had taken him to a lot of assessments in the past and nothing was diagnosed, hence he didn't have any EHCP. He is in mainstream class and doing good, He was then offered an outstanding infant school which we took happily and a week later an outstanding primary (best in town). Now it was a very tough decision for us, we still wanted to go to the outstanding primary as it is one of the best and he is lucky enough to get a place and we didn't want to lose it. We spoke with their head teacher who after looking at my Y1, 5 YO boy said he isnt regulated, if he start the school here he would be set to fail, we might ask you to pick up from school for his behaviour, she said she isn't expert to assess if he is a special child but he isn't looking normal to her and she can't take him as she doesn't have extra support in school to do one to one's. I have told him he is in mainstream and never heard of any extra support but she dismissed all that we said.
We really want our child to go to the best school, but I don't want to send him to a place where they are saying they can't support him. Is it fair for the head teacher to say this? Isn't the school supposed to help all children as no two children are the same? Isn't it the council who decides the space for child? I felt my child is discriminated here due to his behavioural issues, instead of working on the best ways to support him? Am I missing anything here?

OP posts:

Bluevelvetsofa · 09/10/2024 11:18

What is happening when he is ‘naughty’ as you describe?
Is he not able to follow instructions, or unable to share, or sit still and listen, or is he aggressive to other children?

Have you removed him from the school he was at for reception? If he was coping there, I’d keep him there, especially if the other school say they cannot meet his needs.

Even if you’ve had past assessments, it sounds as though there is something to do with the way he’s behaving that may mean he needs extra support, which is an educational need and might require more formal intervention.

HarrietBond · 09/10/2024 11:25

What an appalling headteacher, I'm sorry.

I wouldn't place such emphasis on an Ofsted judgement. The right school for your child is the one that understands him and supports his learning.

Although Ofsted does look at SEN provision as part of an inspection, it's not the main focus, and there are Outstanding schools that are known to have 'hidden' children on inspection day to avoid any potential awkwardness. SEN is about more than EHCPs (most children with SEN do not have one), so a school's provision will go from a more inclusive ethos, better trained teaching staff, better school geography and fixtures, leaders who genuinely believe in the value of understanding every child, all the way to the formal SEN support funded through EHCPs, and a school that nails the soft stuff is worth its weight in gold.

I'm immensely proud that the school that has looked after my child brilliantly in mainstream got such a glowing SEN section in its recent Ofsted that other schools are now sending staff round to see what they're getting right. But the overall grade for the school was Good.

NaanAnaan · 09/10/2024 11:32

“The best school” is the one where your son is likely to get on the best. If 90% of the kids get amazing academic results is that only because the school weeds out children with a variety of extra needs? it sounds like the outstanding school manages its results by taking a very narrow slice of the pupil population. My ds is not well regulated and would be miserable in a school like that… would yours?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

5 year olds General education Primary education SEN

TickingAlongNicely · 09/10/2024 11:35

What is best for any child is consistency.

If you have only just moved him, don't move him again.

Feelingstrange2 · 09/10/2024 11:40

Maybe this is why the school is outstanding. It just picks and chooses its cohort very very carefully.

It could be that which you are missing.

Original poster

lovelymumof2 · 09/10/2024 11:47

By being naughty I mean he find it very difficult to follow instructions and rules, He has a fixated mind and would want to do things if he wants to. When the head teacher said No, he wouldn't listen and goes back to explore the things again and again. This is his usual behaviour at home. His concentration and listening abilities and academics are good though. I am not sure how to request for a full formal intervention to identify if he needs any support? The current outstanding infant school that he is going to, do not mention any need for this as says he is doing great!

OP posts:

qualifiedazure · 09/10/2024 11:50

If he's happy and doing well at an outstanding school already why do you want to move him?

ZanzibarIsland · 09/10/2024 11:54

I'd leave him where he is, given what the Head of the other school said.

lovelyhat · 09/10/2024 11:56

Why do you want to move him/keep moving him? It will be unsettling for him - if he’s happy where he is, stop messing around!

Flanjango · 09/10/2024 12:04

If that's the attitude from day one then definitely ignore the ofsted report and go with what's actually best for his welfare. Even if it turns out he isn't sen the idea they are setting him up for exclusions based on a short meeting rings massive alarm bells. All kids require support at times...keep him where he will get it!

Original poster

lovelymumof2 · 09/10/2024 12:46

I am only keen on moving him as it is a closer school and its oustanding primary vs outstanding infant that he is going now and it is quite ambitious school as I heard from other parents, I have already felt like it is not the right place for my child but felt very unfair from the head teacher and school side to do this and instead if supporting him, they have set their minds to exclude him.

I want to understand if this is usual? Can the school be picky when it takes pupil? What are my options if I want to raise this with I don't know whom?

OP posts:

ZanzibarIsland · 09/10/2024 12:51

lovelymumof2 · 09/10/2024 12:46

I want to understand if this is usual? Can the school be picky when it takes pupil? What are my options if I want to raise this with I don't know whom?

If your ds had got in originally they'd have had to deal with him and they wouldnt be able to stop him getting a place now. But the Head has shown you how your ds would be treated.

Bluevelvetsofa · 09/10/2024 13:20

Do you want your child to go to a school, even if it’s supposedly outstanding and even if it’s nearer, when they’ve made it clear they don’t think they can meet his needs, whether they’re saying that to put you off, or not.

Octavia64 · 09/10/2024 13:40

It is not uncommon for outstanding schools to try to put off children with SEN or who look like they are not capable of fitting in to the way the school does things.

Some schools are very inclusive and will go to a lot of effort to keep children engaged and in the classroom.

Other schools are not and will not be used to, or want to get used to, kids whose behaviour isn't as compliant.

Your child sounds like he does not fit into the "compliant and academic" mould that the outstanding primary want. I personally would not send my child somewhere he isn't wanted.

Your child is better off at a school that is prepared to work with him.

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