Nightmare with daughter and school follow on 2

[HammerToFall]

Following on from my last two threads things have deteriorated at school and was excluded again yesterday. Apparently one of the teachers had had to remove her from the classroom as she refuses. Once we got home this is what we found on her arm. I have reported it to my after adoption support worker who thinks I should let her go back on Monday and hang in for the health and education meeting on Wednesday. I don't want to let her go back. This isn't acceptable is it?

You must hang on for EHCplan meeting, may put on an Pathway plan for
further assessment, after seen by Educational psychologist final assessment', if EHCplan is needed. If so a more suitable school may have too be found , or more interventions and support will be funded and put in place at present school. Meeting is important you have too look above your present situation.
Wish you all the best.

What about Monday when she is supposed to return? School want me in this afternoon to discuss the 'positive handling' but I've said I'm not prepared to discuss it without my social worker being there.

If you think she's been assaulted is a sw the best person? It doesn't look good. Schools are allowed to restrain if a child is likely to injure themselves or others. Was that the context as far as you know?

You could phone direct and ask advice too your LA's Schools Statutory Disability Assessment team who may be aware of the meeting, think they would be.
Regards.

No she wasn't being a danger to herself and others at that point, although she has in the past and did later on. She was picked up and removed for early from the classroom because she was told to leave and wouldn't. I don't for one minute think it's been done on purpose, but I am concerned about the amount of force they have having to use. The school have tried to help in anyway they can to be fair, once they realised this was attachment focused and not behavioural. It I think it's just beyond them. On the upside they have rang today to say that they have advertised for a one on one for her that they can find until the echp is sorted.

AFAIK (and I don't know much about primary schools) you're not allowed to use force for that. You are ONLY allowed to use it where a child is endangering themselves or others. I appreciate that it's frustrating when a child refuses to leave a classroom but that does not make it ok to force them to and the level of force used here has clearly been completely unacceptable.

I think you're right in that they are out of their depth. You need to check what I've said here (with your LA?) and then have a good think about what is in her best interests. I'd suggest it's not going back in for more of the same on Monday.

What options do you think you have OP?

No I looked it up and I'm wrong - you can use reasonable force to remove a child from a classroom. I'm quite shocked by that tbh!

I suppose it would come down to whether this was reasonable? Given the history they could probably argue that it was but that's a horrible mark to have left on her

Unless there is reasonable fear that she's going to hurt herself or others, that is not acceptable force. How is that not assault?

Are they adequately trained in restraint? To leave a mark like that makes me think not. I have looked after many adults and teenagers who have been restrained, sometimes for long periods, and examined them due to this, and done properly, it should not be leaving marks like this.

Do they have other de-escalation techniques they employ first?

I would not be sending my child. Sorry.

I would be very unhappy about this and have been involved in having to handle older and stronger children and even with them there shouldn't be bruising left.

I would write a letter to head and governors including photos and I would seek clairification about what happened, why it happened and how your child can be supported in the future without being left bruised. They failed before and have failed again, they are shit actually:( I hope their intentions are well enough that they raise their game.