To think this is terrible

[Edenviolet]

For months and months I have been trying to arrange getting everything in place for dd2 starting reception as she has medical needs.

I have written to the school, sent in info packs, emailed and phoned. We have had a meeting and dds pre school have met with them to explain dds needs etc. they also did a learning journey and that contained info showing what learning stages dd is at and she is doing really well. Her problems are medical not learning related.
School have been reluctant to have training before she starts and I feel like I'm pestering them but I need to get it done.

They've kept refusing and instead sent me a transition book designed for children with SEN, I explained to them this was not relevant to dd yet they sent more info regarding transition for children with ASD. I don't understand why they are not listening to me and sending things for the wrong conditions.

Thankyou. Sorry,I just have some much frustration and anger bubbling away inside as I feel its so unfair that they are not bending over backwards to help us get everything ready for her starting. They are in for a massive shock and I don't want it to impact on dd starting and settling in but how can she settle properly with me there every day and teachers etc who have not got a clue how to look after her.

Another mum with a dc with ads said to me a few months ago "I don't want to upset you but its going to be difficult, if you don't fit the mould here they don't want to know" I took it with a pinch of salt but she had sent her son elsewhere and now I know why.

ASD not ads

Is looking for another school a possibility? You shouldn't have to but if it is the best way of ensuring her safety?

When is she 5? If needed can she stay at her current pre-school until the situation is sorted?

5 in November so not long really.

We have persevered with school as they offered to provide 1:1 without a statement which was amazing but actually getting them to take it seriously is proving difficult there has been far less contact than there needed to be and training etc is being overlooked in favour of a trial and error system I think with me there to rectify any mistakes

Are the medical needs diabetes?

Could you speak to the school nurse?

Spoken to school nurse already, not much they can really do apparently.

Medical needs are type 1 diabetes (and dd has no hypo awareness at all)
Ehlers danlos syndrome and also some associated bowel problems.

The school nurse should definitely be trained. Could you ask your GP to speak to the school?

Gp said it is better that dsn and consultant contact them which they have done. Its difficult as we are not under the care of the local hospital.

Is it a possibility that her 1-1 is not currently employed by the school and won't start till September so they are unable to do the training any earlier.

All I have been told is that two support staff have been assigned from existing staff (1 for majority of time other for lunchtime) but I have not been told who it is yet

Hm they sound a bit them & us - which isn't great with additional needs.

Is there a standard protocol for kids starting school with diabetes (I know there are other issues as well but obviously diabetes is the one that trial & error really isn't a disastrous approach for)

I found this

www.diabetes.org.uk/Information-for-parents/Living-with-diabetes-new/School/Before-starting-school/

They are saying the paediatric diabetes team should contact the school

Presumably the school has broken up for the summer holidays so there is no-one for you to contact. The school seems well informed, by you and by the nursery, and are providing 1-1 care, which is good. You have contacted the headteacher, Senco, school nurse, receptionist and welfare room and they have all refused your request for extra training, therefore you have to accept their decision.
If your daughter starts school on September 8th, there may be a full week before when you can meet the relevant people.
Have you actually made face to face contact with these people or have you only contacted them by email?

I don't think they realise how important it is to have done the training before dd starts. I've already enquirer about doing it before she starts in sep but apparently the training days are arranged already and after that on 3/4/ they are busy, on 5 sep I'm meant to support her at her visit then again on start day of 8 th then they will learn from watching me.

I don't think its fair on dd that they are doing it like this and its going to make things very difficult for me. I don't mind being there or popping in to help with problems but I can't do all of it for an unspecified amount of time and I don't think they will like 2 yo ds being in classroom with me.

They mean their training days are arranged not days for dd. I'd asked to go in before the children return.

In September it is expected that EVERYTHING will change. The current draft code will become law and transition from the old system to the new system will start.

Medical needs are tricky - they impact upon education and as such are a 'need' but they are not always a SEN as such.

Furthermore, no school needs a statement to provide a 1:1 and in fact can access funding from High Needs for additional support without one. This would depend very much on what the 1:1 is required to do as there is a move away from 1:1 but there will always be children who need one.

That said... This is coming in on 1st Sept 2014

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/306952/Statutory_guidance_on_supporting_pupils_at_school_with_medical_conditions.pdf

This is statutory (so it's law) and quite frankly it's to catch those children who a school / LA might argue don't have a SRN but who DO have medical conditions.

It say quite clearly that parents should not be expected to provide care not should they be going into school to administer medicines.

Have a read of the above but bear in mind this - it's statutory in Sept but it got out to schools late June so the school realistically may not be ready and the health services / training may not be up to speed either. However it sets out what you as a parent should realistically expect to be arranged very quickly after admission in September.

I would contact the LA and also IPSEA or Contact A Family Education advice too for further clarity.

And for me - re-reading this I am thinking that it's Health that is being the bigger issue here...

The cons & DSN are too far away
GP is saying 'not us'
School Nurse saying 'Not us'

All around the houses in health with no one taking responsibility.

Depends on local commissioning as to who in health is co-ordinating / delivering training like this but I know schools hit complete brick walls in getting this sort of training.

Who is delivering the training? Is the delay their end or schools? Have you a confirmed date for the training and a plan (even if it's you, which is not ideal) until then?

I know your cons says you can do the training but the schools own risk assessment probably doesn't allow this.
I am writing a policy for the statutory guidance I have linked to and I intend to write in that parents can not train for many, many reasons - impact on parents, the settling into school for the child, training being transferable to other children, quality assurance in the event if an incident, etc...

Problem is as a parent it's easy to become piggy in the middle who everyone vents their frustrations at... School are probably no happier than you and equally frustrated - build some bridges in September and believe me I know how difficult that is

Hi, I am a school SENCO and I am not making excuses at all but schools are really struggling to deal with all of the new legislations and policies that are 'going live' from sept 1st. My LEA only sent out the details about what they changes would actually mean in our schools on the last day of term and expect everything to be in place for 1st day back which is obviously not going to happen.

Training is always really difficult as if everyone needs training then all of the staff need to be covered at a great expense. We usually manage this by having the nurses coming to school and people working over lunch or an hour after school (for no extra pay for TA and NN who get paid limited hours). If the nurse can't visit school them that is a major issue. Maybe they hoped that someone went on the training and they would disseminate the info? No ideal but maybe all they could manage?

Another reason is the staff would probably forget over the hols in not putting the training into practice straight away? Was the 1 to 1 person supporting someone at that time? Going on training would mean that child not being supported?

I do agree that the school could and should do better. I was in a similar position last year where I was the point of contact and went to visits as I have a small amount of release time whereas class teachers will not I then fed back to class teacher and NN then we all met together in September.

Sorry for the long post and I really do hope you have more luck in September.

I will echo what Pig is saying as a Governor and a parent of a child with SEN..,

For one example - Up until 6 weeks ago the LA here were working on current yr 5 statemented children transitioning to EHC next year so the schools were scrabbling to get the right paperwork in for this academic year and parents like me pressurising schools to do it...
Then BOOM - government change their mind, current yr 5s are not transitioning and 4 weeks ago it was all change... Primary schools breathed a sigh of relief and secondary who have transition yr 9 & 11 have started to stress

It's not an excuse but a reality we are living - schools and parents are at the end of queue for info and it's becoming fraught.
As a parent try and work with the school though have realistic boundaries too - ok so they might be struggling to get training but they should have it booked ASAP and be willing to give care as soon as they are signed off...

Very stressful for you - I run a similar line all the time. I cry a lot x

Due to the school not wanting to travel and hospital not doing visits the dsn wrote a letter confirming I could do training in school, they just seem to want to do it when dd is a pupil rather than before she starts.

I get the impression there is also an element of not fully realising the full extent of dds problems, I've written/spoken to them but they will soon realise once she's there, I had just hoped to avoid some stress for everybody by getting training underway well in advance.

If the school is providing full time 1 to 1 TA support, that TA could go on the training while your DD stays at home or you support her in school on for just that time and they would not be taking support from any other children.

Hedgehog

Sorry - is no one from health doing the training?