to think that mainstream schools think SN kids are a drain?

[Planetarymagic1]

My understanding is that schools dont get aby additional funding for kids with Special Needs unless the needs are so exceptional that they can then apply for Exceptional Needs Funding, even if the child has an EHCP. Is that right?

(Before MN explodes, ive NC and have 2 SN kids at a Voluntary Aided mainstream primary, and am starting to feel like we are a bit of a drain and we should somehow be more grateful. Am i right about the funding? My kids are extra expensive?)

Run my kids school is welcoming, accepting and positive about disability.

As was the one I went to 20 years ago in a very different part of the country. Which makes it possible from other schools to be that way too if they had the right attitude. But disability is hugely stigmatised in the UK. The UN descion that we are the first country to violate the convention of rights of people with disabilities was based partly on the unchallenged prejudice within the media, and this filters down to the most vulnerable children with disabilities so there's no out rage when their needs arn't accomedated within education.

I had an interesting chat a while back with a school HT before I gave up work and she said she believed SN pupils were a drain on her MS school, but she also said she felt that MS schools were a drain on SN pupils. She was talking about pupils that she (and I and others working with them inc their families) believed should have been at a special needs school - the kids for whom the new 'inclusive at all costs' attitude isn't helping at all.

There is only so much a school with several hundred pupils can do with funding and staff if they can't access more. There used to be a thriving SN school local to it. The two schools had a good relationship, pupils from the SN school used to spend time in the MS school, pupils in the MS school used to spend time in the MS school and everyone got a really decent education. Then it was closed - no, sorry, it "merged" with another SN school (one building kept so half the places) which means the two MS schools closest to the SN schools now have pupils that, quite simply, shouldn't be there.

I was one of the lucky parents. My DD was/is able to cope MS and with a bit of extra help done well in primary and is continuing to do so at secondary. The child of a friend is a whole different story. The cuts to SN education have negatively impacted that child in a horrible way and they simply won't get the education they deserve and, through no fault of the child's AT ALL neither will her classmates who have theirs interrupted by her medical needs on a frequent basis.

Thanks very much sister, he is doing very well at mainstream, the SENCO feels because of his dev delay he will fall way behind his peers. I don't want that to happen, we will see. Tgey are gathering evidence at the moment.

There is the route you sometimes have to go down to show without an EHCP certain needs aren't met because they aren't understood.

lougles posts are brilliant. Schools are told by la to use the first 6k. That is not what SENDCOP states. My la has just introduced a new form that requires everything to to documented financially for every need and provision a child gets. It stated in September and apparently parents are meant to sign it. Ds is on Sen register but I've not had this form shoved under my nose yet! Ds is however going through the EHCP assessment after I won at tribunal!

His cirrent school have an Sen notional budget of about 250k. They have 72 students on Sen support of which 18 have EHCP.
So therefore there is not 6k per student to spend. The la will try and cut corners and insist they spend the 6k, and jump through hoops to get top up funding. But be pointed out they can't spend what they don't have. Also DS needs sensory OT input. Unit on site has sensory room - Ds can't access that without an EHCP. In fact, he can't access it without being a pupil at the unit that has 2 places per year group.
It's those things you need to question and focus on when talking to la. The new SENDCOP is meant to be child centered - so ask how they intend to give the child access to the support they need when they themselves have out the barriers there to accessing it. We had the same with autism outreach. LO says communication and language team only advise for pupils with EHCP. Ds has been told he needs CAL team. La have said he can access it without EHCP. I've asked how? They so far declined to respond!

What I've found is we are made to feel like we are being demanding asking for everything our children need. There's lots about best use of resources etc. IT seems best use is for children who are disruptive rather than those who quietly just appear at school yet never reach their full potential - despite what SENDCOP aims are.

Youarenotkiddingme that sounds so so frustrating.

And yes, i recognise that feeling that school think youre being demanding. My eldest isn't a chair thrower. I think if disruption was an issue we would have access to more resources.

Sorry - not being unkind to the really devoted teachers...it is just we have had such a shitty battle all through primary including being asked to leave and now face it in secondary.

I am tired, depressed, incredulous, angry, bitter etc etc. It feels the fight never ends and I am surrounded by people who do not understand the disorders. So maybe envy influenced my comment😉

My sister sent me this yesterday, which really touched me as i didnt think she got it.

Runwalkcrawl i think you might like it.

[https://toaufinityandbeyond.com/2017/01/01/guest-story-by-livia-vass/]

toaufinityandbeyond.com/2017/01/01/guest-story-by-livia-vass/

My son has a statement ( still not transferred to EHCP) won via a tribunal. The LA and school didn't want him getting the statement so school argued they could meet needs without a statement / extra funding. So the school get no extra funding to meet his needs dispite his interventions. He's only funded via school central funding.
The head told me he was a drain on the school. That's his problem and totally his own fault argueing that they didn't need the funding. Everything the school does is made to feel like it's a massive favour, but I guess that's because I did the appeal