To complain the the Department of Education about DD's school?

[HopeSpringsEternal2017]

DD is 12 and in yr 8 of secondary. She was assessed in yr7 as having a reading comprehension age of an 7 year old but was given no extra support for this dispite repeatedly being asked and it effecting her confidence and causing her to act out as she couldn't access the curriculum.

DD has also been diagnosed with ADHD and autism, I have spent 18 months asking for reasonable adjustments to be made and being denied but finally got the school to organise an educational psychologist who requested the same adjustments which were agreed immediately, dd's reading age has been adjusted to that of a yr 1 child and classed as a learning disability. However the school despite agreeing have still not put the adjustments in place, put DD on the LD register or arranged extra support for dd. Instead they are forcing her to read in front of the class punishing her for not doing homework or schoolwork that she doesn't understand and are basically trying to get her out of the school.

There are no sen schools near us more do I believe she is suitable - with appropriate help she would do well in a mainstream school. We are on a waiting list to change schools however there are a shortage of spaces in Dds year.

My twofold question is this would it be a waste of time complaining to the DofE? I hate the idea of other children going through the same thing. Also how do I help DD with her reading? She can read the words but doesn't understand what it means in a sentence - she hates reading so it is a battle to get her to do any but any ideas would be gratefully received!

Does she have an echp?

Have u complained formally to governors

Have you been in touch with ipsea

She needs a lsa till she moves school. I would push for this.

Were her reading difficulties not picked up in Junior school or infants?

Not DofE, but I would follow the school's complaints policy (probably complain to the Head and then governors) and if that doesn't work - Ofsted.

Can you a search and see if the LA has a 'policy' in this case a 'ADHD' policy which should contain information on interventions and adjustments available?

Have you emailed the school saying

'I would like DDs teachers to be informed that
A she is not to read aloud in class
B she needs homework in sheet form
C .... etc

Speak to the SENCO face to face and them email them 'further to our meeting where we discussed .... and you agreed to ..... which will be reviewed by /2018 etc so you have a paper trial

Failing that look at the complaints procedure (should be a copy on the website) and refer to it!

If it's an Academy status school, the DofE won't be interested. Ofsted will advise you to start the formal complaints procedure, which is hidden in the deepest darkest depths of the school website. It will be a long process, but worth it in the end.

First of all you need to speak to the Senco. I don’t know what area you are in, but most local authorities have a parent partnership or similar. They will come to you to meetings and give you impartial advice.

YABU to contact the department of education.

Follow the schools complaints procedure i.e Head/Governors first

I think you need to follow the school complaint policy first. Put everything in writing. Presumably you’ve already spoken to the senco and head of year or similar?

Can you ask the ed psych to speak to the school again? Have you reminded the school that failure to provide reasonable adjustments for autism and adhd is a clear breach of the equalities act?

Once you’ve done all that I’d try a solicitor.

Information here says headteacher and governors

childlawadvice.org.uk/information-pages/disability-discrimination-in-education/

Presume she's not got an ehcp? You can bypass the school and apply direct