AIBU to not want this SN child in the same class as mine

[PinkyU]

DD is 5 and moving into P2 which will be a composite 3/2 class. I’ve recently found out that a boy with severe challenging and frequently violent behaviour will be in the same class as a P3.

DD also has SN, cognitive, social emotional and physical needs. She is very vulnerable and significantly smaller than this other child. Small knocks and bumps can cause DD significant injuries such as dislocated hip etc. Their will only be 1 teacher and 1 TA in the class which in non negotiable due to staffing.

I’m concerned that not only will this boy take up a lot of teaching time (away from my DD), he is also a substantial physical risk to DD.

AIBU to discuss/request a change of class for this other child as DD cannot be moved to a different class due to her needs?

When special education pretty much disappeared this is what we got. Truth to tell, the situation is good for neither child. A child with frequently violent behaviour needs far more input and support than one TA in a mainstream class can offer and your child sound like more support would be welcome too OP.

It's all down to money. It's not about doing the best for our children and it's not about some notion of equality. The best provision for all children does not necessarily mean the same provision for all children.

Oh and on another note, can pp please avoid phrases like "she/he IS SN". They have special needs, they are not special needs.

Am I issing something? If there are statements for each child then there would be a discussion of how best to help and get assistance for both children?

If both the children have an EHCP, they will have been assessed and the school will decide how much individual care each child warrants. If they are both ASC for example perhaps the school feels that the particular TA is best suited to meet their needs. Speak to the school by all means about your concerns, but do not expect them to move the other child.

And then a lack of money to fund it aknack

OP does your child have a 1-2-1? Is that the TA you are talking about? Are they planning on making the TA look after both children?

That old chestnut ... never seems to be enough to go around ...

I would absolutely go and have a conversation about how they plan to safeguard your DD. Ask to see their written plans and get a policy agreed in writing.

Assuming I've understood, your child has SN and has a TA.
If the TA is an allocated member of staff for your daughter as part of EHCP provision then you can absolutely talk to ensure that her 1-1 support is not being used to prop up support for another child routinely (it is, however, sometimes more than appropriate for a 1-1 TA to circulate the room if their named child is working independently. They shouldn't be helicoptering at all timea).

If the TA is in with the class and happens to give your DD more support, you can't insist your DD gets more time.

If you are concerned about your daughter's safety, you can meet to discuss how thr school will safeguard your child.
You cannot discuss another child or demand that child be educated somewhere else.

It's always about money. That's why special schools that had specialist staff, small classes and resources to deal with the needs of students with greater challenges disappeared in the first place.

Your DD's TA?

If they are proposing to use your child's support for another child then complain. They can't do that.. It happens a lot and it tends to get dressed up as "Ah but x needs the socialisation so we are putting them with y (who coincidently also has needs)". Sure they are stretched, that's not your concern, ensuring your daughter gets the right support is.

However, if your daughter doesn't have a 1:1 then yabu. You can't ask for him to be moved, cringe! Just ask what measures are in place to keep DD safe.

We have a different school system so no echp.

Both children absolutely need support but I can only advocate for my own child’s education and safety.

She has a good plan in place currently with regards to physical safety which has resulted in only one serious injury in school (not caused by another child). Other children have been hurt by this other child throwing chairs and flipping tables etc, the school have an action plan should he have a meltdown but realistically can’t stop other kids from being in the path.

I’ll have a discussion with school about their risk evaluation but if the TA is saying she can’t see it safely working for DD I don’t see what real reassurance they can offer me.

Just to add, the OP may tell me I'm wrong as she clearly has all the information, but from what she has said on here, I would be astounded if either child's needs meant they were qualified for one to one support.
Again, money.

The replies on this thread are bizarre - schools have a legal duty of care towards their pupils. They cannot choose to put children at risk even if the other child has a duty to be educated.

OP - you do sometimes need to remind schools of this duty of care (in writing) as sometimes they do forget. It may need to be put in writing to the governors if there isn't a positive response from the head.

How do you know the TA? It’s really unprofessional of her to be discussing this with you.

Why do your DD's needs trump this other child's?

Because her child could be physically damaged by the other child and cannot move?

I don't think yabu OP, the school seem to have not dealt with this very well at all. Surprised everyone thinks you should just let your child risk serious physical harm though.

underneath I agree totally. Safeguarding trumps everything and if there are real risks to the OPs dd (and it sounds like their are) then absolutely the school need to put a plan in place. Again though, money...

but if the TA is saying she can’t see it safely working for DD I don’t see what real reassurance they can offer me.

How do you know she is saying this?

there
Typing and doing multiple other things too... I'm not illiterate I promise!

Neither children have a statutory plan in place (arguably both should) so support allocation is at the discretion of the HT, hence the “killing two birds with one stone” approach with having both complex kids in one class.

It is NEVER unreasonable to want your child to be educated in an environment where they are free from physical harm.

Does your DD currently have 1-1 support? Does the other child? Agree with pp that the TA should not be discussing this with you

Put pressure on your local MP not the school. Budget cuts are hitting schools massively at the moment so this will get worse next year. Your child will likely not have a TA in the next year or worse still the school will merge classes and one teacher will have 40+ children. It is on the cards so maybe encourage your local MP to look at budget cuts and the impact in their constituency.

Sorry. Cross posted. Without a 1-1 plan I don't see that there is much you can do. You can ask that the classes be changed but the needs of both children have to be equally accommodated

YANBU to want your DD's needs to be met - they absolutely should be. But YABVU to assume that she won't get this due to there being another SEN child in her class. Both children have needs requiring to be met and the school has made a decision in respect of how they will do this. If you aren't happy with the decision they have made you need to find a different solution for your child, not expect another child to make accommodations for yours.