To be worried about all the vulnerable children not attending school for months?

[hibbledobble]

Locally, it's a very deprived area. While some children are entitled to go to school if they are deemed vulnerable (have a social worker or an ehcp plan), statistics show that few of these children do attend, and it isn't enforced.

It seems like a complete disaster for many children, who are vulnerable due to parental drug use/alcohol use/domestic violence or other issues.

I have seen blatant examples of this locally. It's really sad, and I really worry that no one is checking on the welfare of these children. I have already referred to social services where relevant, but now it seems that there will be little ongoing monitoring.

Schools are still very much checking in. Vulnerable children with social workers are being encouraged to attend school; if attendance falls, social services and MASH are informed. If the parents choose to keep their children at home, the child receives daily calls from their school, where the Designated Safeguarding Lead talks to the child. If there is no response a social worker will be alerted and they will visit their home.

Children with EHCP, but no social workers, are being assessed for vulnerability, and if their home environment is not deemed a risk they are receiving weekly calls from schools. This group are being encouraged to stay at home, if it safe for them to do so, as they typically have health concerns that makes attending school a higher risk.

I have a friend who'd recently started the Early Help process (ie had submitted her answers to the EH questions), a few weeks before school closed, and she's heard nothing from school whatsoever. Is this surprising?

As a parent who battled to gain an EHCP award and who has dropped a decent career (happily) to be a full time Carer to a child with multiple complex needs it's pretty offensive to be grouped into the same category as households on at risk registers, child neglect , drug and alcohol abuse and violence

It's not you in this group, it's the child. And the group is not called 'Drug Users Children', it is more like 'Children who need extra attention'. So don't worry, I'm sure the PTS mummies know you're not a smackhead.

PTA mummies even!

it is so awful, and the fact that we know about the so called vulnerable children and yet this still carries on,

Not all schools want these kids in. Or have places for them. There is more to it.

@Legoandloldolls what do you mean and what evidence do you have of this?

I do worry too but I don't have a magic solution so I suppose I can't complain nobody else has either.

Our school has daily assembly video and lent out tech so kids at home feel there is still some routine. They have 1:1 provision in school for children with ehcp and have kept kids in uniform as they felt it would be reassuring for those with autism (mainstream school with additional provision unit). They have advertised a selection of food/toiletries/nappies being available to collect from school if families are struggling.

But like others have mentioned on the thread I know other local schools have not been keen to have kids in school and seen to be doing little to help those at home.

We've been taken off the Early Help list because SS call when I'm not available and I call back when they're not - neither of my DC have EHCPs (yet) or a formal SEN diagnosis (yet) and they have both have a history of multiple school exclusions because of their needs and are on waiting lists for assesments. OH and I are working full time while "home schooling". Calls from school in 7 weeks (we were isolating before shutdown due to 2 of us being ill) - 2. OP - you are dead right to be worried about vulnerable children in shut down, I have the fear for mine, I've said this to school too asking for extra support too to deaf ears it would seem.

@anotherexclusion

But your children obviously aren’t urgent cases. As in, they have two loving parents at home with them and are being supported (as hard as that is).

You have been checked on and school have heard the enough evidence to see you only need a light touch.

In comparison to another family who may be living in temporary accommodation with multiple issues- lack of food, parental support or urgent medical issues.

Those families are called as often as possible and in some cases the pastoral managers are delivering food to the house and physically checking on children.

It is still an emergency situation so the most help is being triaged to those in the most need.

I'm in a deprived area (bottom decile of SIMD). My daughter goes to nursery on the scheme.
They have been amazing.
They ring us up every week just to check we are OK.
They provide a food parcel weekly and a lunch for the nursery child and any siblings each school day.
(We turn these down as we don't need it but it's still a lovely gesture)
Having seen a few of these threads I now understand that part of the point of all this is low key child protection so I'm now making an effort to get DD talking to them on the phone and to upload photos of her regularly.
The last thing I want to do in these times is become a source of worry to someone.
We're not in any kind of hardship and are probably nudging lower middle class. Normally I would be wary of any kind of do-gooding. But in these times I feel like you could go from fine to vulnerable in a heart beat.
It's a great comfort to know that if we all got ill and were struggling to look after ourselves, we could expect someone to call and check up. (both our family are miles away!)
DS goes to a posher school in a middle class area.
His school have hidden homework over three seperate online platforms and occasionally send passive aggressive emails about how people aren't uploading enough work.
It's like night and day.
Although I would hope they are paying a little more attention to families more vulnerable than ours.
I guess the difference is Dds nursery assumes everyone is vulnerable as a baseline!
It feels appropriate though. It's crazy times. You just can't assume people have enough food. Or are healthy.

you are dead right to be worried about vulnerable children in shut down, I have the fear for mine, I've said this to school too asking for extra support too to deaf ears it would seem.

I'm not sure what you want the school to do under the circumstances? The worry for vulnerable children is that they might come to serious harm due to abuse or neglect with nobody noticing, not that they won't get their education. Why are you categorising your own children along with them?

@doubleshotespresso I can understand why you feel that way but I think the idea behind ECHP children being classed as vulnerable alongside those who have social workers etc is simply because in order to qualify for an ECHP, a child is vulnerable by the nature of their particular need if that makes sense?

In my borough parents have to fill in the appendix A/1 detailing ALL the difficulties their child has and for some it is a harrowing experience as it can hammer home the way their child is different to one who is NT. They also practically have to argue until they are blue in the face to get awarded an ECHP and on that basis, I would deem those pupils vulnerable as they have a level of greater need (depending on their diagnosis) than a NT child.

For example, we have a child with CP who lives in a flat. She requires daily physio and her mum has 4 children. She of course supports her daughter the best way she can but her physio appointments have been temporary suspended and mum has been given things for her to do at home. We have a trained 1:1 who supports her daily with her physio and access to a range of equipment mum doesn't have at home. I think she is most definitely vulnerable because without the support she has been receiving, she may take steps back in her development and this may have a detrimental affect on her in the long term.
I am 100% in support of her coming in so we can ensure this work still takes place.

I'm sorry if you feel offended - I am most certainly sure that it was not intended to make parents and carers feel that way.

Attendance of pupils is also not compulsory so if some parents and carers prefer to keep their children at home as they are able to meet their needs without the need for school, that's absolutely fine.

The school or government can't force your children to attend and you know what is best for them in that instance.

@ViciousJackdaw helpful comment from somebody who's clearly got zero grasp of quite what a family goes through in order to gain an EHCP..
Don't ever assume that any family can detach or remove themselves from any group their child falls into, that's where we are a bit different you see with fuckall time to concern ourselves with PTA or indeed anybody else.
Don't ever change your username you clearly live up to it thanks.

@anotherexclusion have you contacted the school directly?

Head teachers can add pupils to the provision as they have discretion they are able to use in terms of who is deemed vulnerable.

In your case, I wonder if you haven't been offered a place because the school deem your DCs to be in a safe and loving environment and are therefore not at risk at home which is why they don't need to offer a place at school?

It is very difficult as I obviously don't know your situation but we have had to tell a parent we cannot offer her son a space in school as he regularly absconds from the building, has no regard for his or other people's safety and we simply cannot keep him safe as we have limited staff in looking after the pupils we have in. He doesn't want to be at school but his parents wanted him in as they needed the break which I completely understand as they find him challenging at home too. We went back and forth trying to find a solution but the risk assessment deemed it wasn't safe for him to be in school as currently is.

Maybe give them another ring?

@BertabdErnie thanks- I fully understand your take on it but I think it's perfectly possible to imagine that there are literally thousands of families who function well and do everything and beyond in their power to support their child- all in their efforts to ensure they not only get he help they need but also are free from farm.
It's an endless battle filled with relentless meetings repeating yourself to "professionals" who visit them for ten minutes and make snap judgements; some great some not so great.
It should be perfectly possible also to understand that like all children some are at risk whether or not they have an EHCP

@BertNErnie apologies for typo

@doubleshotespresso I completely understand where you are coming from. I have a family member with a son who has an extremely rare genetic condition and she has taken to putting together a leaflet which she takes along with her to all appointments as she is truly fed up of explaining herself every single time. Oh, that and being told her son simply can't have this condition because next to no one has it. No shit Sherlock, that's why it is rare!

My take on this is that this government closed schools with 2 days notice, thought 'oh fuck' when they realised that so many children are vulnerable in schools and decided to put all children with ECHPs together

I do think we need to be careful discussing vulnerable children who may or may not have parents and carers who take drugs, abuse alcohol and are subject to violence as we don't know their circumstances and why they are in that situation.

I liken it to saying all heroin addicts are scum, those who stay in abusive relationships bring it on themselves or even saying all parents who have children with ECHPs struggle - I don't believe that is the case at all.

I am keeping DS2 at home but my experience has been very good in terms of support and contact. DS2 special school is in contact weekly and have dropped off activities. His respite service are open but as he is extremely touchy it best he does not go, but they are offering shopping and loans of toys. His social worker has been in touch with local supermarket to arrange shopping slots. The only thing I have taken up is the school activities but it has been nice and rather surprising to be offered.

@BertNErnie exactly my point.

My child and thousands of others do not belong in this group, along with many many others.

The amazing positive from this awful situation we all find ourselves in though is that our child has been at her absolute most happiest since lockdown, behaviours have improved, eating better and focusing better, calmly and responding to instructions. It's been a lot of work but well worth it. so to now read on the dozens of posts I've read lately like this that something as little as an EHCP status means they they're viewed alongside children who are for whatever grievously vulnerable is still seriously offensive and needs changing as matter of urgency.

something as little as an EHCP status
An EHCP status is not little.
It is lovely that your child is doing better off school but mine isn't - he's not in danger of absconding or self harm but isolation is bad for his mental health and this leads to acting out.
We are a lovely middle class family, two professionals, but he is vulnerable due to his disabilities. Not due to us.

@doubleshotespresso what would you feel more comfortable with the wording saying? I've double checked and it states:

During the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, for the purposes of continued attendance at educational settings, vulnerable children and young people are defined as those who:

•	are assessed as being in need under section 17 of the Children Act 1989, including children who have a child in need plan, a child protection plan or who are a looked-after child

•	have an education, health and care (EHC) plan whose needs cannot be met safely in the home environment

•	have been assessed as otherwise vulnerable by educational providers or local authorities (including children’s social care services), and who are therefore in need of continued education provision - this might include children on the edge of receiving support from children’s social care services, adopted children, or those who are young carers, and others at the provider and local authority discretion

Under the above, your child wouldn't technically qualify for a space as you have rightly said that their needs are being met safely in your home environment?

No I'm sorry I didnt mean to belittle the value or significance of an EHCP.
Far from it I'm still not recovered from the epic efforts it took to get this, or the additional hours we had to gain via a further hearing... it's an insane and hugely challenging system-and yes much needed.
I'm sorry to read your experience FWIW I dint expect this to continue , I'm certain we will see a decline of this goes on much longer as routines broken is our biggest challenge ...
But as with any system what works fir one child well may nit suit another. They are individuals - which means not always vulnerable.
I really hope things improve for you soon as I know too well how exhausting this is when you're trying daily and feeling beaten in every sense

@BertNErnie in terms of wording it's threads such as these where the assumption (as detailed clearly upthread) is made repeatedly that all children must be at risk of abuse that is like to see challenged.

Imagine for instance that there were a thread where a poster said "statistically a trans person is more likely to be sexually abusive" or that those of a certain race are statistically more likely to be involved in crime?

Quite rightly those threads would be deleted. Because they draw offensive and unacceptable assumptions and thus sweeping statements. Discussion like this then perpetuates the beliefs and ignorance and do it goes on....

The excerpt you've attached yes caters perfectly well - our child is home and the school have accepted and support this, probably relieved too as more often than not send them home...