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.

"We are not in a particularly deprived area, but i know that most kids in our scouts group haven’t touched a book in 5 weeks, haven’t eaten a even remotely healthy meal in weeks. And that is a pretty average neighbourhood. "

What a load of bollocks. How would you know that?!

I think you have to remember that, with about 2 days notice, 'something' had to be put in place very, very quickly.
The 'with an EHCP or with a named social worker' was an easily identifiable list to at least cover some of the youngsters for whom "stay at home" wasn't going to be as straightforward as it is for many other dc - and I'm not, in anyway meaning to understate how difficult this is for ALL dc, just pointing out there is a 'scale' of challenge.

In my experience (through work) every single educational establishment I have spoken to (and it is a lot), have used that instruction from the Government as an absolute minimum. A 'starting point' if you like. They know the dc, and they know the families. Of course there will be some that slip through the net, and some that won't engage, but it certainly won't be through lack of trying by the schools and Nurseries.

@doubleshotespresso I understand what you mean now - I thought your concerns were in relation to the government guidance, not the wording of posters on the thread.

I agree we shouldn't tarnish all people with the same brush (for want off a better word) under any circumstances as it does open the doors to some pretty unpleasant comments. I do, on the whole think this thread has a majority of posters who don't think the same way.

Of*

@circusintown the topic of last session was healthy eating, and they were doing a meal diary. most scouts etc groups are also online now, so session take place. They told us what they were doing - one boy stated he was reading and doing schoolwork every day which got countered with disbelief and “its long holidays, you don’t have to do any reading and maths until september“ to much agreement of other boys and parents online.

@doubleshotespresso

Well said.

There have been some useful explanations but I do agree with then sentiment of what you said.

All disabled children are vulnerable children and many children with an ehcp have a disability so considering all children with an ehcp is a way of making sure those children are considered.
Being vulnerable due to disability doesn't necessarily mean a child will be better off in school at the moment because many children will be safer at home but it is right that the safety of all these children is considered.

Also a child being safer at school doesn't mean the parents of the child are doing anything wrong or the child is not in a safe and loving home. Some children have needs that cannot be met without outside support or cannot be met longterm without outside support or cannot be met at home under lockdown restrictions.
There are children with disabilities whose needs are currently not being met because special schools have shut and the parents have no outside support. Some parents will be at the end of their tether through lack of sleep,providing round the clock care, seeing their child in permanent distress or the whole being subject to aggressive behaviour from their child who is not coping. The actual support out there is patchy.

My son has a full EHCP and attends a,special school ,he's vulnerable due to his disabilities not because of any abuse ,I have heard zilch from his school since schools were shut ,i don't expect to be able to send him in but I'm surprised at the lack of contact .

How do schools manage when the parents don’t speak English?

It’s not just kids op, there are also vulnerable adults now hugely at increased risk. Abuse, domestic violence, substance abusers, mental health, physical health. The list goes on. People have had their support withdrawn.

By 11 may we will have been in Lockdown for nearly two months, that’s two months of hell for many people, and a sort of hell many can’t even begin to imagine,

Our pastoral leads have been in everyday calling and referring. They are working really hard and doing their very best 😞

I was musing about this and asked why the schools are not so very concerned over the six week summer holiday?
ds pointed out that other children are off school.

but what other reasons could there be? or are there still concerns during the holidays?

Yes, schools are concerned over the summer holidays, we still attend CP, CIN and TAC meetings during the 6 weeks, I still receive calls about concerns and worries, I still make referrals to Children's Services. But what is different currently is the stress and isolation that everyone, including parents of children already considered vulnerable, is experiencing.

Thank you @spanieleyes

it is a horrible worrying situation.

As I said my child is vulnerable due to his disabilities, however during school holidays we still.get visits from his disability nurse ,he normally attends a play scheme for disabled children one day a week in school holidays ,at the moment nothing is available and I assume ,this is the same for children where there are concerns for their welfare due to abuse ? It is what it is for us and my son is well cared for and safer at home .

YANBU to be concerned but I'm confused about some of the stats, the "only x% of vulnerable children are in school in lockdown" type. I would have thought that if all children with an EHCP were included, there would be a high proportion of children with serious medical needs in the vulnerable group? And I'd assume most parents of these children would understandably not want them in school at the moment. Same goes for children on the list because they're child carers to an ill adult.

Does anyone know what proportion of children fall into each category? Then we can compare that to the proportion attending and get an idea of the scale of the issue.

Patte we are still being asked to give figures so I doubt they know yet

Please be assured weekly welfare checks are going ahead and even home visits in cases where telephone contact has been difficult, social distancing is observed on these occasions. All this is documented and passed on to relevant services. I do share your concern however as the uptake of places is really very low

@TriangleBingoBingo thanks I'm glad this makes sense to others I've found this nauseating on this site and many others!

The staff at our local PRU are physically going to children’s houses to check on them, also video calls.

Our most vulnerable baby gone in. They were invited to but didn't take up the offer. They are, however, being called at least once a week and have had materials dropped off at their homes by school.
We know who is and isn't accessing the various home learning g so can monitor that too.

They may not be attending but we do know who they are and what, if anything, they're doing.

How do schools manage when the parents don’t speak English?

Varies, case by case.
Some schools have staff that speak community languages. Some schools will be accessing a translator. Some parents who would not be confident in speaking English, on a phone are okay with texts and e-mails.

And our messaging system can translate into around 30 different languages so at a minimum any written contact can be understood.

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

I'm.not going to name schools, sorry about that. All four of my children are CIN due to severely disabled child with disability SW. The only focus is on him, hes back in school. However I had one phone call for my youngest that was week five. School know the kids are CIN but nothings going on. That's fine with me. They are safe.

I also know a SEN school that has lobbied other other SEN schools to not open for staff protection. That latter is what really shocks me. Yes it's TRUE, yes the LA know and they wasnt happy. So in both cases, CIN kids with no spaces and in case not much monitoring. SW called once in the second week. The rest of the kids could be up to anything. No one knows, business as usual really 😏

My dd has a social worker (autism, adhd and several other condition)
She is entitled to go to school.
But she is also vulnerable, with asthma, along with other vulnerable people in the house.
Do I risk sending her?
A few of her friends parents are key medical workers.
She would automatically try to hug everybody.
Most of her friends wont be there
It would probably be a different teacher every day
What do I do?
What is best?
Just to add , school is 40 mins drive from new house.