To think if children do not go back (to school) until. September, thats a lot of very vulnerable children who have been completely off the radar for 6 months??

[calpolatdawn]

Its one of my main concerns really. By this i dont mean that are vulnerable because they are poor with disabled, unable to work, or hardworking parents. I mean at risk of domestic abuse, other forms of abuse or maybe poverty, job losses, stress as a result of that,But too proud to access help. aibu in wondering what might come out after this is over, 4 children in this country have died already in DV murders 😔, i get very worried,.

I’m asking for a break down on my child’s EHCP funding at the annual review. The have quite the budget for my child and haven’t managed a phone call.

I though what Marcus Rashford said about friends parents inviting him over so they could know he'd eaten was lovely (and very sad). It's the sort of thing I can imagine both my grandmothers doing but less so me or my parents, too busy with our own lives to even notice a hungry child. How many of us have checked on our neighbours' children during this time?

No one is " affronted" , they are just explaining what is happening in their school. No one has said it is perfect or that there won't be some cases that do fall through the gaps. But the gaps aren't the sole responsibility of schools, they are everyone's responsibility.

I'm not the one making 'Clarissa and Tarquin' comments. As someone who had worked in schools for many years I'm very aware that vulnerable children can come from all backgrounds.

But sadly every year some children are missed. Covid will make this harder this year. But many schools are doing their best to contact children, so welfare checks and keep in touch with families where there are known issues or where we suspect their are issues. We are reacting to things flagged up to us and we are proactive for those we have some information known to us.

It's trickier right now too as a lot of the services schools use to help with issues aren't available in the same way.

My youngest child was classed as vulnerable at the start of all this because of her poor mental health. Bearing in mind it was the school who classed her as vulnerable, their support has been somewhat lacking. Her link teacher hasn’t been in touch since April and the school head teacher who is meant to phone each week didn’t phone for three weeks, then did phone, then missed this week again. Completely inadequate. So yes, I am VERY worried about schools missing the children who need support, because some schools aren’t doing a very good job of supporting those they know need extra help.

@GravityFalls are you saying that hard working children who are engaging with their work and doing what they're meant to be doing wont ever be at risk of domestic abuse?

I think people are missing the point OP

I'm not affronted by others saying their schools haven't put things in place.
It annoys me when posters say teachers and schools aren't doing anything. Because many are. And most teachers have little say as individuals anyway.

I think we need to start directly the 'blame' in the right directions though - mainly the Government for their shocking lack of information, broken promises via briefings, ever changing guidance sheets for schools which come out days/weeks after announcements and their use of headline statements publicly where there's no plan in place to action what they say. They get parents expecting one thing and then leave schools and LEAs to take the flack when what's been announced isn't actually feasible.

The use of the word vulnerable doesn’t really help as all children are vulnerable as they are reliant of their care from others. My parents were not bad people but unemployment during the 80s led to depression fuelled by alcohol and prescription drug addiction it was my neighbours who fed me. If this had been lockdown I do not know what would of happened.

Schools have been open to vulnerable kids. Phone calls home are used to check if anyone may have missed the radar. However, not all children who should be in are in.

DS1 has several learning difficultues plus a recent diagnosis of ASD. He masks through school. They've seen him reluctant to go in a few times. They have never seen a 3-4 hour raging meltdown.
We haven't sent back any work because it wasn't appropriate for him to access and we switched to Bitesize after Easter. I'm a former teacher and have been working through what we do and marking etc. I've had a few dojos (none since his teacher was redeployed to a new bubble) and one 20 minute phonecall over a month ago about his targets. He has not been communicated with directly. Fortunately we are doing well, but we've had umpteen situations over the years where a less calm, less patient parent would have faltered. School is placing a lot of faith in DS's masking in school and my DBS check with them.
I've had more contact with DS2's teacher who is more proactive anyway, but I'm not clear whether that is him being a more conciencious teacher or a specific family contact.

As ever schools vary in what they do, some are more proactive than ever.
Children on the radar are a known "hazard" but some always do slip under, and there will be children in difficulties now that weren't 3 months ago before the pressures of social isolation/ redundancy/ WFH/ bereavement/ addiction hit their families. Children have less voice than ever for speaking out if their families are failing them.

Bit of a click bait title! Our vulnerable students have been encouraged to come in and the SEN department have had them in daily. They’ve had calls, meetings, regular contact. I think you’re uninformed at best, a goady wind up merchant at best.

Equally there are some schools out there which are just lazy. Plain lazy and haven’t taken any responsibility at all. I work in a school and I’ve been flat out. Everyone is contacted weekly, good home learning from the get go. We haven’t stopped. Equally my child’s school set nothing, actually positively encouraged parents to do no home learning as they couldn’t be bothered to prepare it. Not been in contact with my child who as an EHCP.

I get it, I work in a school, but it’s a fallacy to pretend all schools are doing their job and are doing what they can. They certainly are not.

Not all known vulnerable children have a school place, not all children with an ECHP have a school place. It’s often said as fact but the ECHP is not worth the paper it is written on as Covid law removed its legal requirement to reasonable endeavour.

@Cherrysoup so you are inviting all children in? Or are you making the ill founded assumption that you know which children are vulnerable?

Our vulnerable children aren't vulnerable because of SEND. They're vulnerable because their lives outside school put them at risk of harm.

At my school, teachers are calling every child (who is not in school) once a week.

Children with an EHCP or vulnerable are encouraged to be in school. Most of them are. If not, we are calling them three times a week.

We know which children are 'vulnerable', if not listed as such officially, and are offering places.

Also, if we cannot make contact with a family for more than a week, we will conduct a home visit welfare check.

Please don't think im digging at teachers, i don't think noone has tried to do anything, im talking about like a PP said the more hidden cases. which maybe due to isolation /financial stresses will create more tensions. I get an email from the learning mentor weekly as my youngest has SEN and will not engage workwise really at all, tiny amounts are a struggle, i havent told them im also battling hypermesis gradivarium, (HG) . but as im getting further on i will have to tell them to explain the lack of work and why some days i simply cannot battle with him.

Please tell them. They might be able to help, or at least flog you up as needing extra support. Tell them what might help you and your child so they can see whether anything is actually possible. Obviously they can't break the rules for you and offering you a school place may not be possible, but there may be something that can be done, even if it's just taking the pressure off.

Yeah, ive been hesitant, feel like its a wierd thing to tell a teacher as im only 15 weeks, but if they are thinking strangely of it, then i suppose at least they know. My youngest displays PDA traits, y
trying to cojole learning whilst dry heaving and holding a bucket is not very productive. if he was a different year he could be back by now its a shame. I know some parents who flat out aren't doing any school work, its an individual choice sometimes i think what the bloody hell am i doing?

Our vulnerable students have been encouraged to come in and the SEN department have had them in daily. They’ve had calls, meetings, regular contact. I think you’re uninformed at best, a goady wind up merchant at best.

Well thank goodness no new children have fallen into poverty as a result of this crisis, or suffered from isolation, or been forced to wait even longer for an assessment as vulnerable, or had parents experienced new or worsening mental health.

It's a bit concerning if an actual teacher thinks that they know everyone who is vulnerable, despite the extreme situation and despite having not seen them for months.

Of course we have no idea of every individual family circumstances and how they have changed. But what do you expect us to do? We can't stop people falling into poverty, although we are constantly reminding parents how to apply for FSM if circumstances change. We can't force the government to abandon social distancing so children aren't isolated, although we have regular zoom meetings for classmates to chat and connect. We can't force other services to complete assessments and interventions, although we are still making referrals and conducting meetings via remote. We can't stop mental health problems increasing, although we constantly signpost support systems and services that may be able to help. Until we can get all children back in school and all support services up and running, we will do what we can.

this thread is not a criticism of teachers, its more a general worry about the consequences.

It is a worry, I'm hoping the vast majority of schools are checking up on children regularly, even those that aren't known to have been vulnerable before. Schools aren't responsible for children's welfare, but children often rely on going into school to have someone to talk to, have someone notice that they've not had their clothes washed or have been missing meals etc, and this is currently not available.

You’re right OP! I worry about the vulnerable children. I think it is time to work towards starting school again as soon as possible.