To think they may as well say "don't send children with additional needs back in September"

[drspouse]

The current plan is:
All in bubbles of 30
All in the classroom together
All facing the front (WTF has that got to do with virus protection)
No use of shared spaces except at your rota time and after it's been bleached.
Teachers at the front, 2m away
AND focus on behaviour.

My DS has an EHCP and needs a space to escape to when the classroom gets too much. He's often been using a work space outside the classroom. We just looked round a lovely mainstream primary that has a behaviour base and a nurture base. Oh and a library and an ICT suite that children can access at lunchtime.
His previous school had very little space and the corridor was the library etc.

So how are schools supposed to cater for children who need time out of the classroom to prevent meltdown?
This includes children who are having a hard time at home, can't cope with playground noise etc. Not just those who have a diagnosis of SEN.

And children like my DD who have small group teaching outside the classroom most days - you can't do that with 2m separation and all facing the front even if you can disinfect the break out area.

So I'm guessing nobody really wants a child like my DS in their child's classroom if he's not allowed to go out to his calm down area when he needs to?

Well, I guess I knew the government didn't really want to deal with inconvenient children who don't fit their mould, but this confirms it.

I really feel for teachers, yet another impossible task.

@titbumwillypoo if schools were aware of just how much money LEAs were wasting then they would know how extra funding would probably not make any difference to the current situation.
In our LEA for example last year they took over 100 parents to SENDIST, these were parents wanting provision for their children mostly unrepresented and relying on support from charities and other people who had been there before them. The LEA have their own legal team and on top were employing barristers at enormous expense against unrepresented parents. In 98.7% of Tribunals the judge ruled that the child was legally entitled to that provision.
Just as a tiny aside, but also a personal experience our LEA are currently funding dd's independent specialist school at £68k pa and transport at £150pw but also £200pw on a tutor who I have been trying to get the LEA to cease since before lockdown. They can't/won't cease it until there is a meeting confirming we are all happy that the provision ceases and to establish that there is nothing more needed from the tutor. It is seemingly not enough that each individual confirms the provision isn't needed we need to have a meeting so currently LEA have paid £2400 for no reason because the tutor hasn't been here since before lockdown.
I'd also consider doing a FOI on your LEA to discover just how much they have in reserve whilst they are pleading poverty because our LA have a vast sum for education held in reserve whilst denying children with SEN an education to meet their needs.

Thank you @Lifejacket I find it scary how little regard schools and SENCos especially pay to the law. It's almost as if many have no idea that the EHCP is a legal document and not something to be glanced at and stuffed in a file whilst they work out what they can do with the extra funding whilst hopefully containing the child it is attached to.

Everyone is sad and scared for their kids wondering when they’ll get to go back and appalled by the amount of education lost so far but that doesn’t make it a competition where people get to attack others who are even more terrified that if their child does get their rightful place back that they won’t be able to take it up because the measures aren’t in place to assist them to cope with this, where’s the compassion gone? I haven’t had to fight every step of the way for my child’s right to education, I’m very angry with the government but to take it out on a child, shameful.

@hiredandsqueak Im not that kind, they must know and choose to be blase. The whole system is a shambles.

It’s a tough one but schools have to look at the needs of the many and not the few.

In our school, like many, there’s not enough space and not enough money to adapt to all children’s needs unfortunately.

@Ticktocklovelyclock

It’s a tough one but schools have to look at the needs of the many and not the few.

No schools need to work to meet the needs of every pupil.

Nobody expects perfection of course they don’t. Everyone knows things will be different and weird but that doesn’t mean schools don’t need to make best effort to ensure all students are safe and cared for.

@Sirzy. Yup, in an ideal world but we all know that’s just not the reality. I have D.C. that could do with support in school but it wont happen because there are the kids Th at need more support or who are endlessly disruptive who take up the time, energy and funds.

Ticktock which other minorities with protected characteristics do you think it is OK to exclude? Muslim pupils? Black pupils? Or is it only disabled pupils you think it is acceptable to discriminate against?

If your child needs support then push for it. Apply for an EHCNA. Don't condone the withdrawal of provision other DC are legally entitled to.

We have also been those parents forced down the legal route. We have threatened JR 3 times - for 2 of those the threat worked, one needed a pre-action letter.

Schools get the opportunity to raise issues when they are consulted prior to being named. If they think they can't meet the provision in section F then they should say so. If a child's needs change once they are already on the school's roll an early review should be called for the EHCP to be amended.

The liability falls with the school
Schools can’t win

"This lifeboat doesn't have any of the facilities mentioned in the brochure"

"That's because the ship sank and this is the LIFEBOAT!"

@Davincitoad what exactly can't schools win?

lovelyclock

"It’s a tough one but schools have to look at the needs of the many and not the few."

@ TicToc, no schools have to look at the needs of all their pupils and the LA has a legal duty to promote the well being and inclusion of kids with send (prioritise these children). Schools have to take a child named insection I of an ehcp. The la has to make the provision issection f or give reasons why which are directly related to covid 19 or families can take them to jr. The governors of school have to use best endevours to secure the sen provision.

There is no Spock legislation about the needs of the many outweighing the needs of the few. In fact the cfa is all about person centred practice.

The equality act even allows for bias unfair of people with disabilities.

The reason kids with send were given (should have been given) the option of having in school education all along is because they have more legal rights than kids without to it.

@LastTrainEast that analogyworks for kids without send. Kids with send notes much. Most have been jumping from sinking ships for years anyway. Welcome to the ocean.

For parents of children with send wanting to know what rights you have, this is a video by special needs jungle with one of the top barristers in education. Made earlier in lockdown but still very relevant, wortha watch.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=ADgUCQTD7Ic&feature=youtu.be

I cant believe people are prepared to argue that disabled people arent allowed on the lifeboat rather that put energy into arguing for the government to send another lifeboat since they've got plenty of notice before september.

I am in awe of how articulate so many of you are in advocating again and again on this thread for provision for their children with SEND. My energy levels for this are so low. Thank you for keeping going.

The reason kids with send were given (should have been given) the option of having in school education all along is because they have more legal rights than kids without to it.

so some kids having more legal rights than others is ok, is it!

LastTrainEast but both the ship and the lifeboat have legal requirements they have to meet. They might be different but both still have them.

"Icant believe people are prepared to argue that disabled people arent allowed on the lifeboat rather that put energy into arguing for the government to send another lifeboat since they've got plenty of notice before september."
They cant build new buildings before September though, can they.

@JaniceWebster kids withstand have more legal rights because they need them. It is to help combat discrimination and disadvantage that they face. This thread proves that as so many are saying it is ok for send kids to not receive an exucation as long as non send kids do. Essentially to help protect them from people like you.

I don’t want to argue my kids out of a place, they are desperate to go back I just want to see some compassion is all

#kids with send, auto typing is driving me nuts

@TabbyMumz so if they can't educate everyone why do you think it is ok to sacrifice send kids education?

They could utilise other council buildings, sports halls, churches, mosques, warehouses etc if needed. There are other options.

TabbyMumz - i think you are taking the metaphor a little too literally. There is no need for new buildings. Schools are anticipated to return in class sized bubbles. It is other parts of the leaked guidance that are making it difficult to return in September Some schools will do a brilliant job of inclusion and others wont.

The bottom line is education for disabled children isn't a "nice to have" when times are good.

Disabled children must have the same opportunities as other children, irrespective of hard times, recession, pandemics or anything else.

If we don't believe in rights for disabled children, then do we draw the line? Its a slippery slope right back to bloody victorian times and woke betide anyone who has the misfortune to end up disabled or with a disabled child. And dont think it won't happen to you, because everyone is just one illness or accident away from a lifelong disability.