To want guidance about how SEN kids are going to go back to school?

[IceCreamSummer20]

I know I’ve posted in AIBU but I do think this is a wide issue affecting many people.

My DS with severe SEN is due to go back to his school in a few weeks. I am concerned but overall I am happy that he will go back. I have home schooled him for months by myself, had zero respite, had to cancel all his therapies (because not medically urgent) and all plans, I’ve lost my part-time work. Very difficult to take him out as he doesn’t understand, gets upset and touches everything and gets close to everyone. It’s tough for everyone I get it and we are lucky to still have a home.

But I feel like I’ve gone into a black hole. I honestly have no idea how to get him back into school and whether this is going to just be another trauma for him and us. Heard nothing from the school except that his teacher has gone on a career break and an inexperienced one will take his place. Of course I’m contacting the school etc but they are overwhelmed and don’t really know what to do.

I do want a more ‘Denmark’ model of safe Covid schooling - and aside from washing hands there is no other measures. DS will find it difficult to wear a mask on the bus - and I’m torn between wanting to make school a good experience but also wanting him to not have ‘less’ protection because he is SEN - which also doesn’t seem fair. I’ve come up with a Plan A, B and C but would love more guidance on how to help SEN kids with this really difficult decision / transition. School or home school, it would be great to have support for both options!

I can’t be the only one in this position! What is everyone else deciding to do?

I don't think school risk assessments can exclude SEN kids anymore, can they?

We are in Scotland so already back. This might be helpful in terms of what to ask for, it was developed to support the Scottish Government Autism Strategy and the back to school plans are good I thought, they give a list of suggested adjustments. My DS is mainstream and I asked for a phased return for the first full week back (early finishes) plus some of the stuff on the list. The school was reluctant until I forwarded the document from the govt body, which points out to that making adjustments may be covered by the Equality Act. They agreed to everything I asked for after that!

www.thirdspace.scot/nait/

@Hercwasonaroll
The head at dds school just sent a weekly catch up (to the whole school) it was really appreciated and their school has been amazing - I only mentioned it because it seemed a big contrast to ds's school, and their general approach to communication seemed so different.

Sorry you seem to think I am being unreasonable in expecting more from ds's school - but they really have not been great throughout, especially with in supporting the children with SEN, and to now be threatening us with fines if we decide to keep ds home, well..it stings.

Tbf government have been clear on fines. Schools have to follow whatever the government says.

Your ds secondary sounds like they've gone above and beyond with emails. I genuinely don't know what ours would say apart from we're still waiting...!

My DCs school said due to the EHCPs they were staying open after the announcement to close. I'd already decided to keep my son off - purely because his siblings school closed & he wouldn't have understood why it was safe for him to go but not his sibling.
They sent a text out the following Monday saying school was closed as of that afternoon.

I set work for him, emailed it to his teacher weekly etc. Had response to that from his teacher (can't fault her, she was fantastic) with more ideas of work to do with him BUT heard nothing from the rest of the school until June, when they announced they were opening up for more Keyworker & Vulnerable children (Nothing had gone out since that text in March!) that children would be 'risk assessed' and we would be contacted regarding it. Nope, nothing at all apart from the weekly response to my emails.
His teacher knew nothing beyond 'you will be contacted regarding the assessment'.

Staggered starts to go back, Week 1: 1 day. Week 2: 3 days. Week 3: full time. They've said we'll be contacted by transport due to having to stagger this also - heard nothing as of yet.
Strange though, shared transport as usual, avoiding 'crowded corridors' yet they're treating the school as 1 bubble