School forcing 8am start for my SEN girl?

[emmapemma91]

So I’m having quite a lot of bother with my little girls school. She’s not settling in very well and becoming very distressed when going into school and can become aggressive.
She’s waiting on assessment for possible Autism. She’s 6 and in year 2.

She’s on a reduced timetable at the minute but the school are forcibly telling me they want her in at 8am to give her time to settle before her class come in at 8.45. I’ve told them each time my sons school taxi comes sometime between 8.15 - 8.25 and I can’t get her there, chase her around while she tries to run away, then carry her into school then be back in time for my sons taxi. Yet every day they say the same thing, she hasn’t settled and needs to be in 8am. If I miss his taxi I can’t get him to school as I don’t drive and it’s quite far away.

Is there any solution? I’m sick of fighting with the school to support my daughter.

• A move to (current) Primary School closer to their current address. The panel agreed that this was an appropriate referral. *

This was the minutes I got obviously with sensitive information took out.

8skeptile excellent post.

Hi sorry if this has also been suggested, what about zig you cycles to pick up your daughter on a night, left your bike at the school (they nearly all have covered bike stands). Then on a morning you ds and dd walk fo school (push sons bike), then you and son ride home. A 20 minute walk might only be a 5 minute ride?

Sorry I don't know what your son's disability is but if this is not appropriate could you get an adapted bike that he could sit on the back of or something to pull on the back?

@GracieLouFreebushh

Hi sorry if this has also been suggested, what about zig you cycles to pick up your daughter on a night, left your bike at the school (they nearly all have covered bike stands). Then on a morning you ds and dd walk fo school (push sons bike), then you and son ride home. A 20 minute walk might only be a 5 minute ride?

Sorry I don't know what your son's disability is but if this is not appropriate could you get an adapted bike that he could sit on the back of or something to pull on the back?

Its was only a matter of time until someone suggested this!

The school are breaking the law! the OP has told them very clearly that what they want to do, does not work for her! a solution is for the school to act lawfully! and give the OPs DD equal access to a fulltime education the same as her peers. They can do this my supporting an EHCP application and applying for emergency funding in the mean time! The school think they can fix this without having to go to all that trouble. This is not meeting the childs needs, it is bending the child to suit a budget!

I think people don’t have the slightest idea how many “little extra efforts” the parents of disabled children are supposed to accommodate to access the education their children are entitled to and we have all paid for.

@Wolfiefan

But they are trying to support her aren’t they? What would you like them to do instead OP?

Balls to that.

Maybe work together with the parent to find a scenario that works for both, rather than high handedly imposing something impossible that will add huge amounts of stress to this family's morning thereby virtually guaranteeing that it won't work ?

Alright McFarts, calm yourself down. The OP had asked if there was a solution and that was one suggestion. There is obviously disagreement about what OPs daughter's needs are and sounds like they are putting effort in by her starting early and would like to give this a good chance to build a routine. Is this not worth trying?

It sounds like OP wants to work with the school and if it doesn't work they can look at something else. Lots of parents use bicycles for drop off/pick up so don't see why that's such a ridiculous suggestion.

Pink If you think yr2 is late to get an EHCP then you would be shocked that I'm trying to get one for Ds age 16 and in year 12!

Such a depressing thread.

The majority of people think a child with SEN is a inconvenient drain on the school and other pupils.

So it was, so it ever will be.

Maybe it is also the hidden view of a SEN school near me who refused to open back up in April for the vulnerable with EHCPs.

This is world we have to raise our kids into. That's why i always have a hollow bitter laugh when parents to be expecting children with DS are told that life is wonderful and 100% accessible to kids with DS now days and they will live exactly the same life as someone without DS.

Utter BS.

Year 2 is pretty early to have an EHCP where autism is a factor, I feel. Unless it’s alongside learning difficulties that are pretty obvious.

The school are not making an effort. Expecting a child to go into school 45 min early and then only stay for a hour and then still expecting it when they know this won't work with another child needing to go on school transport is not working with the family and putting the child and family at the centre of things which is what they are legally required to do.

What is going on is undoubtedly discrimatory although I would have an ehcp and the right support the end game rather than just pursuing the discrimination side at the moment

@DobbinReturns wr had the same blaming my anxiety due to his lack of school attendance no reports of him running away refusing to go into school attacking a ta and teachers chasing him all the way home. Apparently it was my anxiety that was the problem i held him out side of the school and i wouldn't work with school (i refused to allow them to physically force him). Then i was told many times how the school was working so hard to account for his lack of attendance so I wouldn't get fined but they couldn't keep doing it so i would then be threated with being referred for a fine if i didn't get him in school. I was doing everything i possibly can to get him there.

@Marmaladey

Year 2 is pretty early to have an EHCP where autism is a factor, I feel. Unless it’s alongside learning difficulties that are pretty obvious.

Only because schools often won't entertain ehcp for children with autism. Schools seem to have a very one view look of autism and it is far more complicated than that. Often a child that is said by school to be high functioning by a school is often the child that needs the most support but a child being labelled as high functioning by school shuts the door to all support even for family support.

@Marmaladey

Year 2 is pretty early to have an EHCP where autism is a factor, I feel. Unless it’s alongside learning difficulties that are pretty obvious.

Sorry based what?

My son had a ehcp from reception age

@Marmaladey

Year 2 is pretty early to have an EHCP where autism is a factor, I feel. Unless it’s alongside learning difficulties that are pretty obvious.

Please quote from the code of practice where abouts the age range isnt 0-25 if you have ASD.

Thanks.

@Legoandloldolls based purely on the parents I know. Sorry I was just musing rather than making a big factual statement (that’s why I said I feel). So many barriers are put in place that kids end up struggling along while schools say “oh maybe we need a bit more evidence”.

And it was a response to an earlier poster who said year 2 was late to have an EHCP in place, which it definitely isn’t in my experience. I know parents fighting to get one at just about every age.

@JalapenoDave

The school are trying their best to support your daughter OP. YABU.

By operating an illegal part time timetable and failing to support an EHC needs assessment request? Are you joking, @JalapenoDave?

[quote Marmaladey]@Legoandloldolls based purely on the parents I know. Sorry I was just musing rather than making a big factual statement (that’s why I said I feel). So many barriers are put in place that kids end up struggling along while schools say “oh maybe we need a bit more evidence”.[/quote]
Oh ok sorry.

Kids can a ehcp from.birth, but that's rarer and would normally be the case if there is a condition identified nearer to birth.

The older a child gets the bigger their visable needs are hence the fight. My senco loved telling me a child had to be at least two years behind before assessment. That's a lie and no where in the COP

As you was 😉

The school are trying their best to support your daughter OP. YABU

Because children with SEN and/or disabilities should just be grateful for whatever crumbs are thrown their way....

Harley my 'high functioning' autistic child had zero support in school until year 10 (and then support was minimal). Consequently he now has significant mental health difficulties and struggles to function normally at all.

I worded it badly @Legoandloldolls, no worries. I was trying to be brief and sometimes forget everyone else can’t see the rest of the thoughts in my head.

My now 15 year old had a statement of SEN to start reception, that sailed through.

My now 7 year old I applied for the EHCNA in Yr1, 10.10.18, the LA refused to assess, then conceded, refused to issue then conceded and issued a final plan December 2019.

We just had the tribunal hearing over contents and placement last week. We'll likely get the decision about 2 year's after the initial application. He's not currently attending school, supposed to be having tuition but that's not happened yet. we've also "electively" de-registered our younger child, but the whole situation with our 7 year old decimated the home/school relationship. It's been the most stressful time, the LA ignored mine and the school pleas then did a 180 and school and LA combined against us. We were up against a very skilled barrister (co author of a SEND law guide) and this whole thing has nearly broken me.

It really can be incredibly difficult to get an EHCP, even when you have a child the causes class evacuations, absconds classrooms etc.

Agree with those posters who know the reality of SEN - this thread shows just how naive so many are about the realities of dealing with a system that SAYS its inclusive but it’s actions don’t back up its words.

Well so far her work book is empty. She just sits under her table most of the time she’s there. I sat with her today while her class came in and it’s you can see straight away she gets anxious and starts to stim. I’m not sure what the best way forward is, I hate that I have to leave her there.