Child with SEN not in school

[abitofpeace]

A good friend of mine has a child with with newly diagnosed dyslexia and autistic.

She is a SAHM and husband isn’t a keyworker. Her Dd is only 6 and struggling with all the online work, none of it is differentiated for her and her Dd is crying every day at home. Her Dd hasn’t been asked into school and friend has accepted this because she said she felt mustn’t be entitled. My friend worries about upsetting the teacher by asking.

The strange thing is that some of the keyworker children at school seem less entitled than my friends Dd. In many situations the parent is able to work from home, some are SAHM with a keyworker husband.

AIBU to ask my friend to push for a place at school for her Dd considering her barrier to learning?

Her Dd is getting very anxious I think about the work, I’m going to speak to my friend about it today.

You're not automatically offered a place because a child is SEN. You need an EHCP in place and the SENco or head will reach out. I have 2 kids one with an EHCP and one with suspected ADHD but no EHCP. I'm a SAHM too and the school called at the beginning of lockdown and explained this to me, although I'm happy to keep them at home.

If she is struggling then why doesn't she ask the school directly? You could go down the emotional well-being route?

The strange thing is that some of the "keyworker children at school seem less entitled than my friends Dd"

I teach a lot of families who look 'less entitled' but unfortunately they have a lot of need for being in school, which other parents aren't privvy to!

Honestly, your friends needs to contact the teacher! I have given a range of activities to my home learners, to ensure the work for the least able to the most able. Unfortunately, parents needs to also be transparent and honest with the teacher!!

Instead of just assuming that her daughter deserves a place over others, ask your friend to be frank with the school about the struggles at home.

I honestly wish her the best of luck though - it's immensely difficult for everybody xxx

The school should have provision for high need SEN children, if the child is autistic then non of this will make sense. School is school home is home. You should push for a place using his diagnosis as to why. Schools are there to support not babysit

Is he on an educational support plan? If not he may not qualify?

If your friend's daughter has an EHC plan then they are allowed to be in school. Your friends can absolutely push for her to be in.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision#vulnerable-children-and-young-people

I am absolutely sick to the back teeth of reading that if a child has an EHCP they are entitled to a school place ,it's just not true ,my son is at a special school he has an EHCP as do all the children in his school they are all classed as vulnerable due to their complex learning disabilities but school IS NOT OPEN!and neither was it during the last lockdown either!!!!

As she has an EHCP there should be a space reserved for her because vulnerable children have priority. DC school told us that they have to keep a space open for DS even if its not used due to EHCP.

Nearly all special school children are at home. It just isn't workable to have everyone with an EHCP in school. We are just doing the best we can. DD1 is 15 years old with English skills of a year 1.

I know that @Lougle but I'm sick posters trotting out children with EHCP,s are entitled to a school place because most of the most vunerable children are not .

The other children in school are irrelevant.

My ds has adhd/ asd i am a keyworker and work 3 days a week currently. He doesn't have an echp but senco encouraged me to increase his days so is now doing 4 days a week.

But all tge judging most people i know don't even know he is in school because i have no time to be dealing with their judgy comments.

If your friends child us struggling then yes she can ask for a place or differentiated work.

My ds first lockdown found it less stressful been at home initially but as time went on his mh sufferee and he became a danger to himself so he has gone into school this time.

I would suggest the friend actually does her own research school isn't often best place to help sen.

She's only 6. She wont be helped with the work more at school than she will at home, its only TAs providing supervised childcare. If anything I would be worried that with autism being at school but with a radically environment and none of the usual routine it could be very upsetting for her there too.

I keep seeing this on here and it’s absolutely not true in some schools. Yes, last time schools were just providing childcare for keyworker children, but this time the curriculum hasn’t been suspended. In my DS’s class, the teacher is in school, and definitely providing teaching. She’s simultaneously doing 2 zoom classes per day too for the children at home, and frankly doing a really good job at keeping them engaged and interacting with them AND the kids in class. DH and I are both keyworkers, and I’ve compressed my hours into 3 days so DS is home 2 days a week with me, so I have been able to compare.

OP, I’d advise your friend to talk to the SENCo and the headteacher and see if they’ll let her come in, perhaps on Monday and Friday when it seems quieter - at DS’s school at least.

YABVU. The whole m point if the lockdown is people who can stay at home should do. She can so she should. She has a SAHM! Absolutely not, should she be going in to school. It sounds like there are far too many in already. 8! They are taking the piss.

@x2boys

I know that *@Lougle* but I'm sick posters trotting out children with EHCP,s are entitled to a school place because most of the most vunerable children are not .

We X-posted I was saying the same as you.

My son has asd and no ehcp.

Lockdown one (year six) we kept him off and it was horrendous for him. Not enough structure or routine and the knock on effects we are still dealing with.

In the meantime, he has transitioned to year 7 well, although its not been easy for him.

This lockdown, we have still kept him off, and its been much better fir him, more structured lessons. We have created a new normal for the time being. However, speaking to his support worker, if we want to send him in, either full or part time, they will support us with that. And if I felt that it would be beneficial for him then I would definitely send him.

Ah ok sorry @Lougle

The entire ehcp issue is far more complicated than most people understand. If you have a special school with 200+ children all with an ehcp they can't all possibly be given a school place. Our local special school is closed entirely even to key workers children.

@Lougle and @x2boys, I know that many special schools are closed to all pupils and I think its a scandal that the children who attend them have basically been thrown over but in the context of mainstream schools who are open, vulnerable children have priority there.

Actually at 6 I would be using this time to go back to making sure she is secure in the basics and build her confidence for when she returns back to school.

Tell school that’s the plan and if they can help. Otherwise do it yourself and tell school you will send a daily summary of what you have done and examples of any work.

Use the chance to help her get a really solid foundation.

The teaching should be equal for those at home and those at school. That is what our school is doing. I'm not surprised everyone wants to send their dc in if those in school are getting proper teaching in small classes and those at home are getting worksheets.

Its only children with EHCPs automatically entitled to be in. Those with SEN its up to the school and most are saying no. Really though they should be helping provide appropriate work

My 9 year old has Autism but no EHCP.
He was home throughout the first lockdown but was offered a place this time.
I may be a SAHM but DS needs to be in school. He is completely unable to work from home. He spent whole days under his bed not communicating. He just can't cope with homeschool.

I absolutely do not feel guilty about it, things were horrendous and violent. I have a 7 year old who remains at home and I can now teach her.

Your friend should talk to the SENCO, they won't know she struggling if you don't tell anyone.

I have two with autism and other SEN. One has an EHCP and school are pushing for him to go in as he can’t work online. He is year 10.

My daughter hasn’t got an EHCP but is not coping at home at all, full on meltdowns every single day, breaking things attacking us daily but she cannot go to school.

@x2boys and @spikeyfish and any others with children in special schools which aren't open, if you think your children would be better off in school (which I realise isn't a given) contact your local authority education department and push for it. If your children have cwd social workers, ask them to do the same.

OP in your friend's scenario a phone call to school to discuss adequate differentiation seems to be the wisest course of action. The plan in place for her education, whether echp or an in school plan, should still be being followed.