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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU disabled DC and school trip

333 replies

Manic20201 · 11/07/2021 00:10

My DC class is going on a school trip at the end of term. They school are refusing to take them due to disability ( tube fed )
We have had medical clearance from health team and she has a trained 1–1.
AIBU to believe ( this is now nearly 4 years of never attending a school trip ) that it’s getting ridiculous. She is so sad about it and waited a long time to go.

OP posts:
Original poster
Manic20201 · 11/07/2021 00:27

@LegoCaltrops it changes

It went from on a previous trip because of she needed an ambulance 1-1 wouldn’t be able to go with her. I should add she has never needed an ambulance from school.
Then next trip it was because all children with ehcp need a parent to come along ( this wasn’t true because the others didn’t )
Then it was because they decided she need a 2-1 for school trips ( ehcp states 1-1 ) and they taking her would mean taking another men ever of staff from school.
This time it’s medical reasons and that the risk assessment didn’t allow it.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 11/07/2021 00:27

@Manic20201

The excuses tend to be

“ health and safety “ “ medical reasons “
“ safe guarding “ or similar.

Yes but they're all very vague aren't they?

You need clarification.

If your child hasn't attended a single school trip for 4 years that's a really poor show.

This needs to be sorted out properly and not vaguely.

NoSquirrels · 11/07/2021 00:28

[quote Manic20201]@LegoCaltrops it changes

It went from on a previous trip because of she needed an ambulance 1-1 wouldn’t be able to go with her. I should add she has never needed an ambulance from school.
Then next trip it was because all children with ehcp need a parent to come along ( this wasn’t true because the others didn’t )
Then it was because they decided she need a 2-1 for school trips ( ehcp states 1-1 ) and they taking her would mean taking another men ever of staff from school.
This time it’s medical reasons and that the risk assessment didn’t allow it.[/quote]
Why haven’t you escalated a complaint about these previous trips before now? It sounds absolutely fucking awful!

starfishmummy · 11/07/2021 00:28

My son (now 23) was tube fed on school trips. It did take some perseverance though. It was a special school for children with physical disabilities and medical needs and he wasnt the only tube feeder so you would think it might be easier, but no!! In the early days I would be asked to go and for one trip the teacher said that if I didn't go to do his feed, then he couldn't go; and if he couldn't go then no one could go!! No pressure then!! I spoke to the headteacher and he soon put a stop to that!! Eventually they did train up staff to do the feed so it got easier and he managed his residential trip too.

We did find they always wanted two people trained up so that if there was a problem they could discuss it, and their competency had to be checked annually.

Stay strong. Start quoting the equality act to them!! It can be done!

Original poster
Manic20201 · 11/07/2021 00:28

So we did think we sorted it as it was a big discussion between professionals about it. It was then written in her ehcp. Then bang this happens.

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Walkingwounded · 11/07/2021 00:28

Is that even legal? Isn’t it some form of discrimination?

I would ask for a copy of their anti discrimination policy or similar and then pursue the complaints process up to the governors.

NoSquirrels · 11/07/2021 00:29

Why wouldn’t the 1-1 be able to go in the ambulance?

NoSquirrels · 11/07/2021 00:30

@Manic20201

So we did think we sorted it as it was a big discussion between professionals about it. It was then written in her ehcp. Then bang this happens.
Then shout REALLY loudly now.
StillRowing · 11/07/2021 00:30

That’s utter rubbish! I work in a special school where we have numerous pupils with tubes and pegs all of them go on every trip!

Original poster
Manic20201 · 11/07/2021 00:30

@starfishmummy she won’t be having any feeds at the time, all members of staffed are trained in emergency care and 2 in giving feeds including her 1-1.

I just don’t know what else to do to make it easier for her to go on the trips. It’s so heart breaking.

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WorraLiberty · 11/07/2021 00:31

Ask them to list every 'problem' in an email and then send it back with the solutions.

If that doesn't work (and I won't hold my breath if none of you have been able to sort this out in 4 years), you'll need to go above the school.

WorraLiberty · 11/07/2021 00:33

I just don’t know what else to do to make it easier for her to go on the trips. It’s so heart breaking.

You said you've not been able to go in 4 years because "I work etc have medical supply deliveries which can’t be missed."

Is there really no way you can take a day's annual leave and ask someone else to be there for the delivery?

Original poster
Manic20201 · 11/07/2021 00:34

@WorraLiberty you ate talking like I haven’t tried to sort it out. I have numerous times. I can’t tell you how many times. I have had to fight for an education for her from day 1.
I went above the school but they then make out all is fine to the LA and then make promises etc

Have you ever dealt with the LA ? They are all in trying to just get you to stay put.

OP posts:
Original poster
Manic20201 · 11/07/2021 00:35

Worra I Have attended I have said that mutiple times but no this time I can not go and they shouldn’t be relying on me.

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Original poster
Manic20201 · 11/07/2021 00:36

The deliveries I can’t no they have to be signed by from me as I am the one using them.
They then need to be stored correctly.

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Dddccc · 11/07/2021 00:38

What is the trip? Ppl might be able to help more if they knew

kathmacc · 11/07/2021 00:39

I presume your child has a EHCP -contact your caseworker with LEA immediately and escalate your grievance following your school’s published system - usually head teacher followed by governors etc. My son has Down’s syndrome and attended mainstream primary school and went on all residential trips without any family members and just his allocated school support - if anything your child should be easier to accommodate as it is a straight forward medical need - I assume this trip is in term time ?

RubyGoat · 11/07/2021 00:39

They need to clarify why her 1-1 wouldn't be able to go in the ambulance. If it's her 1-1, not assigned even partly to another child, I don't understand why not. The 1-1 shouldn't be there to make up numbers or anything. If there is even a remote possibility that your DD may ever have to go in an ambulance with a staff member, why does she not have a 1-1 assigned wholly to her?

TBH this sounds suspiciously like bullcrap from the school.

Original poster
Manic20201 · 11/07/2021 00:39

It’s just a half a day local trip. It’s nothing like out of the ordinary like ice skating or a 5 day residential.

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Original poster
Manic20201 · 11/07/2021 00:41

She has a fully funded 1-1 just for her yes the school don’t pay for this member of staff.
The ambulance baffles me a little bit to because surely she wouldn’t be allowed to go in ambulance from school either.
We have LA review coming up so I am going to write everything down.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 11/07/2021 00:42

@Manic20201

Worra I Have attended I have said that mutiple times but no this time I can not go and they shouldn’t be relying on me.
No, I get that but as you've not been able to attend for 4 years and they've not been able to get anyone (or allowed anyone) to attend for 4 years, something needs to give and that's why you really do need written clarification - then write back with a solution to every problem.

Have you ever dealt with the LA ? They are all in trying to just get you to stay put.

I was Chair of Governors for 11 years at my local primary school.

I'm assuming you've contacted the Chair and they're just as unhelpful?

WorraLiberty · 11/07/2021 00:44

TBH this sounds suspiciously like bullcrap from the school.

@LegoCaltrops yes it really does.

It's ridiculous how long this has gone on.

notthemum · 11/07/2021 00:45

This is not legal. Do you have a social worker ? A family worker ? Complain to the Lea , you will need to make a complete nuisance of yourself. Complain to Ofsted. Write (not email) your local MP , write to minister for disabilities, the minister for education. Send them all copies of your childs EHCP.
Do not let them fob you off.
When is the trip ?

Original poster
Manic20201 · 11/07/2021 00:47

Worra I think I have worded something badly. She is in year 3 so only been at school 4 years.
I have been on trips ( to park etc ) but in 4 years they have never allowed her on any trips without me.
She has missed mainly the big ones like this one because they normally land on a Friday. Fridays are genuinely impossible. This particular one lands on daughters annual MDT and I can’t miss is.
I also tbh don’t want to go to shadow my daughter anyway she is becoming more independent and already struggles with being “ different “
I have in the last offered to go in the same way other parents go as in a parent help but not as daughters 1-1.
So it wasn’t so obvious if that makes sense.

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Original poster
Manic20201 · 11/07/2021 00:48

When I did raise this in a big meeting the HT knocked it down with the whole 2-1 scenario and how I would be depriving another child of a 1-1 in school.
He then said well it’s only like 6 days a year like it didn’t mean anything to daughter.

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