To just let you know (re, SEN funding)

[theqentity]

That TA in the class that does 1-1 with the child that had additional needs is not funded by the school, but the LA, and a parent had to probably go to tribunal in order to get that level of support for their child.

What they are NOT doing is taking away from the school funding and the education of others. They are not there to support other children, although many do despite it not being in their job description.

Sorry, just the pass gag What's App group has really depressed me today.

Having taken my LA to tribunal, I am pretty well versed on SEN law and funding.

That doesn't trump the experience of the previous poster who was a SenCo, and who has stated that her school had funded TAs for children that they felt needed the support prior to EHCP and LA funding (which is also what happens in my school and I'm sure many others).

It isn't a completely separate pot in many schools. If it should be, that's a separate point, but it isnt.

@DeepaBeesKit

It doesnt make it right OP, everyone thinks it's wrong but its not other parents fault and you can't make other parents not want what's best for their own children just as you want what's best for yours.

No, what is the 'other parents fault' is not understanding that the support being provided to our kids is being paid for via their EHCP and is not part of the schools general budget.

@Poppitt58

I’m sorry you’re going through this, SEND funding is shocking, and it really isn’t good enough. However, the funding model you describe isn’t the norm in my LA. Usually the funding specified on the EHCP will go towards the 1:1 TAs wages, but rarely covers all. The 1:1 TAs at my school are employed by the school not the LA despite some of their wage coming from, and their contract being dependent on the EHCP.

Because many don't know that schools do not pay for SEND provision in law (that includes the notorious £6k NB) - it is 100% the responsibility and legal duty of the LA.

In law. The issue is holding the corrupt LA's accountable.

But, like I said, none of that is my kid's fucking fault.

@DeepaBeesKit

It isn't a completely separate pot in many schools. If it should be, that's a separate point, but it isnt.

In LAW, it is.

@DeepaBeesKit

It isnt music lesson money. It can be reading book money. It can be toilet paper money. It can be general TA money meaning a teacher struggles to offer small group support to children who aren't SEN, but are just a little lower in ability and need a bit of extra help on their maths etc.

But none of that is the fault of the individual who needs support. That’s the fault of local authorities not providing schools with the correct funding and resources to support them.

Ds primary school allocated him a 1-1 while we fought together to get the local authority to change his ehcp to make it worth the paper it’s written on. Them allocating it helped DS to be able to be educated in the meantime and helped provide vital evidence of the difference it would make.

Too many local authorities deliberately avoid making things so provision is right. They will take the cheaper option and word things in a wooly way to get away with it. Then schools either need to pick up the slack or the child fails.

@Scissor

It is why some schools may suggest they are "not be able to meet the needs" of EHCP children, that £6k is not ring fenced.

Truly inclusive schools can take a battering in league tables, it takes a determined head and governors to stay strong in welcoming all.

"So, there we have it, the law requires that LAs provide sufficient funding so that schools can fund SEND provision up to £6,000 per pupil per annum"

So it is ring fenced as SEN funding. If a school has 10 SEN pupils they are to be given SEN funding pot of £60,000 per annum reguardless of need. If funding need for even one pupil goes above the £6000 allocated for that child the LA are required to fund that increase.

@DeepaBeesKit

It doesnt make it right OP, everyone thinks it's wrong but its not other parents fault and you can't make other parents not want what's best for their own children just as you want what's best for yours.

Those parents are willing to fight for 1-1 support for their child if they believe they need it.

I will forever be grateful to the infant school that spent £20k + of their budget in just 1 year supporting one of my twins (before ehc was finally put in place and funding was available) the money/time/specialist interventions and knowledgeable staff the school provided helped him to develop a love of learning and develop the wider social skills he desperately needed. He's an academic teen with a wide group of friends now at a specialist school and fancies himself a future primary teacher, a goal that should be achievable for him.

@Sirzy

It’s amazing how many people get jealous of the provision provided so children can attend school yet don’t want to take on the battles and fights faced by the child and their parents!

For the provision OR for daily life! None of them would swap your child's needs for Tarquin or Jayden's abilities, but they are all to happy to shout about the unfairness if any support.

They're twats, TRY not to let their ignorance upset you x

Another issue is the difference approach between schools being supportive of the EHCP application or not.

In my experience if you have a disruptive child the cogs turn faster but if you have a child with great needs who masks so it only affects their progress and not the teacher then you have to fight all the way.

I would imagine this leads to a huge discrepancy between boys and girls.

@DeepaBeesKit

Yes so the point is it is the fault of the LAs not funding it properly, but where they don't, why should other people's kids be shortchanged instead of yours? It does happen and yes, parents will grumble where that happens.

So basically your in the leave the child to fail camp. At least your making that clear.

Fair doesn’t mean spending the same on every child. Fair means putting things in place so all children can access the curriculum.

I am sure those parents complaining at 1-1 support being given are the same ones who complain if the actions of another pupil disrupts the classroom too!

@Sirzy

It’s amazing how many people get jealous of the provision provided so children can attend school yet don’t want to take on the battles and fights faced by the child and their parents!

Those are the parents i'd love to ask if they'd like their child to have the disability to go along with the extra provision... and everything that entails that us parents have to handle.

@Willyoujustbequiet

Another issue is the difference approach between schools being supportive of the EHCP application or not.

In my experience if you have a disruptive child the cogs turn faster but if you have a child with great needs who masks so it only affects their progress and not the teacher then you have to fight all the way.

I would imagine this leads to a huge discrepancy between boys and girls.

Absolutely!

My point is: LAs may be corrupt, schools and sencos may be a bit crap, but my child's right to funding for additional support is enshrined in law and ring-fenced. He is not taking anything away from other children.

@DeepaBeesKit

Yes so the point is it is the fault of the LAs not funding it properly, but where they don't, why should other people's kids be shortchanged instead of yours? It does happen and yes, parents will grumble where that happens.

Jesus Christ your ignorance is beyond belief

The whole system sucks.
It isn't any parents' fault, not the ones fighting for SEN support for their dc or the parents' of NT dc who want funding for their dc's education either.

There is simply too little funding for schools and that places strains on everyone.

@DeepaBeesKit

Yes so the point is it is the fault of the LAs not funding it properly, but where they don't, why should other people's kids be shortchanged instead of yours? It does happen and yes, parents will grumble where that happens.

because other kids being 'short changed' isn't going to affect their ability to access their education.

This sums it up.

I can't understand how other parents have the time, energy and resources to complain about this yet not to support their own child at home, if they're behind.

I'm just a regular parent of low-average intelligence but I can see that the child in my kid's class who has a 1-1 needs it in ways that my own low-average performing kid certainly doesn't. If I want to get my kid achieving more, that's on me.

And the worst of it all is the children who’s parents aren’t able to navigate the system to fight and fight for the basics their child is entitled to are the ones who really suffer.

Not the child’s fault. Not the parents fault. The fault of a system designed to fail children with additional needs.

No you guys are deliberately misreading my posts.

You are getting the funding. You should be. We all agree your kid needs the support.

I'm really sorry if other parents are targeting their grumbles at you. They shouldn't be. But one child needing more support doesnt mean other kids need/deserve no support. There isn't enough money spent generally, and that means the parents of the kids who access less support will feel hard done by. Their gripe should be with the LA not you I'm just saying I understand how they feel in terms of wanting what's best for their own kids as you do for yours.