Hi all,
I do not know if I can bypass the official complaints process or if not what I can expect from the process and what outcome I can expect. Aibu to want to do this and ask for advice.
I don’t want this to be too long it will be long enough l, so I will stick to the facts and make it as short and concise as I possibly can.
I have two dc. A 9 year old in year 5, who is autistic, has adhd and is socially and emotionally around age 5/6. I have a 5 year old in reception class with no know additional needs.
When dc9 was in reception class (age 4 youngest in her year) she was left alone in the main part of school and was locked in the toilets. She was in there for about 1 hour until she was found because a passing member of staff heard her screaming. I was only informed of this at pick up the next day. Nothing was said about how she had not been missed by her teachers.
My dc5 was also lost 2 days into reception when the morning breakfast club staff (teachers) had been unaware that they had her despite her being with them for an hour and a half and them having her on the register. They had sent all the children out alone to find their own classes and had accompanied the younger ones. They had left my dc5 in the breakfast club room where she was waiting for instructions to her class. She had tried to walk to find her classroom but because she had only been in school a day and was at the other side of the school couldn’t find her way so was left in the main building alone until the deputy head found her crying, wandering around. Again her class teacher had not noticed her missing at register. I complained as no one informed me of this. It was dc5 herself who told me at home time and when I approached school they said the morning staff had forgotten they had her because she is so quiet. I complained officially to the head who said she had a word with them and it won’t happen again. I then paused my official complaint.
Today dc9 was supposed to leave at normal time with a friends parents. This was cancelled so I emailed, both of dc9’s teachers, the senco and the office staff to let them know she must not leave alone and was booked in after school club. I had officially booked her in last week. I rang the office 3 times too but there was no answer. I got an email back from senco to say she would sort it out and someone would let dc9 know and ensure she was cared for.
It has taken 2 years for an EHCP to be applied for despite my pushing. Up until two months ago dc9 had no additional support in school despite her needs and also being visually impaired. Her class teacher has done lots and lots for my dc off her own back and out of her own money and I cannot thank her enough but we still have the wider school issues. This also formed part of my initial complaint that I had paused as the head had asked the senco to address these issues so I agreed to wait.
I have just come home to find out dc9 had been let out at the end of school and had hung around the outside of school (main road, open fields, cliffs and woodland area) for what appears to be half an hour at the least. She was found by a member of staff from a local childcare provider not linked to school. They tired to ring school to inform them but no one answered. The childcare provider could not leave her own charges so had to send my dc9 back to school alone and hope she got there and someone could let her in ! School did not inform me she was let out and they could not find her and dc9 told me they shouted at her telling her they were worried where she was, when she got back. Yes dc9 should have gone back to school when no one collected her and I have told her this but she has sen and does not always think things through or make the right decisions. Some dc in year 5 do walk home alone but I have made it clear that this is unsafe for dc9 at this stage and I park in the school grounds because she has on 3 occasions nearly been knocked over due to her visual impairment and sometimes her behaviour.
I have emailed all those I ccd in to this mornings email and added the head teacher. I have asked for an explanation of what happened and why again no one informed me she was missing. I have asked about unpausing my official complaint.
to add dc9 has been lost 2 further times. Once she was put on the school bus even though I didn’t book it and I was waiting for her in the playground and I had to speedily follow the bus and get her off and another time when we were told to pick up early and they released dc9 without me being there and couldn’t find her for 30 mins until she came back to school. I had been searching the area as had a few teachers.
What can I expect from this complaint?
Can I bypass this given that they cannot safeguard my dc. where would I go with this?
To add info my dc9 is not disruptive in school, she is not violent and she is well behaved. She is academically bright. She is just socially behind. So day to day they can meet her needs.
thanks