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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be concerned about school residential?

77 replies

Hotchocolate2023 · 23/10/2023 20:04

Child is 9, autistic and adhd. Has a full EHCP and full time 1-1. His 1-1 is scheduled to remain at school looking after DC who don't want to go. My DC does want to go. School have stated that "they take lots of children with EHCPs on residentials" and left it at that. Lots of children with EHCPs aren't runners and prone to meltdowns. He has an individual behaviour plan to support his behaviour. They pulled a child off the trip last minute last year after it was all paid for because they risk assessed them out at the last opportunity.

They have said they must sign a code of conduct but it contradicts his well known needs.

AIBU to email now they are asking us to pay and ask exactly how he will be supported without his TA and for an individual risk assessment to show he has been properly planned for? My instinct is his 1-1 isn't going because they aren't planning on him going but they don't want to tell me no and want me to decide not to send him.

OP posts:
MoMandaS · 23/10/2023 20:08

Yes, you need to see the risk assessment before you decide he can go,and you need to decide he can go before paying. How's your relationship with the senco?

Diamondcurtains · 23/10/2023 20:10

My son is 24 now and severely autistic. He did go on one overnight trip away and his TA went with him. He went to a special school so a bit different but there’s absolutely no way I’d have allowed him to go without his TA. Your son is funded for 1:1 so she should attend with him. It’s there in his EHCP. It’s the school’s duty to provide the support detailed in section F of his EHCP.

Sometimeswinning · 23/10/2023 20:11

Plus can you be available? Ehcp covers school hours. Maybe you could be on hand to pick up. No TA will be able to be on constant during a residential. It’s knackering!

Russoooooo · 23/10/2023 20:11

Yes. Ask now. Ask for details of what ‘reasonable adjustments’ are being made to ensure he can take a full part in the residential.

Sometimeswinning · 23/10/2023 20:12

Diamondcurtains · 23/10/2023 20:10

My son is 24 now and severely autistic. He did go on one overnight trip away and his TA went with him. He went to a special school so a bit different but there’s absolutely no way I’d have allowed him to go without his TA. Your son is funded for 1:1 so she should attend with him. It’s there in his EHCP. It’s the school’s duty to provide the support detailed in section F of his EHCP.

I doubt it will say residential/overnight hours.

Hellodarknessmyoldpal · 23/10/2023 20:12

AIBU to email now they are asking us to pay and ask exactly how he will be supported without his TA and for an individual risk assessment to show he has been properly planned for?

Yes this is exactly what you should do!

Everythinghasgonetoshit · 23/10/2023 20:13

Following this with interest as I have a severely autistic son who is 5. He will most likely end up in a special school with lots of support, but not sure how it works with school trips or if it is a good idea with him. He runs off and puts himself in danger a lot.

cansu · 23/10/2023 20:14

What are the risks? Wouldn't it be better to meet the school team with an open mind? I would imagine that if the risks are significant and they can't mitigate them then you won't want him to go either. The T A may not be available to go because of her own family, because she is needed at school or because she doesn't feel able to take responsibility for your ds in an out of school environment 24/7.

cansu · 23/10/2023 20:17

Diamondcurtains The TA is not obliged to attend a residential. On fact no member of staff is. They are not paid after normal school hours on a residential.

BouncyBallBall · 23/10/2023 20:18

Diamondcurtains · 23/10/2023 20:10

My son is 24 now and severely autistic. He did go on one overnight trip away and his TA went with him. He went to a special school so a bit different but there’s absolutely no way I’d have allowed him to go without his TA. Your son is funded for 1:1 so she should attend with him. It’s there in his EHCP. It’s the school’s duty to provide the support detailed in section F of his EHCP.

You cannot expect her to attend
She is paid for school hours- not staying overnight or even travelling each day within he working hours

Original poster
Hotchocolate2023 · 23/10/2023 20:18

I'm happy with no overnight and to collect/drop off. What I would like is a clear plan as to how he will be able to do as much as possible and how he will be kept safe with no TA and a clear plan that can be shared with him so he is fully prepared. I'd really like school to be transparent and open so that an informed plan can be made.

OP posts:
Overthebow · 23/10/2023 20:18

Your son is funded for 1:1 so she should attend with him. It’s there in his EHCP. It’s the school’s duty to provide the support detailed in section F of his EHCP.

during school hours, not 24/7 school trip. The TA may not be able or willing to go away on the residential.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 23/10/2023 20:18

I think it would be entirely reasonable to ask how they will be meeting his need for 1-1 on the residential (even if only school hrs, I don't know the legalities of EHCPs but surely they'll need to provide that at the very least?) definitely use the words 'reasonable adjustments'.

Also, it doesn't make any sense - if you choose for him not to go he will still presumably need his 1-1 to be, well 1-1 with him at school while the others are on the trip. So in that case who will be looking after the other children that are not going?!

Tacocatgoatcheesepizza · 23/10/2023 20:21

You absolutely should contact the school and find out how they intend to support him and enable him to attend but you definitely cannot assume that his 1-1 will go or can be made to go. I work as a 1-1 and my child is in a year group that has a residential coming up. I’m actually pretty sure that his parents will not want him to go, but I’ve already been asked if I’d go and I’ve said no. We don’t get paid any extra to attend a residential, plus I have my own children at home.

titchy · 23/10/2023 20:21

If you're happy for him to go day time only then presumably that would be within his 1:1's hours - in which case then1:1 MUST go with him.

Sometimeswinning · 23/10/2023 20:25

titchy · 23/10/2023 20:21

If you're happy for him to go day time only then presumably that would be within his 1:1's hours - in which case then1:1 MUST go with him.

What if they don’t drive? What if it’s not down the road. An ehcp does not buy you an adult. It gives you support at school. I’d laugh if my school told me I had to go.

Merryoldgoat · 23/10/2023 20:28

My son just got back from his first residential - he’s 10 and has ASD with an EHCP and 1:1 for half the day.

School from the outset said they’d support him going, had contingency plans, and he had a superb time.

But I wouldn’t have been happy without very clear plans from school which they had from the outset.

Orchidbloom79 · 23/10/2023 20:29

Request a meeting with school/the senco for a risk assessment. Ask what 1-2-1 they’re providing whilst on the trip. A 1-2-1 is not necessary the same person it can be any member of staff, it shouldn’t be a named person. They perhaps have someone else in mind as a 1-2-1 for the trip? I’m unclear on 1-2-1 hours for a residential- if you are too perhaps contact Ipsea to clarify.

Merryoldgoat · 23/10/2023 20:30

My son’s 1:1 didn’t go btw.

What is your son’s TA for @Hotchocolate2023 ?

Will he need the same support in a non-classroom setting?

MrsDaniFilth · 23/10/2023 20:33

They have to risk assess - and they have to be reasonable. With the view to making the trip work.

He cant be disadvantaged in relation to his peers without SEND.

If i was less tired I would find the relevant parts of the SEND code of practice.

If they wont play ball, its SEND tribunal route, in my view.

My son who does not have an EHCP - but does have epilepsy was not allowed to go on a trip to Iceland. It killed me. So I took him out of school to Berlin and they marked the absences as authorised - simply as I told them I would fuck them if they didnt. this was a sec school.

Sorry - off tangent. But they need to do it right, anything less is grounds for an arse kicking.

I hope they let him go and behave decently ( i mean the school).

gotomomo · 23/10/2023 20:35

Dsd went on trips with her ta and her carer went too, she has 24/7 care

ExperiencedTeacher · 23/10/2023 20:37

I think it’s entirely reasonable to ask for a plan from the school.

Just to clarify though, it is the local authority who have responsibility for section F. The school act on behalf of the local authority. It is a subtle but significant difference and is very frequently overlooked.

Original poster
Hotchocolate2023 · 23/10/2023 20:38

He will need more support than in a classroom setting. It's all the social/group dynamics/heat/trying new things/thinking he can't do something that are all big triggers for problematic behaviour. Can be prone to bolting.

I also don't have an issue if his specific 1-2-1 isn't going. There is plenty of time to establish a secure relationship with another for the trip.

OP posts:
DragonFly98 · 23/10/2023 20:38

cansu · 23/10/2023 20:14

What are the risks? Wouldn't it be better to meet the school team with an open mind? I would imagine that if the risks are significant and they can't mitigate them then you won't want him to go either. The T A may not be available to go because of her own family, because she is needed at school or because she doesn't feel able to take responsibility for your ds in an out of school environment 24/7.

because she is needed at school or because she doesn't feel able to take responsibility for your ds in an out of school environment 24/7. not of those reasons are relevant or legal. If you no nothing about an EHCP why comment?

cansu · 23/10/2023 20:39

MrsDaniFilth
School staff may not be able to take care of someone with complex needs. They may not want to take responsibility for complex health needs. I would hate to be in a situation where someone's precious child was injured or harmed when I was responsible for them. The assumption that school staff are in some way unkind or discriminatory may be mistaken. It is also worth remembering that school staff are working unpaid on trips. Would you take charge of thirty other people's children for nothing for five nights?

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