To tell Children's Services it is a malicious referal from school

[UndertheCedartree]

So DD's school have today told me they are referring us to Children's Services. Ever since I made a complaint they have been trying to off roll her. They are not putting in proper support for DD leaving her struggling and then not wanting to go in the next day. Apparently this is all my fault. I feel this is just another tactic for me to be so fed up with the school I pull her out.

They are saying the problem is home and nothing to do with her autism or anxiety or the school!

Yes, I do. And no they haven't been supporting.

I would tread really carefully here OP.

You can't trust the LA either! You will get told all sorts of crap to waste time. Go to IPSEA and SOS:SEN. Get some help starting the EHC Needs Assessment process. You don't need the school or LA to back you on this. You can make a parental request.

But, having been in a similar position to you, the best thing you can do is to stop trying to get the school on side. They are never going to see your point of view or give the help you're asking for, even with an EHCP because they don't believe you and they don't want to help.

I honestly would pull my child from that school. You're flogging a dead horse.

Sorry if this has already been answered, but is this a private school?

100% agree.

I posted yesterday about how my child has been transformed in 2 weeks after starting specialist independent secondary. He’s got access to a mainstream syllabus in an environment designed for him but the cost is eye watering (for the LA).

I agree with this 100%. My children and myself are neurodiverse, though I've managed to mask far better than my children. Although they've had less need to mask than I did. The world is improving but it's not good enough yet

The school could start by cooperating with the support we already have - I.e from all the other professionals. The SW could tell the school they are causing issues by not following the advice of all the professionals involved but I'm sure school will have another excuse as to why the SW is wrong!

She doesn't need to talk to a SW. DS2 drones on at length about his favourite foods to whichever SW we are assigned, this month. They then visit on a school day if they need any info for form filling or whatever.

Is it social services child protector early help? Early help can assist with all manner of things including an EHCP or suggesting services that can support for children without a diagnosis.

@UndertheCedartree Maybe don't imply it's malicious as such, as every wrong'un they come across will say that to them, so it may seem like a red flag to them (even though it's true in a way in your case.)

But you could highlight what led to this- that it's since X,Y, Z happened and you've asked them to do stuff, that they've done this.

She thrived in Primary. There was a very good SENCo and the communication was good between home and school. DD had lots of support there. Secondary does put more demands on them, though. And baring in mind emotionally she is much younger for her age, Secondary has been a very steep learning curve but with less support than at Primary.

Whether or not you tell Social Services you think the referral is malicious will make not the slightest difference. If what was said in the referral meets their threshold for investigation they will investigate fully anyway, and draw their own conclusions, and if it doesn’t they won’t. If you feel you want to tell them, do.

You say they want you to take your child away, but I am very sceptical that the school would make a referral to CS for that reason. They would look very stupid if CS investigated and concluded that there was no basis at all to whatever they have alleged. In any case, tbh I don’t understand why you would want to keep your child in a school in which you have no trust, and which you say can’t or won’t meet your child's needs.

Exactly, it's just not a sensible plan.

Yes.
OP needs to be good as gold and just sit in reception all day.
Then the Head (who is providing no support for this child) won't be hostile towards OP any longer?

Good plan.....

Ofcourse. Then they won't have to put in proper help to support your DD.🙄🤬

Thanks for the reassurance.

I’ve said almost exactly this. Fortunately for my boys, my husband and I are effective communicators and have been able (with supportive school and HCPs) to get our boys EHCPs but many of our boys’ peers parents clearly have difficulty for myriad reasons and the support and engagement they get is significantly worse.

She really doesn't sound like she's coping well at the school. Would some kind of home education be a possibility? If she's regularly this distressed going in, what good is she getting out of it?

If my DD is too distressed to be in school she should be at home. Not having to sit in reception. School could also put a plan in place to help her not get distressed and/or regulate when distressed too. Bizarre you don't realise that.

@UndertheCedartree have you applied yourself for EHC needs assessment? You can do this as a parent, it doesn't have to be school.

Is the support that the EP recommended falling under Ordinarily Available Provision? Or does the school need the additional funding an EHCP would unlock?

Or is the EP report one carried out as part of a needs assessment, and the LA decided she didn't need an EHCP and an IEP would do? But the IEP support either isn't being provided or isn't sufficient? In which case you should appeal the decision not to issue the EHCP. Have you got SENDIAS support?

Are you confident that, if the school were able to provide the support in the EP report, that your daughter would be able to attend full time? As it sounds like the relationship between you, her and the school has broken down and potentially a different placement would be more suitable; a fresh start. I'm not saying let them off roll her, far from it, but if she's not being provided with a full time education there, then something has to give. It's not fair on your daughter for her to be disregulated to the extent you need to collect her so frequently, she will burn out.

Totally unnecessary and uncalled for comment @ThisBlueCrab

And off-rolling is quite common, despite being illegal.

I would agree but we already have plenty involved. But no, it wasn't framed as a way to support DD it was because I am causing all her problems, not her autism, not her anxiety and certainly not the school for ignoring everything from the Ed Psych report! They asked for the report. Once it was done, they tried to stop me seeing it. Very strange I thought. Eventually I got it directly from the Ed Psych...I realised why they'd tried to stop me seeing it...it backed up everything I'd been saying.

You are not giving enough information for anyone to give a valid opinion.
You need to tell us what complaint you made, how you made it, and what they are refusing to do that you think they should do.

Thank you.

Anyone who thinks a school would 'never' deliberately make life hard for a parent is either very lucky or very naive. There are very many supportive schools out there but there are a few who just don't want the disruption of children who don't fit neatly in a box.

OP continue to advocate for your child as you are doing. You don't need to tell SS that the referral is 'malicious' in your view but you can say you are puzzled/surprised etc as you don't feel the school is acting in DD's best interests generally and then give your reasons (factually, calmly etc). Good luck.