To want to increase his hours

[Emeraldiisland]

My DS has been attending mainstream primary for about 5 weeks. Due to his SEN (they provide him with 1:1 but still waiting for his EHCP) he has been going for 90 minutes.
He's done a lot better than anyone expected. No meltdowns, happy going in but no actual learning is taking place. He plays alongside 1:1.
I'm not massively concerned about that as he is only 4 but I'd like to increase his hours at school so he does a full morning and I'll pick him up before lunch.
Do you think the school will agree? Will they insist on waiting until his EHCP?

He is entitled to attend full time so I don't think they can actually refuse.

It’s too soon to change his day again imho. Going from 90mins to a half day is a big step that he likely could not cope with after only 5 weeks.

It is a valid goal and so I would talk to the school about how the goal is to get him up in hours for age 5, and ask them what kind of ramp up schedule they’d suggest to accomplish that.

I don't think they can refuse either but I expect there is some rule about it being unfair to the children /teachers because his 1:1 which changes every day is a TA. So I'm assuming that a class is left without a TA so she can do 1:1.
All of them say how well he does so thats not the problem it's just if they will agree to loosing a TA for the whole morning.

I'd be asking to increase to two hours next week, before half term. After half term return with two hours and by end November increase to 2.5.

This isn't rushing things but allowing your DC to gradually do more.

Yeah it is a big step but he used to 9 hours a day at nursery 4 days a week. I know school is different but 90 minutes is so short. When he saw me today he tried to walk back in to school!

PP is right, they can't refuse. Ultimately he is absolutely entitled to a full time place, and it is up to the school to work out how to provide the support he requires. It sounds like he is coping really well with the environment, is it likely that the school has capacity to provide 1:1 for more hours? If not I'd potentially be wary that putting him in regardless might place him at higher risk of exclusion, particularly if it's before his EHCP is through. I'd ask for a meeting with the head, his teacher/1:1 and the senco to discuss increasing his hours and decide from there. Good luck 😊

I am going to try and get a meeting sorted with the head, apparently he's not been there this week, but I got his email today so I'll email him and ask about upping his hours and maybe see what they suggest.

You don’t need the school to agree. You can decide to send DS full time or part time until he is compulsory school age. You could also decide not to send him at all until he is either compulsory school age or the beginning of the summer term, whichever comes first.

What week of the EHCP process are you on?

Have you signed a reduced hours form? What were the reasons stated for the reduced timetable?

When is he five? As while he’s still four there is less obligation on the schools and parents part.

How did he cope with nursery?

It is really short, I agree. I am suggesting collaborating with the school on planning the increase in time and when, rather than dictating “2hrs before half term”. They are the ones with him and I think have valuable insight into how much more he can do and when. They also have experience with SEN kids and so will be able to apply lessons learned from doing similar with many kids that your child can benefit from.

Yeah, see what they suggest. It is the goal they should have and totally fair to ask to plan for it.

As while he’s still four there is less obligation on the schools

The admissions code makes it clear pupils can attend full time from the September and that is the parent’s decision whether they send DC full time, part time or not at all, not the school’s decision.

www.rotherhamsendlocaloffer.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Part-time-timetable-guide-for-parents.pdf

I'm not sure which Local Authority you're under, but the info in this link applies to all and might be useful.

The reality is that when you have a child with SEN you do need to pre-coordinate things in collaboration with the school so the school has time to request and get the resources to support your child. 1:1 support can’t be magicked up with the snap of fingers. In addition, it takes input from both the parents and the 1:1 SEN TAs that have worked with the child to map out a progression that best meets the child’s needs.

I know exactly what the reality is. I have DC with SEN and I support parents of DC with SEN. It is important to know the actual law/rules rather than what LAs and some school would like parents to believe. Nothing excuses schools acting unlawfully, which is what they would be doing by refusing to have the child full-time unless formally suspended.

I have DC with SEN too. I know the rules, but the reality is you have to work with the schools or your child suffers.

Enforcing DC’s rights does not mean you can’t also work with the school. Conversely, it isn’t working with the school to allow the school to act unlawfully. Nothing I have written means OP has to not work with the school.

Whilst you may know the rules, many do not. And it isn’t your thread and OP may not know.

Sorry, but the “you don’t need the school to agree” was pretty clear that you don’t think the OP needs to work with the school. The tone of your posts are all derisive of a collaborative approach and advocate an authoritarian approach. There is no indication the school has acted unlawfully.

was pretty clear that you don’t think the OP needs to work with the school.

That is not the case. You infer it however you choose, but that is not what I posted, Pointing out it is the OP’s decision and not down to the school does not equate to not working with the school. Bizarre you think it does.

I didn’t say the school had acted unlawfully. I was pointing out the opposite of a statement in the previous sentence.

Whilst you may know the rules, many do not. And it isn’t your thread and OP may not know.
Ditto for the reality of the funding, staffing and resource challenges schools face for SEN provision. You may know but the OP may not know.

That is what you posted. “You don’t need the school to agree.”
Working with someone implies agreements discussed and reached, yours implies the opposite. Perhaps you need to reassess your tone.

Funding, staffing and resources do not change the rules or the law or the answer to OP’s question.

@Emeraldiisland What was their proposed transition towards him being full time?

They can’t base that transition on when he gets EHCP (or they get funding).

But maybe the slow route is working because as you say, he is doing well under the current circumstances.

I would ask to meet with the SENCo to discuss going up to 2hrs but just because he is legally entitled to be in school full time straight away doesn’t make that the right thing to do for him.

It does affect the advice on how best the OP can go about getting the hours increased without adversely affecting her child’s well-being and academic progress.

I know exactly what I posted. Working together can still be done whilst ensuring the school and OP knows it is the OP’s decision.

Perhaps you need to actually read the posts rather than what you think they say and inferring something that hasn’t been said.