To ask Sen parents when it gets easier?

[Sparkzz]

When does parenting actually get easier as I feel like it's not getting easier only harder. I have 4 children one is home educated as she's autistic and couldn't cope in mainstream (going through the process of trying to get her into a special school but it's a long process) one child is on a reduced time table and needs to leave school every day at 11. So I drop him at 8.30 then collect him at 11. By the time I drop my other kids off and come home I'm pretty much back out to collect him. Then come home do work with my daughter then go and collect my other children. His school now want him to attend a weekly session in a different school further away meaning every Tuesday I will need to drop him even further but it's only for 2 hours so I won't have time to go home as there will be no point by the time I get home I will have to leave again to go and collect him so I will have to hang around on the street for 2 hours once a week with my daughter. I have no money to go shopping or to cafes so that's out of the question. I'm just so exhausted I can't see how this is getting easier, feel like that only applies to people that don't have Sen children. When will it actually get easier? because I dread waking up most mornings.

Probably true. Here, there’s no way to get AP without going to tribunal though. They simply say ‘we don’t offer any alternative provision’

Yes he knows what they are due to his sister but he doesn't want to go to AP as he is worried about the children there (DDs behaviour can be challenging) and he is worried about being around children that are similar

Under section 19 of the Education Act 1996 the LA has a duty to ensure DC unable to attend school full time receive a suitable full time education. The route to enforce this is via judicial review rather than SENDIST.

This shows DS doesn’t understand the scope of alternative provision. Alternative provison doesn’t have involve going anywhere. It doesn’t have to involve any other DC. And where the AP does involve leaving the house/other DC, it doesn’t have to involve any with VCB.

Yes, I know… it’s a battle that many with very unwell or SEN kids can’t face, including me.

School when it’s the wrong school will feel stressful, but when you get the right place for your children in should feel completely different. It will always feel difficult, but it is also possible to feel like you can cope because you have the right support. I hope you get that soon OP.

And that is, of course, your choice. My post was in response to you posting “there’s no way to get AP without going to tribunal though” which isn’t the case.

Fair enough. Sorry if I was short. It’s not really a choice though, more of an inability when you’re managing dcs’ needs day to day. Also fearing taking on the LA, knowing how many parents are subjected to FII allegations when they try to make them part with money.

In our LA, there are a small (less than ten) dc being taught in the library, and two accessing AQA modules as alternative education. Plus a lot of dc missing education, and others home educating by necessity. The law says one thing, the reality is quite another.

Well there’s two options - pursue provision/enforce the law or don’t. So it is a choice in that regard. Not one a parent should have to make, and some parents, for a multitude of reasons, don’t feel able to pursue provision, but it is a choice/decision made.

Hi OP, in the short term sounds like it would help a bit if DS could stay at school till lunchtime. Could you ask for a plan to achieve that? Maybe work up to that starting after half term?