To think my son should not have been put on special measures because he suffers injurys during sport? Help - Worcestershire

[littlemoominmamma]

My son is a top flight athelete. He runs for the County plays tennis, golf, basketball, etc... won lots of trophys medals etc...

His main love in life is RUGBY.

He plays and trains all year round. Playing for his school, local club, county, regional, acadamy for top club and an elite training group. He is passionate about it training 2-3 times a week along with his running and playing games at the weekend - it is very hard work but we support him and run him around everywhere.

Along with this he is doing brilliantly at school, in top set for maths 3rd in county math challenge, english, science etc.. taking some exams a year early next year. He is also on the school council. All this despite being dyslexic.

He suffers with injurys (as you would expect) and is laid up with them, missing some (not a lot) of school. I have been in and spoken to his head of year, p.e teacher and class teacher and they were happy that as long as he stayed on top of his school work he should stay at home until any injury was properly healed (he has phyisio's who advise us and attends a&e if x-rays etc. are needed)

Today I recieved a letter from the familys dept. threatning legal action as his attendance was, although not at the level were they would call him a persistant absconder, it was not high enough. He will now be made to report with all the druggies and idiots who skive school (which he is very upset about and dreading) and will be appraised weekly. If his attendance does not improve action will be taken. ??? All this has been confirmed to me on the phone by a completely unsypathetic woman who seemed to think he should play less sport (this is his chosen career)

The woman at the familys Dept. said there was no leyway and once the childs attendance dropped below a level they would have to intervene.

The School was closed today so I could not phone them.

My son is not just doing well at school - he is excelling against the odds (refused use of a laptop in class which was advised for his dyslexia - given no help or special treatment as school had lost all notes on his special needs, his teachers were not even aware!!!)

AIBU - To think that a state school is failing my son because he is gifted at sport? He feels like he has let us down and got us into trouble - which is so not the case.

Please can anyone tell me if he would be elligable for a bursury (we have no money and live in an ex-council house) at a private school ( we are in Worcestershire )

Any advice on what to do next will be so, so appreciated - sorry for rambling

Sounds like LEA tick boxing. Talk to the school as soon as you can and the EWO. A pain but I'm sure it will be sorted.

Good luck to him!

You may find they have their own physio. I know often the top independent dance schools have.

Investigate the independent bursary option however they do have to report their attendance figures to the LEA too.

Just a cats bum mouth Ruby? I'd have looked at disciplinary action if no improvement if it was regular and persistant! Although I would not have cared about the cause - just whether he was doing the job he was contracted for. But then I am a bitch stickler for fairness to everyone in the office

islandofsodor - Home tutoring seems the only option at the moment - not sure if I could just take him out now he is on special measures? He would also desperatly miss his friends.

I think we are in for a heafty fine and court action (even jail!!)- it should not come to that) if his attendance does not improve and I cannot guarantee that unless he gives up the rugby.

Definatley no court fines and jail if you can back up his absences with medical certificates.

Home Ed is not an area I know huge amounts about but I think you can de-reg even if he is on special measures but it is such a shame that you feel you have to.

I am so glad I am not a child now. I had very bad asthma and during the winter months had weeks at a time off school. The school were great and really helped me to keep up. What a different situation it would be now.

I do agree in a way with shineoncrazy.

Dh works in a vocational dance college (higher ed) and there are instances where dancers are repeatedly suffering injuries where you have to consider whether they can do this as a career (are they suspetible for some physical reason or are the repated injuries damaging their chances for the future)

Can you access a 2nd opinion/advice?

Shine on - It is hard as a mum, I sometimes have to restrain myself from running onto the pitch to rescue my little boy, but he is nearly six foot now. He has medics at every game (even a rugby mad surgeon at some) and the club, county and regional all have physios this is how it is in Rugby and many other sports.

We do not force him to play - it is his passion in life and his chosen career although we make sure he keeps up with his school work and his club will help him through college and uni. if he remains at this level.

This is a ridiculous situation for you and your son to be in. He is achieving academically, and is achieving in his chosen sporting activities. That should be exactly what the school/LEA/whatever should be encouraging and supporting.

Instead of some ludicrous disciplinary action, the LEA should be approaching your son for his/your permission to highlight his achievements and for him be a role model for other youngsters.

Obviously a soft approach to the school and the LEA is the best way but if you get to the position where that doesn't work, then I'd suggest getting your local MP involved.

islandofsodor - His injurys are not unusual and he has the full medical back-up of the RFU and his professional club where they have a fully equipped medical suite medics and physios (they look after their youngsters very very well ).

He is not in any danger or has any injuries threatening to his career. He is also well looked after by our local doctor, who is a rugby fan and looks forward to his visits for a good chat and would not let any harm come to him, neither would we.

You know littlemoomin, I reckon a private school would snap him up. Def look into it if you can.

I would agree with that - a private school scholarship might be the answer.

uglymugly - thank you

I was beginning to feel like I was a terrible mum.

He gets his photo in the papers quite a lot, recently for playing for the county and winning with a fantastic score. Got the school name mentioned.

I'm not good at fighting battles with anyone let alone the school and LEA, so having the backup of an MP is a great idea although I have a feeling i'm just going to come up against 'rules are rules' arghhh!

Haven't read all the posts but just a word of caution about private schools. You would need to check what their stance is on abscences as our independent is even more anal than the state school you describe objecting even to the time off to play the sports let alone injury timee!

We don't have much of an income (although dh is working on that) so right now I think it is going to have to be home schooling unless we can persuade some private school to give him a bursery. I have no idea how to go about this.

Islandofsodor - my little girl has taken up modern dance arghh!! so more problems ahead, although she has two left feet!

Well at dd's independent school one of the children has just had loads of time off to dance with Birmingham Royal Ballet, others have done 2 month panto/Xmas play runs and I'm pretty sure that I've read about someone playing some sport at national level.

Maybe the club has contacts. You may find one of the coaches teaches somewhere or knows a school to approach perhaps.

I would look at independent schools as well. When it was announced that Tom Daley was being bullied at his state school two local independent schools offered him a scholarship. He's now at one of them and has reported back (in the paper ) that they are well set up to support top athletes.

I am fairly certain that the private schools in worcester do offer scholarships but at 14 you might be too late
Think i know which school you are on about - wouldnt be D high would it?
Are all absenses backed up by notes and sicknotes from doctor?
I would be annoyed as well as you arent doing anything wrong and your son is doing well so no problem there sounds like someone is a jobsworth

Thankyou island great idea! will email club and explain situation I know they do coaching sessions at some of the local private schools.

Have bought a lottery ticket for tonight so will cross fingers and hope we can actually win and just take him out tomorrow, before the local thugs get to take the p* out of him for being on the school council AND being on special measures!!!

May I ask, without meaning to be a fool here, why with some of the injuries you described, he can't attend school.

When I was in school (only 4 years ago) one lad was in even though he'd broken his femur and had pins in it, and when he hurt his wrist, he came in in a wheelchair and had support to help him stay on track. I've seen broken arms, those who've had recent surgery etc. I myself went back only about 10 days after eye surgery.

But that aside, well done to him for his ability, wish I was sporty, unfortunately I hated it! I'm learning to ski now though

gizzy - wish i had applied at 13. He would have stood a chance! Maybe I have failed him a bit for not giving it a go (it did cross my mind as many of his rugby friends are privatly educated).

He was actually quite proud that he was from a state school and had got through by just being spotted at his local club.

I don't actually know any of the private schools in Worcester. Might try ring a few tomorrow and begging for help.

Lollipop - yes, and he does whenever possible. he has had 24 sessions off 1 session = half a day. If he goes to the doctors or orthodontist he goes to school strait after, we are not talking about whole weeks off school.

Haven't actually read all the posts but felt that I have to point out that education is a legal requirement. Attending school is not! This is why children are allowed to be home schooled. I'm not sure quite where you stand but I would have thought that as long as you can demonstrate that his educational requirements are being met and that he is not hanging around on street corners then he should not have to attend this weekly check in. It might be worth having a look at some home school websites because they would obviously have a lot more information about the legal position dealing with school attendance. Good luck.

the only 2 i know are kings and RGS in worcester - no idea if they will be open tomorrow as were closed today