EHCP kids: who's keeping them in school and who's pulling them out?

[AvocadoOwl]

I'm struggling to decide what to do for the best.

DS has an ECHP in mainstream with 121. School have advised it's up to us whether he continues to go to school or not.

So many factors to consider, I'm at a loss.

Wondering what the thought process of other parents in the same boat is?

why would you send them if you don't have to. If you are a key worker then yes of course use the childcare but it won't be school as you know it - it will just be childcare.

Safest course of action for everyone is if those who can stay at home with the children do stay at home.

Why are you struggling to decide ? What are the factors that are affecting your decision ?

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Main factors in favour are that because of my child's SEN they are already hugely behind. School has advised that they WILL be teaching, it won't be mere childcare. Also, I'm concerned about my other children being able to get any learning done with their SEN sibling at home. Home will be a very difficult environment unfortunately, no matter how carefully I manage it.

Obviously I don't want to add extra risk to the school by sending him though, nor extra risk to my own family, so that's a huge factor against.

I'm taking my 5 year old out. He's more like a 2 year old (He has Autism) and doesn't do any learning there anyway (mainstream school). I would feel like I was just getting free childcare basically 😬
Plus FIL is almost 86 and we are the only family he has, I can't risk my son possibly catching it at school and passing it on.

I don’t think school can advise they WILL be teaching. The truth is we don’t know what we’ll be doing. Your school might not even be open, you might find the LA run through one central centre. You don’t know what staff will be available to provide supervision or how big the group of learners will be. In my opinion, if you can keep your dc off please do.

Mine's already out and I have no expectation that she will be attending. She's in top sets and will happily do any work set. Her EHCP is mainly because school is such an overwhelming environment.

Tough one, OP. I can see why you feel sending him to school would be best. However, it may be that he will not have a 1:1 while there, nor get much quality teaching (despite what school says). It all depends on how many staff are in and how they're deployed. But as there are many children with EHCPs that state they get x amount of hours 1:1, I feel it's going to be impossible to actually give them this.

I'm an SEN teacher. It breaks my heart to think that so many of these children aren't going to get the education they need. Fingers crossed that there will be enough school staff to give them the time they deserve.

Maybe send your son in to start with? There's nothing to say once he starts he has to continue. Take it day-by-day?

Just had a good chat on the phone with the SENCO and decision made- he'll be staying at home.

Was leaning that way anyway (in fact until the class teacher spoke to me this morning I hadn't even considered leaving him in!) but the conversation has reassured me that pulling him out is the right thing to do all round. I feel like I have had my choice validated now I suppose which is a weight off my shoulders.

Will say though that I don't think parents who decide to keep their children in are somehow selfishly taking advantage of free childcare. I think that's a really unfair assumption (I know the poster who said this was referring to herself but even still). The needs of SEN children and families are incredibly complex and I for one won't be passing any judgement whatsoever on parents who make a different decision to ours.

Anyway, thanks for all the replies, feeling glad to have the decision made!

Mine's in Yr 11 so there's not much point him going EHCP or not.

I made no assumption that anyone choosing to keep their children in are selfishly taking advantage of free childcare.
My son is doubly incontinent and has a 5 second attention span, he won't sit down and constantly runs about. The school are desperate to put him in a school more equipped to deal with him. He requires 24/7 care, I wouldn't for a minute judge anyone who chooses to send their child in, I'd honestly rather him be at school for the routine.

I'm not making assumptions about anyone, thank you.

My son has an ECHP and asthma, we are all ready In isolation due to symptoms.
I have spoken to my sons school and have said that when he can come back after isolating I'll be seeing how things are.
But it will be very unlikely I'll let him back for a while, the school have been very supportive and will stay in contact throughout.

Ironically have just had our final draft come through this month.
Needless to say there are still errors...

Anyway have decided to school at home due to DH and asthma.

EHCP stuff is do able at home for us, no challenging behaviour just extra learning needs we know how to fulfill - and DS is thrilled.

Going to have a family chat about how it will work - exercise/screen time and actual work. We do lots at home anyway so it will be extending time from 30 min - 1 hour to 3 or 4 hours a day.

TWINKL have a good website with printable stuff/ideas and its free for a month to aid us all. They have a SEN page with help for common things like dyslexia.

Nessy is also good, may look at subscribing if we can afford to, maybe via DLA money.

We are in a lucky position as DH is self employed gardener and I have been sent home to work due to underlying health, so we can trade shifts. I do get that for people who have siblings with SEN or challenging behaviour and maybe profound SEN that usually are aided by people of specialist training and experience - this is not going to be a walk in the park and they may decide that school is in the best interest of their child and the family.

Tricky one, but we made the decision yesterday morning - and he's off today - just slightly pre-empting Boris and co. Had been feeling increasingly anxious about transmission routes.

Not easy - especially when a lot of us have been through hell and high water getting an EHCP to start with.

Fingers crossed whatever you decide will work out for the best. Sometimes there are no easy answers.

Lots of sites like Twinkl are offering free membership for home learning. I'd be asking schools to provide any links.

www.twinkl.co.uk/resources/covid19-school-closures

I spoke to the school this morning. I'm keeping him at home. Even though I now have to muddle through childcare arrangements because the household is working as usual. He has ASD and I think he would have found it unsettling to go in when most of the school is off. He's already anxious about this virus as it is.

The special school my dd goes to is closing down so I have to keep her off