SEN school closed already. Could cry for my boy.

[newyeary]

ASD school already closed as they've said they don't have enough staff and don't plan on reopening. They've told us they have already moved to the remote learning that we are all used last lockdown. Thank you and goodbye - basically.

Remote learning last time was a worksheet each day uploaded to their website and a weekly zoom which no children ever attended for obvious reasons. Their school day is so much more. They have lots of learning, daily mental health lessons, daily SALT, social communication groups etc. They have a right to their EHCP. I'm so sad that his fabulous school when he's there is giving up on them so quickly. Obviously they can't be taught remotely so they get nothing? This happened last time and no one was allowed to attend for for 2 months and then only 1 day a week.

DS is 10 and has already missed half of his primary school years due to no school being available and then lockdown. He's an only child. No friends outside of school. No contact with anyone. No interests except deteriorating mental health without the regularity of school. I'm so sad for him and us. His life chances are already so compromised.

Obviously I don't know your child at all and there are probably valid reasons you say he can't learn out of school, but it is worth saying that many SALT and similar interventions are happening over zoom. Not suitable for all, of course.

Same situation here. Seven year old DD has severe autism a,outside other issues, she’s entitled to the provision in her plan but because her special school has very few staff available to work (due to staff following union guidelines or having their own children to care for), there’s no way of her receiving this.

She struggled dreadfully last lockdown. No school, no respite, no swimming, no parks etc and I am dreading a repeat of her aggressive behaviours. All made worse by it being the middle of winter instead of spring and summer.

Oh god

My DS is also 10 and in a very similar situation OP so I really feel for you. DS has a home tutor coming in twice a week plus equine therapy every week and the thought of that all stopping is terrifying me. He has made such progress since this programme started for him in September.

All the sen schools closed around here last lockdown and the carer strain was horrendous. Seemed to be very little that could be done to get them to open, professionally i worked with a few famailes who were totally let down. I just don’t see how they are allowed to do this again as the government has said that vulnerable kids should be provided for. I fully agree that school is more than school for these children is therapy and respite and socialisation. It’s awful that it’s happening again and I am so sorry for you. Would the local media be interested?

. That is beyond crap, OP.

There are so many children and their parents bring failed utterly at the moment.

This is so strange. I am mainstream and we have to continue to take vulnerable and key worker children - a few of our vulnerable children are those with ASD/on EHCP. Can't believe a special school can close entirely. Even if they put the children on a rota so they each did a day or so a week as a minimum?!

@Solidaritea

Legally, it is not the school who are required to provide what's in your son's ehcp - it's the LEA. Obviously most of this is normally delegated to the school.

I can't tell from your posts if you know why school is closed or for how long, which might be relevant but it's so hard to know at the moment.

Do you have an LEA contact eg. His SEN caseworker? (this is where it all becomes a minefield as every LA is different). I would suggest that you contact them to find out how your child's Ehcp will be met while school is closed. Things like SALT are absolutely their responsibility to coordinate.

This.

I'd also agree, however that what the school is suggesting is not good enough. Are all staff sick? Or are they working from home?

If you have contacted the head and they have fobbed you off I would go to the chair of governors.

I'm a teacher and whilst we don't have all our pupils with EHCPs in (parental choice), we have filmed various sessions for them linked to the targets on their personalised plans and our S&L therapist has also filmed a range of videos for those children who need the support too.

Most of the staff at DDs special school worked from home last lockdown, none of the provision online was suitable as it was the routine of school and the socialisation side of school that she was missing. The few staff that did work covered a rota for the sen children who were in the care system.

This is terrible. I really don't think this can be due to union action. The union action is specific to working in classrooms of 30 which doesn't apply in sen schools. I work in a sen school and we will be offering places. Our head is asking parents for time this week to set up testing and new staff groups etc. I would approach your head first and take it from there.

I'm so sorry that this is happening to lots of people as well.

Yes, SEN schools are amazing on lots of levels, not just academic but the therapeutic and social aspects are game changers. I don't know why they are able to close. I think a lot of staff maybe are sick or shielding. The same happened last time and they had to close due to staffing and then just didn't ever talk about reopening.

You really must challenge it. It is not acceptable. As previous posters have said, they need to set up a rota system for those that need to come in.

Our child is (supposed to be) at special school but they’ve closed. Having an EHCP and ss involvement does not make them vulnerable and entitled to a school place. There are only 6 children in each large classroom but they have decided it’s not safe enough for staff. There will be no provision for them, they can’t access online learning due to significant learning disabilities and I don’t consider the suggestion to ‘make play dough and take your child out to collect leaves‘ adequate. School is respite to parents like us. When you have a child that barely sleeps and requires 1:1 constantly it’s impossible to provide them with what they need.

@boobybum

Get in contact with your LA if your school are not responsive. It is not acceptable that your child's EHCP is not being actioned. It is actually illegal.

LA haven’t replied and based on previous experience won’t do anything anyway. BOJO has just stated that schools are closed apart from children of key workers and the vulnerable but given that the definition of vulnerable seems to mean ‘rides a unicorn’ there isn’t much hope!

It's rubbish, I'm so sorry OP. As somoene who works with ASD kids I know how important school, structure and routine is!

I spent the entire day mentally preparing my 4 YO (and myself) for returning to school tomorrow to have this dropped on us. Absolutely fuming!

My son is 9 with ASD and a full time 1:1 LSA in a mainstream school. He will be going in as our school wants as many kids with EHCPs to be in as possible. They are very concerned about the ones who won't be going in and will be sitting at home not able to access online learning.

@boobybum

LA haven’t replied and based on previous experience won’t do anything anyway. BOJO has just stated that schools are closed apart from children of key workers and the vulnerable but given that the definition of vulnerable seems to mean ‘rides a unicorn’ there isn’t much hope!

That's not true at all. Many children fit the definition of vulnerable and the provider can add any additional they wish. All children with a social worker or an EHCP are vulnerable and should be in school for a start.

Our local LEA primary phase Special School decided to close today for all children except those of key workers.

Every child at that school has a EHCP.

So sorry to everyone who is experiencing this. I work in a Local authority maintained SEN school and we are remaining open for all children. It's such a shame that this isn't the case everywhere.

For any parents who aren't being provided with high quality home learning from their schools, I would suggest having a look at the specialist section of the oak national academy. They have a number of videos that may be suitable for some of your children.

Another postcode lottery then.

@JamieLeesCurtains

Our local LEA primary phase Special School decided to close today for all children except those of key workers.

Every child at that school has a EHCP.

This could be temporary due to staff shortages.

I'm so sorry for anyone affected . If the local authority won't provide what's on the child's EHCP, litigation is the next step, and its just not possible for everyone and they know it.

@newyeary

ASD school already closed as they've said they don't have enough staff and don't plan on reopening. They've told us they have already moved to the remote learning that we are all used last lockdown. Thank you and goodbye - basically.

Remote learning last time was a worksheet each day uploaded to their website and a weekly zoom which no children ever attended for obvious reasons. Their school day is so much more. They have lots of learning, daily mental health lessons, daily SALT, social communication groups etc. They have a right to their EHCP. I'm so sad that his fabulous school when he's there is giving up on them so quickly. Obviously they can't be taught remotely so they get nothing? This happened last time and no one was allowed to attend for for 2 months and then only 1 day a week.

DS is 10 and has already missed half of his primary school years due to no school being available and then lockdown. He's an only child. No friends outside of school. No contact with anyone. No interests except deteriorating mental health without the regularity of school. I'm so sad for him and us. His life chances are already so compromised.

It's terrible. All you can do is speak out. Don't be silent. Tell everyone you know, tell everyone that will listen, tell your MP, tell the school, tell those in charge of SEN. Talk to other parents at the school and contact other parents who's children are affected and work together to ensure how much your son and other SEN children are suffering is known by as many people who can help as possible. Unless you speak out nothing will be done.

Temporary due to staff shortages is one thing. But there should be a plan for beyond the initial sorting out logistics time. In lockdown 1 there was an expectation for schools to pool resources if needed. Not sure if that happened but it was written into the guidance

@marthastew

My son is 9 with ASD and a full time 1:1 LSA in a mainstream school. He will be going in as our school wants as many kids with EHCPs to be in as possible. They are very concerned about the ones who won't be going in and will be sitting at home not able to access online learning.

I think the difference in MS is that they are in minority. In SEN schools they are all the same and don't really see any of the children as more vulnerable.