Can they force me to send DD to school?! Panicking

[Beebityboo]

DD has sen and school have sent an email saying they expect her to go in. I'm disabled and really don't feel I can risk it. What do I do?

Your child. Your choice. Don't let anyone tell you what to do. You know what's best for your family.

It's up to you. Do you have a social worker?

The special school my eldest attends is Keyworker & vulnerable children only - or it was as of this morning as a 'short term measure'. Which I think is going to be the case until at least Feb half term.
They 'risk assessed' each child and decided who came under the vulnerable bit.

Other Special schools I'm aware of had been giving parents the child as to whether their child was attending or not (again, as of earlier today)

She was put on the sen register just before Christmas as she struggled with fine motor. No social worker or anything.

You can choose whether to send her or not then, if you don't want the place just let them know.

The email says they "expect" her to attend.

Why would they expect her to attend unless she's vulnerable?? SEN are not necessarily vulnerable children so this makes no sense. Keep her home

I'd just reply with something like ''In light of the announcement the Prime Minister has made this evening, combined with not willing to risk it due to my own health reasons, I will be keeping (childs name) at home. I'm happy to support her learning at home but due to the current situation, I will not be sending her in to school''.

All vulnerable children and those with sen funding are expected to attend. Not sure if she has funding. In such a panic. She won't cope with the changes and without her brother or friends.

Could mean expect, as in are prepared for her to attend (I'm expecting a delivery at 3pm) or expect as in "we expect you to get this delivered asap". I'm sure you can chat it through with the school tomorrow. Good luck OP

They can't force you to send her in. They likely are inviting children classed as EHCP /SEN who may cope better with routine etc or children classed as, for a wide variety of reasons. Vulnerable.

You can (politely, firmly, in a terse manner, up to you) reply as per lockdown she is staying at home.

Just explain everything you’ve told us here. It’s not for them to decide.

No they can not force her to attend, the final decision is yours.

Feel so sick with anxiety and can't do anything until the morning. I never signed anything they just called and said they were going to put her on the sen register due to her fine motor being an issue.

As a previous poster said, I would take their use of 'expect' to mean they had a spot reserved for her and that they were letting you know this.

It says they expect her and the "only exception to this is if they are CEV"

It sounds like you were sent a generic letter and the children classed as having SEN funding are those with EHCP's. The likelihood is that just being on the SEN register means this doesn't apply to her. However, regardless of that, I agree with other posters that they should have worded it to say that a place will be offered to those children rather than saying they are expected in x

Can you actually post a screenshot of the message from the school? SEN is not exactly the same as ECHP and even for those children they are not forced to be in. I think this might be a misunderstanding.

Schools offer the places but do not / cannot enforce this. Many parents choose not to take up their place and the school should respect this. However, it should be children with an EHCP and those who have a social worker who are offered a place.

"those with special educational needs and disability funding/EHCPs (SEND)" I'm really not sure about the SEN register as it was put in place right before Christmas.

Call the Senco in the morning.

Just say no thank you. They can’t force you.

Schools will be a lot safer! Possibly speak to the school & see if they will give you a couple of weeks before you send her.

But she will benefit from being at school. And hopefully you can manage your anxiety but definitely speak to the school and see what measures they are putting in.

My DS returned in June because of his age it was so safe and I had absolutely no concerns whatsoever. There were a handful of kids in his class and that was it.

It's not anxiety. I'm CV and it isn't safe for our family. If it was the old variant perhaps but who knows with this one and I'm not risking it.

You really need to have an understanding of this more generally so speak to the school. Being on the SEND register and having SEND funding/EHCP are very very different things.