School on Notice to Improve and missing head!!

[lisad123]

Dd1 school was put on notice to improve in Oct. we decided to give the school more chance and not pull dd out. She has autism and settling into new environments is very hard for her as is making friends.
We have had a letter home today to say the head teacher has left sick and they don't know when she will return. However, the deputy and acting assistance head both have their own classes to teach. The letter then stated that it is not possible to talk to the stand in head between the hours of 8.45 and 3.20pm because they are teaching!
The letter also said that we will not have a parents evening but will have reports home and an open evening to grab a chat with teachers.
Is there anything we can do? OFSTEAD have been in this week but I'm not sure they know all the information yet.
I'm really not happy, but don't want to do a knee jerk reaction either.
Any advice would be great

Please

No advice but that sucks for you.

Thanks. It's hard as dd2 has just been given a school place at another school due to not wanting her to attend this school as they were very clear they could not support her SN (she's worse than dd1).

Has an Interim head teacher been appointed by the local authority?
I would feel inclined to write to the governors and/or the local authority to ask for clarification on what is happening.
We have been in a similar situation and they will, obviously, not discuss the Head's illness, and won't be able to say when/if they will be back. But when this happened at our school there was a meeting arranged for parents with representatives from the LEA, governors and interim Head. It was made clear that the interim head would stay as long as was necessary even if the actual head did not return.

Lisa I worked in a school that was put on special measures - the 'worst' possible outcome - it got an interim head and things started improving so fast. Crappy for the school staff but certainly sorted the wheat from the chaff. If this looks like happening don't despair, thongs can only get better if school has hit rock bottom. I'd say gather as much info as possible and maybe see out this term? Especially if your Dd is happy there.

Thongs!
Things of course.

Ofstead sucks

This often happens to Head's in this situation. The LEA will either provide the school with a temporary Head or provide cover for the deputy to take on this role. This could take a few weeks to implement though. There isn't really much that an ordinary parent can do in these circumstances. The governors and LEA will probably be meeting to discuss ways forward and develop an Action Plan for the way ahead. Communication with the parents can then occur. HTH

Should also add the acting head is also SENCo