Who is 'the boss' of the local authority? Having a really rough time

[Purplerainbow2]

I'll try not to make this mega long as I have another thread regarding ds also. Trying to post here for anyone in education or parents been in similar. Ds is nearly 10 in year 5. Was privately diagnosed with aSd and anxiety. His primary school has asd unit and have been reasonably supportive in the past. I can't put all the details on here but he has had a lot of iSsues outside of school. -8 months ago school put him on a nature type thing and an average management course. Iv had problems with him refusing school at times through out. I was called to head before Xmas last year saying attendNce was slipping and that at the moment he was going to reach the minimum expected level (was a year above on the old levels) I begged for years for statement and they refused saying he wasn't 'bad' enough and wasn't failing academically. Anyway, when I was called in I said to the head I heard about ehcp and I could apply. She said she would do it.

January this year just nose dived there on. By February he wasn't leaving the house, wasn't getting dressed and really depressed and no one was helping me. Wasn't in school. Head said attendance board were now involved. We had a lady assigned to us and she took all his history and agreed yea he had had a rough time of it along with asd. Had a few meetings but still wouldn't go to school. Turned a corner in Easter holidays, went away for a few days and now will leave the house, but not school.

Anyway turned out the school hadn't bothered aphing for ehcp so I did it last month. I mentioned dyslexia queries and they were going to arrange testing and didn't bother. Iv just got him assessed and he IS dyslexic which explains a lot of other problems.

The esbas woman had been great saying ds obv needed a slow integration back to school so she agreed him to go until 1030am each day. This was 3 weeks ago I think. He's done prob 3/4 of the days he should've. She's been here and hasn't been able to get him to school herself , said she knew I was trying my best.

Anyway Friday unnanounced her and her boss turn up here. Didn't speak to me first, made ds sign a 'contract' that he agreed to go back full time from next week!! Told him if he wasn't going full time he wasn't going on the trip at end of month. I was so shocked she kept saying 'oh I'm aware of the back ground etc don't worry' when she clearly hasn't taken that on board! I'm waiting to hear back if he will be 'assessed' by the 9th of May for ehcp.

Iv considered taking him out completely but he doesn't want me to but I'm getting to the point I might not have a choice. My other dc is at the same school and doing really well so I'm finding it so hard as they aren't supporting me and ds anymore, like they are trying to shove us out and something was obv said about us at the meeting at school they came from. Any suggestions or advice what I can do next? Who is above the attendance board people??

Sorry it's so long, tried to keep it short!

That would be great thanks, although legal aid is more or less extinct now since they changed it all who did he take to court? The local authority?

Yes and won..it gave him access to special ed.

I'm still fuming over the heads attitude to his dyslexia diagnosis!!

You really, really need a medic to say he can't cope with school due to anxiety etc. If he's out of school for medical reasons the absence is authorised and they can't bully you about it - but you can bully them to provide help with home education.

I second the idea of going to SOS SEN. Apart from anything else, they may be able to write legal letters for you as they have a lawyer on the staff.

Legal aid is still available for special educational needs work. However, you can't get legal aid based on the child's income for things like getting an EHCP and going to the tribunal, because that's a different type of legal aid that you can only get if you as parent qualify for legal aid.

I don't qualify for legal aid. Honestly it's such a battle. I was told yesterday it's very hard to get 'flexible learning' and that wouldtake a long time and that he would have to go to a different place to do his learning so they don't think that is appropriate. Apparantly I can't get any home help. School won't send work home, says he is being controlling and choosing not to go.

Today he was supposed to go in all day, when it came to getting dressed he was kicking off and crying saying he can't copper with school. He said he was only going to lunch time, I said that can't happen as I have no authority to do that and I would get in trouble, he said he would leave the school by himself at 12. That's a threat I know he would follow through so he didn't go. I rang the attendance board woman and still had no phone call back about what to do tomorrow. They are saying he can't go in part time anymore as its affecting his learning (no kidding') I could ring the lady he sees at Camhs tomo but I don't think that will help, she thinks he's ok and blames all this on something that came to light about 6 months ago (something major) and I do agree along with the extra pressure helps year have had being older now and all the changes to curriculum etc.

I would get him in and let them deal with it if only to help you build a Case.

That's the problem wannabe I can't. I can't physically get him there. May sound pathetic and I don't know your knowledge on autism but he has a strength that comes from nowhere . I can't physically force him in, I tried that once and both him and I got hurt in the process and I will not do that again. He gets no special treatment at home during school time, not allowed TV or computers etc

I have two with asd.... I do think you need to do all you can to get him There and be Matter of fact about it.

Who actually came out to the house, a member of school staff or an education welfare officer?

I do everything I can wanna, you think I want to be in this situation? Not one I doubt any parent would chose.

Ginger, it is the attendance board through the LA.

Tell the LA that if they want him in school then they must help you get him in, and they must make absolutely sure they keep him there. Ask them precisely how they plan to achieve that.

Augusta the school have been here to try to get him in and we have a lady assigned to us and she hasn't been able to get him in either! So it's not just me at least. He went Monday. Had a phone call last night saying he could go in until lunch time today and tomorrow .

Does he actually have an autism diagnosis? You said NHS wouldn't diagnose.

If not can you go back to your GP and ask for Level 3 assessment- I would think a solid dx would help with EHCP and he may get access to your school's Base where they should be able to deal better with his anxiety.

Sister, he was diagnosed privately when he was 5. Nhs don't want to 'label' him. He's still under the paediatrician, all very confusing. Said she wouldn't 'rule out future diagnosis'. I have sent that diagnosis letter in with ehcp application.

What's a level 3 application? He does have access to the asd unit at school but not as and when he needs it. If there aren't enough members of staff he can't go in there but spends break time and lunch break in there. All lessons are in the class room.

Well, I'm not sure if it's the same in all areas but we have: Level 1- dx of very obvious cases, usually severe autism with SLD dx between 2.5-4, Level 2 less severe usually dx a bit later at 5-7ish chn more verbal and cognitively able, dx decided by a panel rather than just Paed. Then there is Level 3. This is for the really complex cases where there are many factors at play including significant MH issues, often PDA in the mix. Chn usually v cognitively able. Dx generally age 7+ . Level 3 is multi-professional and takes weeks and weeks of in depth assessments and discussion.

You could self-refer to GOSH. They take very complex cases.

I think an NHS dx would help you, with attitudes in general and definitely with EHCP.

Not having nhs is a nightmare. This hasn't helped the school situ, school not Camhs think he is asd, say whist to treat him asd as that helps him he def has PDA traits and I went armed with paperwork about it to paed who said no way as h would be like that all the time. How on earth would I get this level 3 thing though? Gp aren't interested, say it's Camhs and paed department not there's?! Are you sure you can self refer to gosh? I thought it was hard getting in there even through gp for anything?

You definitely used to be able to self-refer to GOSH but looking at their website it doesn't seem possible any more.

Is the dx pathway in your area CAMHS or Paed? It's difficult because areas vary so much but here school can refer directly into the diagnostic pathway. One of my pupils has recently received a dx after the third referral (the latter two I made within 6 months of each other). The first two were flatly refused as all the presenting issues 'could be explained by other factors'. I just wasn't prepared to accept that and they eventually agreed to do L3- and low and behold, consensus that dx was appropriate!

Could school do this for you- maybe the Teacher who runs the Base (that is what I do)? Have you got an ASD outreach worker?

They have turned their back on me. The fact that the attendance board are involved and that I applied for the ehcp myself the school have now got arse ache with me. The asd co ordinator has said in the past she doesn't think he has asd just that treated him as an asd child works?! So they won't refer. They put it all down to the fact I divorced his father when he was little, and that his dad was a horrible person. There is autism in the paternal side but this is irrelevant apparantly!

Camhs only diagnose ADHD here, he was assessed and said he had traits but not enough for diagnosis. It is the paed who diagnose asd etc.