Hi
Just written this letter and would like fedback please.
Prefer not to much criticism of the decision itself- we ahve given long and ahrd thought to this, and feel that DS3 (learning disabilities, severe speech delay, ASD) is being best supported by the decision we have taken.
many thanks
I am writing to let you know that we have taken the decision to not send Harold to school in September.
As you are aware, Harold will be a very young 4 year old, and is not legally required to attend education until the term after he becomes 5- which is September 2008. However, after much thought and consideration of advice from the Behavioural Advisory Teacher that Harold will benefit from some time in Reception, we plan to send him to school after Easter. We fully hope that he will able to attend Caerleon Infants, however as you know no final decision has yet been made regarding the best placement for Harold in the long term.
I am aware that some schools automatically offer this as an option to children with a later birth date, but that is not an option at this school.
Our reasons for this decision are simply that we are now at a point where Harold has access to therapy after an extended wait. We believe that in order to maximise Harold?s chances of success within mainstream education, some time spent concentrating on this will be of the utmost benefit to him.
The other reason is that both the Behavioural Advisory report and our own instincts tell us that maintaining a consistent environment for Harold is crucial to his ability to progress. We do not feel that admitting him to one school, and then possibly transferring to another after would be in his best interests. Neither do we feel able to commit ourselves to sending him to school before it is decided what provisions are to be made for him, this decision is still 12 weeks or so away at a minimum.
Originally the hope we had was that Harold would have been able to repeat a year at nursery, we felt strongly this would have been in his best interests, enabling him to remain within the school but in an environment that is better suited to his developmental stage. Unfortunately current LEA policy does not allow for this, and as such we feel we have to make alternative decisions now so that we all know where we are, and we can all plan for the next year.
I understand that it is the decision of the Head whether his place is retained or allowed to be passed on, I would naturally prefer it if his place is retained (and even if some gradual introductions could be arranged over the Spring term), we will however be naming Caerleon Infants as the school when Harold?s statement comes through, which I believe makes us a priority for a place when one becomes available again.
I would like to thank you for all the work that has been put into Harold?s education so far, and I hope that he is able to benefit from your school next summer, with the right support and having received the help necessary for him to make maximum educational progress.
With thanks
Yours sincerely