Just not going to school?

[Starfish125]

So my niece (11) is undergoing assessments for a possible autism diagnosis, it's only been obvious the last year where she started to have meltdowns and refusing to go to school, there's no bullying etc in school just the school itself is too much for her (she was in year 6) and now my sister has decided that she's not going to let her go back to school in September but she's not going to home educate her either as she will receive no help from local authorities, but she can't just stay at home can she? My sister said the school will have to meet her needs and send her work but how does this work? Surely the school will have something to say about this or is it okay? I just don't want my sister to get I to trouble. She also mentioned an outreach type of school that can help? Any advice is welcomed!

Is she due to start secondary? Some LA will provide external tutors if certain medical or mh circumstances require it but usually a drawn put process. Does she have an ehcp? Under camhs?

Has she applied for an ehc needs assessment?

She's right. If school can't meet her child's send needs and sending her detrimentally and severely affects your dns mental health she will be off with health needs and the local authority need to ensure she is provided with suitable (suitable for her sen needs!) full time education.

Work sent him from school is not classed as education by the Local government and social care ombudsman so they will need to provide alternative provision. This could be online school, tutors, outreach, other alternative providers etc

www.ipsea.org.uk/school-anxiety

www.ipsea.org.uk/illness

Under section 19 it is the Local Authority's responsibility to provide an education for a child unable to attend school whether through illness, exclusion or otherwise. LGO in their report Out of School Out of Mind suggest this responsibility kicks in after 15 days absence. In the real world it's likely to be a battle she will need to pursue through the complaints procedure at LA and likely to LGO.
She should be making a EHC needs assessment request as well if child is finding it difficult to attend school. Does she have the support of CAMHS as the LA are likely to want something from them stating her daughter can't attend school just now.
Please offer your support as it is incredibly stressful and there are likely to be many battles ahead before the child receives anything like an education that meets her needs and in a place where she can thrive.

I'd advise her to look at this too. Shel will undoubtedly need it sossen.org.uk/applying-for-a-pre-action-protocol-letter/

Does she have an ehcp?

if she just doesn’t turn up at the new school then after a couple of weeks she will most likely be deregistered. She needs to work with them

DS should speak to the school and LA.

DS is right not to EHE. If DN can’t attend school the LA has a duty to ensure she still receives a suitable full-time education. This should begin as soon as it becomes clear 15 days will be missed (consecutive or cumulative) and should be by the sixth day at the latest. But if DS EHEs the LA will say DS is making suitable alternative arrangements thereby relieving them of their duty.

The school cannot deregister just because DN is unable to attend.

DS should also request an EHCNA.

So students who are not attending mainstream (normal) school could be doing one of a few things;

They could get a place at a special school. For most students this means they need to have an EHCP (a document saying what their needs are and how they can be met)

They could have a place in Alternative Provision. These are usually very small units that only take a few students and specialise in particular types of need (autism in girls, mental health issues etc). To get a place in one of these a mainstream school would need to recommend it.

Some big schools run their own Alternative Provision in a separate unit on their site.

Some students particularly those who are severely anxious will have tutors provided either by the school (if they are on roll at a school) or by the local authority (if they are not). For some students who are severely anxious this is considered best for them as they would not cope in any kind of group of either leaving the house.

If this type of student is on roll at a school then work can be sent home for them - often I have been involved with students who were keen to keep up but couldn't for anxiety reasons attend school.

Simply sending work home is generally not considered good practice and the ideal is for the student to have a place either in mainstream, special or alternative provision that they can physically attend. If they can't physically attend then tutors is next best.

To get a place in one of these a mainstream school would need to recommend it.

The MS does not need to recommend AP. The ultimate duty to ensure CSA pupils who are unable to attend school still receive a suitable full-time education lies with the LA. This applies if the school agrees or not.

tutors provided either by the school (if they are on roll at a school) or by the local authority (if they are not).

Similarly, even if on the roll of a school, the ultimate duty lies with the LA.

There’s a fb group called ‘Not fine in school’. Lots of knowledge and support on there for your sister.

My own daughter is ASD and really struggles with school so she has my sympathy. We take it one day at a time, and when that’s too much we break down the days. Sometimes she can’t manage a whole day, so we prioritise and work with what she can do. No one would choose this life, it’s awful for both her and me.

Fantastic advice thanks all

My autistic child who cannot attend school now gets a tutor sent and two days Forest school type thing.

What you are talking about is called EOTAS or EOTIS education other than at/in school.

I fought for two years to get this. I didn't want it but there is no suitable school.

She will need an EHCP that's the first step.