Advice on de-registering my child from mainstream ahead of starting a SEN school in September

[mummaof2babas]

I'm looking for some advice/help de-registering my son and potential implications if any.

My son is currently at a Mainstream School with a SEN provision class, but we have incompatible relationships due to the extensive injuries my son has sustained in their care (most recent is a broken bone) He has a place at a Special Needs School in September and I'm certainly not in a rush to send my son back to his current mainstream school given the current circumstance. If I was to de-register him from this school, would it affect his EHCP/September placement at his Special Needs School? I have just done his EHCP renewal and had meetings with his new school.

I'm stuck on what to do so any advice is welcome.

Deregistering wouldn’t lead to the EHCP ceasing. Be clear you aren’t intending to EHE from September and it should not lead to the placement in the EHCP for September being amended either.

Having said that, I wouldn’t deregister. That doesn’t mean you have to force DS to attend if he isn’t safe/it isn’t suitable. But it would mean you are not EHE and the LA retain responsibility.

As the last poster said - you might have a case for having him signed off for stress due to unsuitable environment if it is only the next month, then you don’t fall out of the system.

How would I go about getting his signed off? would that be through our SEND Officer? The last thing I want is to be hit with a fine for keeping him off of school, so I'm looking to do anything to cover us until the end of term.

GP

Dont de register! You do that to home educate then the LAs responsibilities cease.

Id just to to GP and ask for a sick note for the rest of the year. Its only a few weeks.

I wouldn't deregister.

You don't need medical evidence immediately, but I'm not sure at what point it's considered reasonable to supply something. Would your GP or paediatrician be agreeable to writing a letter?

Would the SEN school be agreeable to some transition visits until the end of term? I'm thinking that would satisfy the professional having "eyes on" your DC

I would be wary of registering him.

What date is the end of term?

There’s only 3 or 4 weeks left (depending upon your location).

Just keep him home sick.

You can just inform the school.

Authorised absences will not lead to fines. If DS is absent due to ill health the absences must be authorised. The Regulations (School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024) make it clear where a pupil is absent because they are unable to attend due to sickness the absence must be regarded as authorised. DfE’s statutory attendance guidance also states absence due to illness (physical and mental health) must be coded as I. It also state medical evidence should not routinely be requested and should only be needed for a minority of cases. Only where the school has genuine and reasonable doubt about the authenticity of the illness should medical evidence be requested.

I've already contacted our GP and they have said that they don't do sick notes for children.

This is really helpful - thank you so much.