YP not in school

[suzylee73]

Hi
I have a 14 year old boy in my care that has been excluded from (behavioural) school, he has been at home for 8 weeks now and I am tearing my hair out! I have found a good school he could attend and have passed the info on the virtual school, who are going to put in a referral.

Any idea how long this process can take? I can't leave him home alone and we are both going stir crazy as he is not allowed out during school hours so he can do his work online. They did offer 10 hours of home tutoring which I declined as I suspect they will want to keep that up indefinitely.

Anyone had this problem before or can advise me on his rights to education?

What’s his social worker suggesting?

the social worker is working their notice so has not been that helpful and I feel like they are not the person with the power to deal with this sadly

The virtual school will be classed as providing an education as would the 10hours of home tuition. I speak from the experience of children too anxious to attend school (due to having autism). We home educate now as the school system is awful frankly. Does he have an EHCP? If not he likely needs one if he's being excluded. What unmet needs does he have? Has he been properly assessed for SEND nb emotional needs, ASD, anxiety, ADHD all are a disability and special educational need. I would have a look at IPSEA for advice and check your local authorities local offer with regards to SEN (they will have one). Basically it'll be down to you to fight for the education he is entitled to and what sort of education he needs.

And don't expect it to be quick. If you apply for an EHCP they have 6weeks to reply, 26 weeks to issue. Almost always the request is rejected and has to be appealed. I've known of many, many kids be out of school for years, still on roll and not be provided with anything...literally nothing. Which is partly why we home educate - it was easier than fighting!!

You could ask for day care respite in the day time. You could also ask for the tutoring to be done in a library or in the LA office so you can get a break/space from FC.

Also, if you advise the placement is unstable with the YP being at home because no school they may push a bit harder.

Thank you all for your replies!

He was only placed with me for a few days on an emergency basis before they excluded him. He was removed from a family placement and he was meant to be moved to a residential unit. This was unsettling and he blew up at school, which I think is understandable. I agreed to keep him and see how it goes, he has ADHD and ODD which is only recently under control with meds. He is adorable at home but has a history of violence at school which is making it hard to find him a new school I guess.

I never thought about asking for the tutoring to be done out of the house so I will try that next!

@suzylee73 look up PDA it's a form of autism and is very often misdiagnosed as ODD. Autism and PDA are often comorbid with ADHD. Strategies for working with young people with PDA are likely to be helpful regardless.

www.pdasociety.org.uk/

I have never heard of PDA! I have clicked on the link so I thought I better thank you before I get lost in it. I have been a foster carer for a long time but the learning never ends, thanks for this info x

@suzylee73 hope it is of some use. Poor lad - it's really not surprising he exploded at all. These poor young people...what they go through without the care and understanding they deserve. I hope you can get him more settled and happy. I have 9 of my own children - ages 1 to 20. I would like to do respite care/foster for special needs children once the younger ones are older and my older ones leave home. You're totally right when you say the learning never stops - it really doesn't - but that's what motivates me tbh!!