Education officer troubles

[Abeetlebugmama]

Hello,

I have a 9 year old in year 4. We already have had several issues with his school but he has been home educating at home since September due to covid. I do not want to risk his health and we have very vulnerable people in the immediate family. We suddenly lost my father as well in December 2020 so it has been a very tough year. The school will not come with a solid return plan to school with me. The education officer is awful to the point I put in a complaint.. Still stuck with said EWO.

I have now said that as nothing is changing I will deregister him by end of term if they don't start to actually show some kind if professionalism. He misses school and the school structure but even he is starting to feel very failed and disappointed.

How do I deal with the EWO? I know this is mostly on going because he is at the moment still registered with a school. We are so so sick of it it isn't even funny. I am point blank refusing contact with the EWO due to their behaviour.

Are you offering a plan and they are refusing to
look at it?
Could the consultant he is under offer support?

There is a group on Facebook called Parents United. They will help you. Google the Good Law Project, they're advocating for people such as yourselves.

I was told by the EWO that as none of the school work, even school home work that the school puts online, is done on school grounds she and they hold zero interest.

They want once weekly check ins at the school but this is starting to upset him as it 'feels useless and stupid'.. which I can't say I disagree with right now but am trying very hard to make it a positive thing.

I have been told that as even children with cancer and other awful conditions attend school they have no interest in any of our reasoning.

So why exactly has he been off school since September? Covid isn't really a reason.
A death in the family isn't a reason to keep a child off scholl for 3 months.

If you are refusing to work with the EWO I don’t think the school are going to be willing to work with you. I think you have two viable choices.

Either de register your son and home school him properly, which means finding other home schoolers and giving him opportunities to have the social contacts he needs.

Or find another school which might be hard if you are worried about vulnerable family.

@mavericksnoopy

Thank you, I will.

It seems a bit strange to still have him off school due to covid. I don’t really understand what you want.

If you want to homeschool him, de-register him and get on with it.

I had no issue working with any of them up until the EWO turned into an absolute nightmare. I've asked repeatedly for a meeting to see up a return to school plan and have been flat out ignored. Covid is a reason, even if it may not be for others. The same way that some people make choices regarding other subjects that doesn't seem correct to other people. Bereavement may not be a good enough reason and he went to school after the loss, however it was dealt with awfully and has only added to the stress and issue.

Did he go to school last academic year (Sept 20 - July 21)? Because if he did I wouldn't believe your covid excuse either. If he didn't, then you need to deregister him and start home schooling properly so he receives an education.

@FrownedUpon

It seems a bit strange to still have him off school due to covid. I don’t really understand what you want.

If you want to homeschool him, de-register him and get on with it.

I walked through a covid ward for 3 days whilst waiting to say goodbye to my parent on a ventilator. I have an asthmatic child with a connective tissue problem and we live with an immediate family member with COPD and a long list of other health issues who has been told to shield where possible.

There are plenty of other people and places that think the way things are carried on here regarding covid is unthinkable and stupid, but unfortunately this is where I find myself right now and all I have asked for is help in how to deal with a very difficult and rude EWO and what my steps would be if i would de register him, so we can as you say, get on with it.

So you are keeping your child off of school by choice, due to covid and are upset that the school aren't coming up with a plan for him to return?
The plan is - you drop him off at 9 and pick him up at 3.

What exactly is the welfare officer meant to do when there is no actual reason within what they can allow for him to be off?
What they would have meant by the children with illnesses comment is that even they come to school or engage.

What is the plan you want because covid is still a risk but there comes a point where you have to weigh up the risks of covid with the risks of your child missing so much schooling?

You'd be better off deregistering and home schooling properly but it sounds like you want to "home school" with the school setting the work for you.
It doesn't work like that.

Does your child stay in the house all the time now? No social contact with others? No clubs, sports etc?

@CovidFreeChristmas

Did he go to school last academic year (Sept 20 - July 21)? Because if he did I wouldn't believe your covid excuse either. If he didn't, then you need to deregister him and start home schooling properly so he receives an education.

He did, but most of that was spent home learning anyway due to either lockdowns and for a brief moment went to school from may to July as we had no cases, as we live quite remote. They also had class bubbles and several other regulations in place. I have his class teacher telling me she doesn't agree with the regulations in place and doesn't want to see him go but her hands are tied, an EWO who is rude as can be and very passive aggressive and a school that takes no responsibility or will even sit down to just run through a return to school plan.

He is also receiving an education, regardless of the current situation. I wouldn't leave him without one.

Hi OP. There isn’t really a way to stay registered with a school but not attend school, long term. They make you be ‘in or out.’

So, deregister. All you have to do is tell the school in writing. Literally send them an email saying “We have decided to dergister [child name] and home educate him, please remove him from the school register effective today.

Then if the EWO contacts you, you are under no legal obligation to deal with them (unless someone has raised a safeguarding concern), but it is generally in your interests to keep them happy. If they phone you, say you prefer communication to be in writing, please email me. If they email asking you to do stuff, just say thank you I note your offer of support but we do not require support at this time. Then just go on with home ed.

You can reregister in Spring, either old school or different school, as long as it isn’t full. I’ve deregistered and reregistered my child twice in the last 18 months. Take control, do what works for your family, good luck.

@Imgonnabewarmthiswinter

So you are keeping your child off of school by choice, due to covid and are upset that the school aren't coming up with a plan for him to return? The plan is - you drop him off at 9 and pick him up at 3.

What exactly is the welfare officer meant to do when there is no actual reason within what they can allow for him to be off?
What they would have meant by the children with illnesses comment is that even they come to school or engage.

What is the plan you want because covid is still a risk but there comes a point where you have to weigh up the risks of covid with the risks of your child missing so much schooling?

You'd be better off deregistering and home schooling properly but it sounds like you want to "home school" with the school setting the work for you.
It doesn't work like that.

I've actually fully provided his school work for him but also added his school homework on top.

@Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow

Does your child stay in the house all the time now? No social contact with others? No clubs, sports etc?

He gets to look out the window every so often, I figure that should be enough social contact for now. 🙄

@Skysblue

Hi OP. There isn’t really a way to stay registered with a school but not attend school, long term. They make you be ‘in or out.’

So, deregister. All you have to do is tell the school in writing. Literally send them an email saying “We have decided to dergister [child name] and home educate him, please remove him from the school register effective today.

Then if the EWO contacts you, you are under no legal obligation to deal with them (unless someone has raised a safeguarding concern), but it is generally in your interests to keep them happy. If they phone you, say you prefer communication to be in writing, please email me. If they email asking you to do stuff, just say thank you I note your offer of support but we do not require support at this time. Then just go on with home ed.

You can reregister in Spring, either old school or different school, as long as it isn’t full. I’ve deregistered and reregistered my child twice in the last 18 months. Take control, do what works for your family, good luck.

THANK YOU. God almighty, the first comment to make sense.

I was worried about not being able to re register if we deregistered, but this gives me a little bit of hope. Thank you again.

My point is, that if he is doing those things, what makes it different to school?
All of life is a risk. School is no different.

So what exactly is the plan for him to return that you have in mind?

They would just want him back if he is coming back so is it you that has unrealistic expectations or them?

@Imgonnabewarmthiswinter

So what exactly is the plan for him to return that you have in mind?

They would just want him back if he is coming back so is it you that has unrealistic expectations or them?

All I am asking for is a clear, well thought and followed through with plan. Not a complete shambles, as this is absolutely not ideal for any child let alone a child that is trying to cope through a traumatic event on top. The school has provided not even the thought of speaking to me regarding a plan of return yet I am constantly told there needs to be a plan for a return to school.

I don't think that my expectations for a clear and well laid out plan is unrealistic.

School is a service that you either buy into or not. It isn't a buffet.

Yes you may feel more comfortable with him off school but they are not obligated to facilitate that and in some instances cannot facilitate that.

What plans have you proposed in order to get your child back into school?

You seem quite hesitant due to the ongoing covid pandemic so I'm not sure what you could have suggested that would make you comfortable with him in school.

Teacher here who deals with admissions. I would first find out if the year group is below PAN; if they are then re registering them should be fine. If they are on PAN though you would have to go on the waiting list for places and you would face the same criteria as when he entered the school. They are tightening up the rules over home ed at the moment but it sounds like you are on top of it with work

What does a 'good plan' look like to you?

Would it entail a phased return? Part-time? Over what time period?

@soapboxqueen

School is a service that you either buy into or not. It isn't a buffet.

Yes you may feel more comfortable with him off school but they are not obligated to facilitate that and in some instances cannot facilitate that.

What plans have you proposed in order to get your child back into school?

You seem quite hesitant due to the ongoing covid pandemic so I'm not sure what you could have suggested that would make you comfortable with him in school.

Before a very sudden change when the new academic year started in September, they had class bubbles. Teachers and staff worse masks / face shields. Lunches were had at their tables, he had his own table and his own pens etc. Play time was with his class. They deep cleaned twice a week.

This was all taken away suddenly when rules abruptly changed a short while before school started. We were fully of the thought that in September we would be in school and it caught us very off guard.

I have asked if he will still have his own table and pens etc, if not I could provide his own items. His teacher does not mind but is met with constant resistance. I have asked what and how now with dinners etc and class hygiene but again everything is being ignored. I have said that this is carrying on and wasting their and my time, at the middle of it is a child. I have constantly said that I realise they have their limits but am then said by the teacher to please not de register him, let her see what she can do, only for it to fall back into the same old routine - this is why I've now said i will give it till end of term and if still the same issues i will de register him.

@soapboxqueen

What does a 'good plan' look like to you?

Would it entail a phased return? Part-time? Over what time period?

I asked their opinion on a phased return for before the October half term and was told yes, brilliant. Then had no further replies or plans. I've now mentioned it again and still no replies. I've even said that if the school cannot deal with the situation then please just say so so I can then put other things into place but I am then told that they are fully capable and will be in touch. I then get the EWO thrown at me instead who honestly has been the nastiest human being I've had to deal with within school so far.