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.

So you expect them to have covid restrictions in place, just for your child?

@Myusername2015

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

How would I find that out?

@soapboxqueen

So you expect them to have covid restrictions in place, just for your child?

Not at all, though there are several children within the school and class who apparently try that has been no issue for, but hey ho.

I am expecting a clear picture of what is in place and what I would be sending my child back into so that I can make that choice.

The virus is airborne. He can gave all the personal pens, desks etc in the world- he will will still be breathing the same air as everyone else

If it hasn't been an issue for other children, why do you think it is for you?

Maybe those other children have specific needs or medical conditions where it is appropriate? Unless I've missed something, your ds does not so it is your preference for this to happen?

I don't really understand how they can plan a return to school if you don't want him to attend. They can't make covid go away. If you don't want him to attend due to your concerns then he needs to be deregistered. A child on the roll of a school needs to be attending otherwise they are a child missing from education regardless of what you are providing at home. You could attempt to make an arrangement for EOTAS but I suspect you wouldn't get far with that as its generally a provision for unwell children or those with disabilities that preclude school attendance.

If he is attending home ed classes/groups and socialising with others (as he should be) then there is always a risk of covid. I don't think choosing to home ed solely due to covid concerns is a wise decision.

If you deregister, his current school do not have to keep his place open for him and be aware that if it is a popular school the class may be full and he would have to join a waiting list. The LA has to find a school place if requested, but this can be at any school in the area not of your choice.

@soapboxqueen

If it hasn't been an issue for other children, why do you think it is for you?

Maybe those other children have specific needs or medical conditions where it is appropriate? Unless I've missed something, your ds does not so it is your preference for this to happen?

If little changes can be accommodated for a child with asthma in his class, what makes his asthma less worrying so that I can't even be spoken to in regards to any worries etc? That is the heart of the problem. As I have mentioned, there has been a long list of problems with the school and not just with us but for other parents. I obviously have been trying my best to.not have to take him out completely as I felt he does not need any more change on top of what has been an absolutely awful year for him, hence trying my best to sort something out with a school that is literally not even able to follow through with a plan I gave them and they agreed with happily.

I'm not sure how a phased return would help? If someone in the class has the virus, then it's just as likely to be on a day he's there as a day he's not. If he's a healthy child, it surely isn't necessary to 'wean' him back to school - that's something that's done for children who have health/stamina issues.

I don't see what the plan could be OP, he's either going to school or he's not.

I worked in a school throughout the first two lockdowns as we had a group of vulnerable pupils. I also went straight back into classrooms with them when the schools restarted.

I had one colleague who was so worried about Covid that she got her GP to sign her off for 6 months, despite 'shielding' being over. There are 12 in our team and none of us caught Covid between Mar 2020 and Aug 2021, with one exception and that was our friend who stayed home. She got it from someone who came into her home.

Send him to school, LFTs as often as you want and try to be extra-hygienic at home. Make sure that everyone who can be vaccinated has been and then get on with your lives. He needs to be in school and missing all this time will disrupt his education.

Hi OP. It's clear that you are extremely concerned about finding a resolution to this.

You've said that you'd like a phased return. You've also said that you would like your child to have their own pens etc to use. (As a previous poster has said, the virus is airborne and this won't affect whether or not he catches it).

Have you tried being very specific about what your ideal resolution is? You've talked about the school not providing you with a plan. Is this not something you should be working together to do? Regardless, what is your ideal outcome?

If it is as basic as child uses own pens and has a phased return, then that is fair enough. Is there more? I wonder whether you being really specific and clear about what you're looking for would help?

I appreciate you've said you're having communication issues with the education officer, but this is too important to let that get in the way of things.

To be honest, I'm not sure how a phased return would help your child at this point. If your concern has been around Covid but you accept him returning to school, then it's probably better for him (and you) to just crack straight on and get back into the routine of full time school.

If the school have accommodated extra covid restrictions (which I doubt have much impact on the chances of catching it anyway) for some children, why not yours? Why do you think they've just decided not to in your case?

I suspect because your child does not meet the criteria for such a thing. You've kept your child off school when they are registered to be there because you feel more comfortable about that.

Which is fine to feel that way but then school isn't the place for you or your child right now. You should deregister.

@ChocolateDeficitDisorder

I'm not sure how a phased return would help? If someone in the class has the virus, then it's just as likely to be on a day he's there as a day he's not. If he's a healthy child, it surely isn't necessary to 'wean' him back to school - that's something that's done for children who have health/stamina issues.

I don't see what the plan could be OP, he's either going to school or he's not.

I worked in a school throughout the first two lockdowns as we had a group of vulnerable pupils. I also went straight back into classrooms with them when the schools restarted.

I had one colleague who was so worried about Covid that she got her GP to sign her off for 6 months, despite 'shielding' being over. There are 12 in our team and none of us caught Covid between Mar 2020 and Aug 2021, with one exception and that was our friend who stayed home. She got it from someone who came into her home.

Send him to school, LFTs as often as you want and try to be extra-hygienic at home. Make sure that everyone who can be vaccinated has been and then get on with your lives. He needs to be in school and missing all this time will disrupt his education.

Look, I will be very honest regarding the missing his education argument: during lock down my child gained so much from learning at home that his teacher even noted it and put him with the next year groups for certain subjects. He is bright and he being given an education, so my main worry is absolutely not his education. He goes to school because he enjoys his friendships and he enjoys the STRUCTURE of school and that would be the only reason I will keep him in school.

My reasons have not only been due to covid, albeit it being the bigger reason.

My main concern is as I've laid out several times now the fact that the school upholds no commitment, responsibility or anything that a pupil should be given. That there is already a long list, and not just my own, of issues with the school. That I have been sent an absolutely awful EWO and am trying my best to deal with it. That if I were to deregister him at the moment how would that work and could I re register him again etc. That a basic return to school plan, as originally hammered on about by the school and not myself, should not take all of the schools brain power to accomplish.

Those are my concerns. They are valid concerns. It really is that simple.

@Glitterandunicorns

Hi OP. It's clear that you are extremely concerned about finding a resolution to this.

You've said that you'd like a phased return. You've also said that you would like your child to have their own pens etc to use. (As a previous poster has said, the virus is airborne and this won't affect whether or not he catches it).

Have you tried being very specific about what your ideal resolution is? You've talked about the school not providing you with a plan. Is this not something you should be working together to do? Regardless, what is your ideal outcome?

If it is as basic as child uses own pens and has a phased return, then that is fair enough. Is there more? I wonder whether you being really specific and clear about what you're looking for would help?

I appreciate you've said you're having communication issues with the education officer, but this is too important to let that get in the way of things.

To be honest, I'm not sure how a phased return would help your child at this point. If your concern has been around Covid but you accept him returning to school, then it's probably better for him (and you) to just crack straight on and get back into the routine of full time school.

It has been as basic as can he use his own items, would he have his own table again, what are the current regulations in place, would a phased return be ok as thats something that I'd do anyway due to his pain levels related to the connective tissue disorder. These are simple questions being fully ignored. Everyone is focused on the fact that covid is one of our concerns but as I have repeatedly mentioned, not the only one. There are people who fully believe it is best to send their kids right into it and if they get it, hey ho. That is fine. It is their choices. The same way it is our choice to ask for a plan to return to school. If I flat out refused to send him due to covid, I'd deregister him as even I can see the covid pandemic is here to stay for a while. I have worked with the school as much as I possible can.

My problem with the welfare officer is that because the school will not take any kind of responsibility, they constantly hide behind the welfare officer who is incredibly aggressive in her way of communicating and dealing with it. This is clearly an issue.

If your main issue is that you feel that the school isn't providing what a pupil needs, can you not put your son's name down for a different school?

I understand that you feel your concerns are valid, but what about the impact on your son? He's been away from his friends and the structure of school for so long now. Although it sounds like he's doing a great job with learning, that's not the only thing that school is about.

I appreciate that loads of people home educate successfully, but it doesn't sound like that's what you're doing. Can you link in with home education groups while you're sorting out the school stuff?

@Glitterandunicorns

If your main issue is that you feel that the school isn't providing what a pupil needs, can you not put your son's name down for a different school?

I understand that you feel your concerns are valid, but what about the impact on your son? He's been away from his friends and the structure of school for so long now. Although it sounds like he's doing a great job with learning, that's not the only thing that school is about.

I appreciate that loads of people home educate successfully, but it doesn't sound like that's what you're doing. Can you link in with home education groups while you're sorting out the school stuff?

My son has been very clear even to his teachers: I want to come to school because I like the school environment and my friends but I don't feel that I can talk to the adults in my class and my worries are constantly not listened to or ignored.

That is literally what a teacher put in an email. Not my words, hers.

He is ok with learning at home and he is ok with learning at school. We home educate fine, he sees a small group of friends and friends in similar situations. He does online classes that he enjoys. He is not lacking in those terms. He simply misses the structure of school and GOING to school.

As I have said, that is why I am trying my best to come to a solution with the school.

@Glitterandunicorns

If your main issue is that you feel that the school isn't providing what a pupil needs, can you not put your son's name down for a different school?

I understand that you feel your concerns are valid, but what about the impact on your son? He's been away from his friends and the structure of school for so long now. Although it sounds like he's doing a great job with learning, that's not the only thing that school is about.

I appreciate that loads of people home educate successfully, but it doesn't sound like that's what you're doing. Can you link in with home education groups while you're sorting out the school stuff?

I have tried putting his name down for another school but have not had any luck.

"He goes to school because he enjoys his friendships and he enjoys the STRUCTURE of school and that would be the only reason I will keep him in school."

You might like to join a local home ed group to see what social opportunities are available for your son in the area. We are cautious about Covid, but my daughter is still able to attend nine activities a week, all bar one of which are outdoors. She also plays with her friends in the park three times a week.

This involves a lot of trekking about, but it does offer complete flexibility in a way school never can.

OP honestly, I'm suprised the school as let this go on since September.

There's nothing you've said so far that justifies your child being off school all that time. If you register your child at school you are committing to sending them. If that's not what you want, then deregister them.

If you feel your child has a medical condition that requires enhanced covid measures, then I suggest you contact a medical professional to get that in writing.

You mentioned your child has a connective tissue condition (sorry if I've mixed that up), what was in place before covid? Surely that would still be applicable. If its a new condition then again seek support from a medical professional so you can be explicit about what your child needs in school.

If you want to make a complaint about the EWO that's up to you but even if you get a new one it won't change the fact that your child is not in school.

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.

Hang on - you should be worried about not being able to re-register if that's your plan - you don't know it's going to be as easy for you in your area as it was for the poster who's done it several times.

It's really important to look at school admissions numbers (usually on the council/LEA website) and to assess whether you're confident that you've got a plan B and a plan C if you're intending to deregister DS with the intention of re-registering him. It could be a recipe for disaster if you don't plan it carefully.

Also, your first comment about deregistering was around doing it because the school/EWO are being unreasonable. It's important the decision is about what's best for DS and not simply a reaction to a stressful situation where it would be far easier to opt out.

I've been in similar situations (pre-Covid and relating to SEN/off-rolling), so I know how shitty it can be.

If you want to deregister him because you think that's what's best for him, then go for it. But don't do it because you're finding it difficult dealing with certain staff members.

I think you need to get some help for your health anxiety. The only person you are damaging here is your son. You are being quite ridiculous.
I have three extremely clinically vulnerable family members,
A brother with Down syndrome and a heart condition-he goes out to work everyday
My niece has cancer and has been having chemotherapy-she goes to school when she feels up to it.
My partner has a conditions wheee he has to take immunosuppressants. He goes to work everyday.
You really need to realise covid is going nowhere and you have got to learn to live it. You are going to seriously damage your son with this carry on. It isn't fair to him whatsoever.

You want all his own cutlery and his own table and pens ? Special hygiene cleaning for him and some sort of school dinners arrangement? Is that it ?

Legally he is a child missing education if he is registered at a school and not attending. It does not matter what you are providing at home as in the legal framework you have an obligation to send to school if registered there. You are legally entitled to home educate, but you need to deregister to do so. You can't home educate while on the school roll. He may very well be getting a very good education at home, but legally he is still considered a child missing education. This is why the EWO is pursuing you, they are discharging their legal duty to ensure all children are receiving an education.

You need to shit or get off the pot honestly. Either deregister or take him to school.

Some of you are so hung up about covid that your own problems really show. 🙈 it is ridiculous. It is all well to pick one thing out of a long list and run with it but it shows how rather narrow minded you are.

You want to go inhale covid in a line and go steroid Steve on it, that is a-okay. Some of us are a little more cautious. As said many comments ago : if it was ONLY because of covid, we would have de registered at the start of the school year already. It is not only because of covid hence seeking advice, which a small few have been lovely and helpful with and thank you for that.

I'll let my child go have his daily dose of 10 minutes by the window now though in full protection gear, don't want him to miss out.

You're getting a hard time OP. I have no practical advice as my DC are older, but just wanted to send some solidarity. DD is pretty much living as your DS and still shielding. She's very high risk from Covid and as she's been out of education since Y9 anyway due to illness, we aren't answerable to anyone. I must say that helps enormously with the stress levels, so if you feel confident you can reregister DS when appropriate or can manage if you can't, deregistering now sounds like a good idea to keep them off your back.

@BonnesVacances

You're getting a hard time OP. I have no practical advice as my DC are older, but just wanted to send some solidarity. DD is pretty much living as your DS and still shielding. She's very high risk from Covid and as she's been out of education since Y9 anyway due to illness, we aren't answerable to anyone. I must say that helps enormously with the stress levels, so if you feel confident you can reregister DS when appropriate or can manage if you can't, deregistering now sounds like a good idea to keep them off your back.

I think people would prefer to pretend we are not in the current times we are and can get a bit nervy when someone else does not do the same, but such is life. It has certainly shown on here. I read what primary school teachers had to say about the whole situation and instantly lost any bit where I started to feel crazy.

Thank you for your comment. I appreciate it. It seems that that is what we will be doing as like I've said, the school has been a massive issue for quite some time. Something like 17 children left in the last year along which does not bode well.. I've tried my best to not have more changes to his life after our loss but another school in the future is seeming to be the very best option. By the looks of things school will be disrupted again anyway over the next couple of weeks, so lord have mercy on those teachers with some parents!

I think you have a tough decision to make. You either need to be in school, or deregister from school and home educate fully. The hybrid you are doing at the moment is what is causing the issues.
Are you in England? Which part of the UK you live in will affect the rules regarding getting a place back at school. Although if 17 kids from the same year as your child have left recently, it sounds likely that spaces would be available if you choose to return.

It also sounds like your relationship with the school has broken down. I'd be tempted to deregister, home educate for a bit, then see if you want to look for a school place at a different school, or remain home educating.