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Original poster

Ruth kelly send her child to private school because of SN

280 replies

PeachyClair · 08/01/2007 11:53

part story here

Now I haev no problems with private schools as such, just seems this woman is partlyr esponsible for completely effing up the chances of SN kids (such as mine) in mainstream, then she opts out.

Most parentscaring for sn kids don't have £15k a year to make that decision.

Wonder if she realised what she was planning when she was the Minister? Coz that would explain the state of Sn in aminstream schools frankly.

And on the same day I geta letter stating mys ion can't have any occupational therapy because his Teacher ahsn't had the time to fill in the forms by their deadline.

OP posts:
isgrassgreener · 09/01/2007 14:49

Can't you just see it... end of term year 6.....all the excited kids saying goodbye.... see you at Harrow, see you at Eton, see you at Tower Hamlets...NOT

Do you think the bookies will take bets on RKs son not going back to state education. We could all make some money, easier than writing a piece for a newspaper

Judy1234 · 09/01/2007 14:49

I see you can go on a day basis to 6.45pm each day so I suppose someone could move near it if they are opposed to boarding assuming they can afford the fees. This Government is looking at whether it would be better to put children in care who apparently cost £60k a year into boarding schools which cost £20k in fees a year instead. Surely they ought to be open to suggestions that parents be allowed to calculate the cost of their SN child such as state school place £5k plus cost of extra help if you are getting any and the let the parents top up the boarding costs etc.

On child care depends where you live. I live near London. There are massive numbers of people looking for jobs all the time from all over the world many of whom are lovely and competent and I would have thought for many special needs children whose mothers and fathers want to work and can work, it would be possible to hire someone to do school pick ups and even some medical appointments as long as the parent can be updated by phone on the condition.

Jimjams2 · 09/01/2007 14:51

Xenia - a dyslexic child in a state school would be unlikely to receieve anything like 5k in help.

good idea grass. Perhaps she thinks they'll be in opposition then so no-one will notice.....

beckybrastraps · 09/01/2007 14:54

How much would a full time LSA cot a school nowadays? All in, including NI, pension etc, not just his/her take home pay.

Not suggesting this poor child had a full-time LSA, but just wondering...

Jimjams2 · 09/01/2007 14:57

ds1's place in mainstream -0 with full time LSA cost 12000 - according to LEA figures- most of that cost would have been on the LSA. The LSA walked him round and round the school all day. Sometimes they stood in the playground (when the other chldren weren't there).

Hos very wonderful special school - where he doesn;t have a full time LSA, but they havevery high staff ratios and they do loads and go everywhere cost 15000 according to LEA figures. Although they'll have to pay transport on top. Which is pricey.

isgrassgreener · 09/01/2007 14:58

my ds2 has full time 1.1 support in MS primary and I think the school gets about £15,000 a year.

Aloha · 09/01/2007 14:58

Glad to find some agreement!
Yes, it's really quite cruel to think that after a couple of years of candlelit suppers and gracious grounds he'll be back in the local comp. Wonder what RK has planned for her girls?

Socci · 09/01/2007 14:59

Message withdrawn

beckybrastraps · 09/01/2007 14:59

See, I do find that quite interesting...

foxinsocks · 09/01/2007 15:01

if it is that school, I imagine she'll do the weekly boarding option (says there's a bus that picks them up in London on Monday morn and drops them back on Friday afternoon!).

Poor lad - almost the worst part is thinking he'll be dropped back into Tower Hamlets secondary school after going there. It does look like a lovely school.

Wouldn't be surprised to see her girls go off to some (no doubt great results, impossible to get into) Catholic secondary school.

Aloha · 09/01/2007 15:01

I bet the fees for boarding are a lot more than £15k a year. even the website says its fees are high.

isgrassgreener · 09/01/2007 15:01

BBS - interesting in what way?

Highlander · 09/01/2007 15:02

I think it's pretty sick that RK's son is being used as a political pawn. She's doing what she thinks is the best thing for her son, and if that doesn't toe New Labour's line on education, tough.

PS Lovely to see you back Aloha!

isgrassgreener · 09/01/2007 15:03

BBS - interesting in what way?

Blandmum · 09/01/2007 15:03

Yes, 1.1 will xcost that muchbut there is no way on gods earth that a child with dyslexia in MN would have that sort of support. Most of the kids I know with dyslexia in MN have no classroom support at all but have suplimentary lessons at break, may be withdrawn for Toe to Toe from some lessons.

Last year I taght an 11 year old with a reading age of 7 with no support at all, except a scribe and reader for tests.

There is no way he'd get £15,000 for funding!

I can think of 4 or 5 children in the school , over several years who have had 1 to 1

Socci · 09/01/2007 15:03

Message withdrawn

Blandmum · 09/01/2007 15:04

MS!

Aloha · 09/01/2007 15:04

I think she could have got the LEA to fund her child's school place, if she had gone through the appeals process. However, it seems she has suggested they would not have made her fight?

Do you really believe that, Socci? This school is ONLY for very clever boys with no EBD or other special needs and who have the potential to get into Britain's top independent schools. I think there is not the remotest, smallest chance that any LEA in the country would fund a child's place there. You could appeal all your life and not get it. As for the rather wealthy Ruth Kelly getting it, well, I'd be enraged, frankly.

Lorina · 09/01/2007 15:06

The thing is Highlander who is it tough on ?

All day yesterday the BBC ran the headline "Kelly does right thing for son"

Yes ,Im sure thats true.

But the more relevant headline might have been "Kelly does wrong thing for everyone elses son/daughter"

Blu · 09/01/2007 15:07

Highlander - plenty of people, including me, can understand that she would want to use all her resources and choice to give her child the best chance. All she has to do is publicly acknowledge that the service over which she presided, and was charged with making acceptable for all people, whatever thier economic power, is not, in fact, adequate. In short, either admit her / her gvts failure, or campaign / resolve to do better pdq.

Blu · 09/01/2007 15:09

foxinsocks - yes, he is a weekly boarder.

Socci · 09/01/2007 15:09

Message withdrawn

Aloha · 09/01/2007 15:11

It's a specialist prep school for dyslexic children, but only very intelligent ones with no other problems, whose parents want them to go onto the big public schools.

Socci · 09/01/2007 15:13

Message withdrawn

Lorina · 09/01/2007 15:16

Because she expect us to accept that rubbish standard of education and support for our kids.

I think she has done the right thing to put him in a good ,fee paying school. But she should have resigned.