School not providing what is on IEP.

[FatherSpodoKomodo]

DS1 is year 1 and nearly 6. I was shown his IEP in October and was told he would be doing Narrative therapy (continued from Reception) and would also be doing a Motor Skills programme. I didn't see his IEP at the March parents evening.

I found out last week that he has only done one session of the Motor Skills programme.

What happens when a school doesn't give the child what they said they would on an IEP? What is my next step?

[insanityscratching]

I'm not naive enough to think that the new legislation is being put in place to enhance the support given to children with SEN. Like the majority of the legislation this government has introduced the motive is cost cutting and dissolution of an individual's right to legal protection. My understanding is that children with statements already will continue to have the right to appeal to SEND those with the "new" statements or those refused statutory assessment won't have that protection. When you factor that into reduced budgets then there will be many more children not getting the support they need and teachers having an even worse time trying to support children without the resources needed.

[insanityscratching]

Well she has it because I secured it and her TA isn't sat there twiddling her fingers you know when dd doesn't need her she is supporting other children who need it and have been denied.
What you don't understand is that dd is an exception rather than the rule because our LA supply the bare minimum support in statements and one of the reason that they haven't reassessed dd is because reassessments generally lead to securing more provision rather than less.

[mrz]

I would suggest any parents make sure that it is written into the statement that the person supporting their child is suitably qualified and not a level 1 TA for show

[daftdame]

All OK if you are prepared for legal action.

I'd just like a fairer system up front.

Of course there is cost cutting involved, ineffective support costs money, rather it wastes money.

In the current climate this country just cannot afford the ineffective support which a lot of children receive. Lack of accountability and transparency only makes it more difficult for parents to ascertain exactly what is going on.

[insanityscratching]

No life isn't fair, I don't particularly think it's fair that two of my children have autism. I educated myself about that and about the education system and I studied the SEN code of practice. What my children have is because I was prepared to fight after making sure I knew what their entitlement was.
I am happy to share my knowledge and experience to those that ask in fact I helped another parent secure independent provision because the HT asked me to help but nothing is handed to you on a plate these days so if you aren't pro active then you shouldn't be surprised when you get very little in return.

[insanityscratching]

mrz definitely dd's TA has to be level 3 and experienced and with various training completed all written in her statement. No way was dd having one of the mums off the playground wanting a little pin money

[daftdame]

People pick their fights in life...

Glad it has worked out, education wise, for you and you family insanity.

[insanityscratching]

Yes but what's a more important fight than getting the right education for your child?
My aim is that dd will be able to live independently and support herself unlike ds who will need a lifetime of care and quite unlike the prognosis for her when she was diagnosed at two.

[daftdame]

You misunderstand me insanity, a lot of people are not in the position you are in. Some are living hand to mouth, I knew of one woman who was diagnosed with cancer just as her child was statemented. For some the new legislation helps regarding finding out exactly what their child is receiving when the school is evasive. Your experience, whilst valid, is not the only kind of experience.

[insanityscratching]

But don't you think that schools could still be evasive? They only have to document £6000 worth of provision. Well what's to say they document £6000 of provision with an inexperienced TA supporting ten children but only documenting for the one child. Yes they provided the support but if it wasn't good support to fit a child's particular need then it most likely would have no effect. Who is going to see that the support was in fact given by a dinner lady to a group of ten children rather than the support that is documented. If a school is evasive now the new system won't change anything because evasive schools (unlike dd's) wouldn't allow a parent in to observe at any time without notice (as I could if I chose to and would if there was a problem)

[mrz]

of course schools can still be evasive

[daftdame]

mrz insanity Ssssshhhh! Don't give them ideas!

[insanityscratching]

You know I'd worry if dd's school was saying to me that her TA was sat beside her twenty hours per week because firstly that's not what I'd want for dd nor is it what dd needs but also because I'd know they were lying and the trust between school and myself is far more important than them documenting every minute of dd's support.

[daftdame]

Anyway it will depend on what is demanded in terms of mapping the provision, size of group, money spent etc. Do you think schools would actively lie, which goes further than being evasive? That would be fraud.

[mrz]

I think the changes will see more TAs sitting idle next to a child who doesn't need them every second of every day. Now that is waste!

[mrz]

alternatively less experienced staff will do the child's work for them so the child learns nothing

[insanityscratching]

So really if a parent doesn't trust the school to provide the right support that a child needs and the school isn't open and honest about how they are using the resources to support the child the new legislation won't change the fact that that school isn't the right school for their child

[mrz]

We already do provision mapping rather than IEPs but you might plan for the group to be 6 children for 30 minutes a day and 2 children are absent or 1 arrives later and the paperwork has to be re calculated ... I can see me spending more time doing paperwork than actually supporting the children

[daftdame]

mrz if that happens the records would show the TA is not needed for that child. A school would not let this happen, no one would want the job, very dull. Purpose served. If a child does not need their TA a statement should not say that they do. Why would a school let a TA do the work, this is superstitious nonsense.

[insanityscratching]

I think the changes will see more TAs sitting idle next to a child who doesn't need them every second of every day. Now that is waste!

They'd better not be trying to impose that on dd through her statement as it is dd is pretty independent with good friendships and peer support and her TA is gainfully employed for the whole twenty hours support those who need it at the time. Why would anyone think that that needs to be changed?

[daftdame]

insanity Sometimes it is Hobson's choice. Schools can also improve, cultures change.

[daftdame]

insanity that could happen with an inaccurate statement in terms of the support given under the old legislation. Especially if the child moved schools or has a new teacher or SENCO.

[insanityscratching]

insanity Sometimes it is Hobson's choice. Schools can also improve, cultures change.

Exactly so I'm keeping dd's twenty hours for exactly that reason.... schools don't only improve they also deteriorate and a new HT could bring a whole new ethos which would mean her support was needed. After all if her statement lapsed I wouldn't get it back because who's going to give a statement to a well behaved high achiever?

[mrz]

mrz if that happens the records would show the TA is not needed for that child." Yes daftdame people do want the job ... I've seen it far too many times but because the TA isn't needed for 20 mins of art one day it doesn't mean the child won't need them for 1 hour of PE later in the day or to deliver a SALT programme every day or for a practical science lesson or to go on the school trip ...to quantify accurately will be a nightmare.

[insanityscratching]

But they'd have to reckon with me first as per her statement that says I am to be consulted with regards to dd's needs and support