Ds excluded, can I refuse to collect?

[pinkandsparklytoo]

DS is 6 and in year 2. He has been excluded several times this term, and various times last year and I have always collected him. However I am sure I have read somewhere that I would be within my rights to refuse to collect him. Is this true?

Why would you want not to collect him?

Why would you not collect him?

Sorry xpost chaos.

He's your responsibility. Go get him and establish why he is being excluded.

Tbh, the collection is just a logistic. Why he is being exclided is what needs working on.

Cross posts with Jumping.

Well school would obviously look after him until you collected him but then his exclusion would last longer. The collection isn't really the issue is it?

Why would you refuse to collect him? He's your responsibility! Why does he keep being excluded? Do you support the school's decisions?

I've never refused to collect him and wasn't planning not to, it was just something I had read somewhere. He has sen, is on school action plus and has a psp and iep.

If, despite that level of intervention, the school believe that exclusion (several times already only 8 or so weeks), the. I suspect that the precise delimitations of requirement to collect are the least of your problems.

What do you want the school to do? Where do you see this ending IYSWIM? Have the school suggested that the setting is inappropriate?

I suspect that if the parent/guardian refuses to collect, the school might then have to contact social services if they have gone through the correct process of excluding and noting is willing to collect. But I may be wrong. I do know that if you're more than 45 mins late collecting from our after school club and you're not contactable, they will call police/social services. But the process ,isn't be entirely different for school.

All I want is for DS to be able to go to school and do a full day with no meltdowns. Would the school be able to do an internal exclusion instead?

If he can't manage a full day without meltdowns then further intervention is required, rather than the school simply excluding. Is a statement in the pipeline?

Im not sure - does he have a dedicated TA/LSA? There might be a staffing issue. Plus if the meltdowns involve physical abuse, then I suspect the school may feel the need to make in an external exclusion IYSWIM.

What you want is reasonable. You're not asking for the moon on a stick. But if the school setting is distressing for your ds it might be that full days should be something to be aimed for rather than the current set up. Have you and the SENCO worked out what is triggering the melt downs, whether it's a particular part of the school day or situations within the classroom.

I don't know - im no expert and I feel for you because this must be so upsetting for you and your ds.

Have you thought about posting the OP with additional info on the special needs topic (I think I recall the main special needs topic gets more traffic than special needs: education). There are posters with masses and masses of knowledge and experience who might be able to give you pointers/an idea of an action plan.

Agree with noblegiraffe in that the exclusions aren't actually addressing the issues of the meltdowns and SEN.

I have tried asking for a stat assessment as first step towards a statement but the school just tells me how it will take so long to do. I'm going to apply for it myself when I can get DH to sit down and help. He has been on a part time timetable for the last year with a view to extending it. The whole point of it was to stop him being excluded so frequently but it doesn't seem to be working at the moment.

I'm also concerned that he may start thinking that hitting people is a way to get to come home. When he is excluded we make sure it is no fun for him, no tv, pc or wooden railway amongst other things.

If it's an official exclusion with documentation then you need to fetch him, if it's a "he's had a bad morning he'll be better off at home" unofficial one you could refuse unless they made it official.
Documented exclusions will be useful in securing more support unofficial exclusions are just delaying getting him the support he needs.

Well if it takes so long to get a statement, then surely the school should be getting a move on! But since the seem to be dragging their feet, definitely worth getting the ball rolling yourself.

I'm getting the impression that the school is not being at all proactive here.

Pease have a look on the special needs topic. I really might be helpful.

It might be helpful. :)

I think you're getting a hard time here OP.

Contact IPSEA on Monday for advice.
You can apply for the statement yourself.
There are examples of letters on the IPSEA website. Don't wait for the school to do it.

Part time timetables are illegal exclusions.

They can only be used in very extreme circumstances, for a fixed term and as part of a reintegration plan.

Your son is entitled to full time educational provision.

Contact the LEA straight away- one to ask how they are going to provide your son with the full time hours he is entitled to as the school can or will not, and two to request statutory assessment. IPSEA has a template SA1 request letter to send to the LEA.

The school are acting illegally.

Thank you for the advice. I have posted on the SN board before. I've been trying to get in touch with IPSEA for a while but always seem to ring when they are busy. I'll keep trying.

The part time timetable has lasted for over a year now. They said it would only be temporary when I initially agreed to it. They have since said that as it is part of his PSP it is allowed. Do you have a link to somewhere that says it is illegal?