Can I fund extra support in school myself?? School says they haven't got the funds

[leannedando2014]

Very long story but my 2 year old nephew was placed in my care 2 years ago. (bad past) Started nursery last year and was told they couldn't cope with him as he wont sit still, on the go and cannot sit and do work. They dropped his hours to only 1 hour a day. (instead of 2 and a half) I have to pick him up 10 mins early than everybody else.

Anyway we had a meeting where they said they wanted to keep him back a year as he wont cope full days and doing the level of work the other kids will be doing. I agreed they asked me to fill out forms as they were taking it to panel. That was the last I heard.

They are breaking up tomorrow I asked if he is being held back and was told "no.. we didnt go to panel in the end. He is going into reception and he might do ok as long as you are on stand by to come and collect him if we are not coping... or we might even say bring him in two days a week"

They also mentioned they might be getting extra support for 1 hour a day. Isnt much as they cannot afford it. I contacted Special Education Department who said the school has a budget of £6000 for each child with needs. They should be funding the support and if needed more they top it up"

I took this back to the school who said they havent got the funding?!?! So now im thinking... could I fund this extra support myself?? I am not loaded so not sure how much this would cost but happy to look into it if it helps him at school.

This school was only built a few years ago and the head mistress is new and she wants this "perfect school" with new equipment so I think she doesnt want to "waste" money on my nephew? I don't know I am considering changing schools if come september they are on the phone all the time to come and collect him but just had this thought of me fudning it myself... any ideas?

If this child does trigger PP funding at the £1300 rate, this is paid to the school and the school must account for how it is spent on the children. It is for "closing the gap" and the school must have this information on its web site. It is very much in everyone's interest to trigger this funding if possible because it can make a huge difference. In our school we target the funding directly at each child. Definitely not plugging gaps or whole class strategies. As we do not know the background, we don't really know if the child qualifies or not.

Sorry for such a late reply. I couldn't get into my account! And thank you for all the advice. Just to answer some questions from you
I have a special guardianship order that was done through court by social services. He is 4 next week.
He was in nursery 9am - 11:30am but they decided to put him in afternoons as the class was smaller. 1pm til 3:30pm. Then dropped it to an hour a day and slowly increased his time. School finishes at 3:30 but I always had to go to reception 10 mins early to pick him up as they couldnt cope with him.

I sat in once to observe him and all the children sat nicely at the table doing their work while my nephew wanted to do his own thing. When they tried to stop him he would throw himself on the floor. As they only have 1 teacher. She couldn't cope so often he would be locked in the head mistresses office. This is why they dropped it to one hour.

I had meetings and had to sign paper work as they said they were going to panel to request he gets put back a year and ask for funding. Then the last day of school I ask what is happening and they said "oh we didnt bother going to panel... we will try him in reception. See how he goes..
As long as your on standby if he plays ip it should be fine.

Only 3 weeks ago they told me he isnt on any of the kids brain level. He needs supervision going to toilet. He cannot focus and wouldnt cope doing a full day at reception... then change it all to this?? Im so confused as I'm not sure who I go to?? I phoned the special educations department who told me to go back to the school? But when I do I get fobbed off.

The whole situation is so long and confusing. Thank you everyone I will do a lot of things said.

Their expectation levels seem quite unreasonable. I don't want to say leave, because it sounds like that's what they want. But on the other hand, their attitude is so poor, I don't see how you're going to turn this around.

If you are stuck with the school, I'd want to get a meeting early next term and get a plan agreed with school as to how they are going to address your nephew's needs. Make it clear that you picking him up at the drop of a hat is not helping him. They need to plan for how they can support him through a full day.

PS one teacher for a nursery class, no TAs? How many kids are there? And sitting down doing work? This is not sounding like a nursery class I'd want my very academic and cooperative 3 yr old in, let alone a young in year and young for calendar age one.

I hope you are going to make a formal complaint about this. Even if you do move school for your nephew, there will be other kids like him.

A nursery with only one member of staff? How many children each session?

I think maybe looking around for a new school night be the way forward tbh.

I have a 3 year old with autism and am currently going through all the ehcp stuff.

Firstly I would take him to a gp and get him referred to a paediatrician to check exactly what's going on - I'm not sure if this has been done? Then you can find out if it's a learning disability, asd or adhd or just that he is a little behind the others / has some developmental delay. At this stage a paediatricians involvement can be really helpful when it comes to getting the support you need.

You can apply for an ehcp yourself. Contact your local council to ask how to do it. Ours has an online form you can fill in. There should also be a parent partnership that can help you with the forms and give you some advice.

Overall I would say from what you have written the nursery sounds worse than shocking! I'd definitely be taking the little one out and trying to find another place.

Leanne, they cannot force you to pick him up or give him a part time timetable- that constitutes an illegal exclusion.

When they say 'he can't cope' it sounds as if they mean 'WE can't cope'.

He is entitled to pupil premium if he was ever 'looked after' by the LA.

You need to contact your LA's Virtual Headteacher for LAC. Whilst they do not have a remit for children under SGOs, they may be able to give advice. If you feel comfortable PMing me your location, I will try and find contact details for you.

Do you have a choice about sending him to a different school?

Thank u all again. Im in vale of glamorgan wales. But the problem is he was from Birmingham and placed in my care in Wales. The Welsh local authority are passing the buck saying he isnt u under them and Birmingham are saying there was any additional needs put in place when I was giving the care order!.

There are 29 in his class as they do have a support teacher but she goes into other classes as well and they told me she is there to help the teacher not my nephew. He has been referred to a peadiatrition. He had 1 appointment they suggest ADHD or alcohol fetal syndrome. I have another appointment August so not sure what will happen then but I am going to tell them everythinf about the school and see what they say.

My daughter starts nursery January. I plan on sending my nephew September and giving him til January and if still no good will move them both

This sounds unacceptable. What do they have? It all sounds a bit Demon headmaster a class of hypnotised 3 year olds all sitting nicely!

My pretty clever little lad (albeit on the spectrum) at private school certainly wasn't expected to sit nicely & do work at 3 or 4. The school has totally unrealistic expectations & I can only assume they have drive out parents of more 'active' children who I would regard as more realistic for their age. Is the class very girl heavy as girls often are more compliant than boys.

Your nephew may have additional needs but I think the school are making mountains out of molehills & making him out to be worse than he is. I'd worry about that type of environment for any child, never mind one with a tough start in life.

If you have an SGO then he is no longer in the care of Birmingham- they have no responsibility for him.

Welsh LA need to step up and acknowledge their responsibility.

Even if he was still in care, the LA where the child lives is responsible for any EHCP assessment, so I don't know where they got that from.

Contact details for the relevant LAC education team- they may be able to advise, even though they have no official remit for children placed under an SGO.

I thought the minimum ratio is 1:13 at that age (and that's only if one of them is a qualified teacher, otherwise 1:8). That would mean 3 adults for 29 students, all the time not wandering off to help other classes. Does that not apply in Wales?
All sounds like a very odd setup to me.

It sounds very much like your nephew has additional needs and will likely need a statement and a 1:1 going forward (actually they don't call it a statement as of this year but easier to use the old terminology).

We are very lucky going to a sxhool that has made sure my DS had received everything he is entitled to. Your school sounds less than helpful. It doesn't matter where he came from he lives with you now and the local authority has an obligation to meet his needs.

You are going to end up funding a lot yourselves so don't start spending money now when you should be getting stuff. You are going to need that money over the years to help him especially if it's FAS.

Go to the Special Needs board and ask someone to talk you through what you can do and who you can talk to.

The Welsh Foundation Phase has a recommended ratio of 1-8 for 3-5 year olds (1-15 for 5-7 year olds).