My daughter started LEY (nursery attached to primary school) when she was 3
A month or so after she started, they raised concerns about listening and attention etc and what they were putting in place to help
Fast forward a few months, they started excluding her a day or two here and there because
- Violent outbursts towards children and staff
- Not being able to control her
- She is a disruption to the whole class
Now this continued on and off until the summer holidays so around 3 months
When she returned in the September (2nd year of nursery before she turned 4) they said she was doing really well and not having any issues until the last week before half term she was getting a bit tetchy
return from half term in November and the whole month was hurting kids, saying bad things and was again excluded
returned from being excluded and understood if she made wrong choices she wouldn’t be allowed back to school. Seemed to be doing ok
return January this year, had a pretty good term less a couple days where she was getting over a fever but no violence it was more anger.
we’ve now returned from February half term and she’s had 4 violent outbursts and is not listening at all.
I have done everything the school have asked me to do which is inclusive of the below
she’s on the waiting list to be assessed for autism (looking into private currently)
had a referral done for OT and she has her face to face in a couple weeks
I’ve been paying privately for her to see a psychologist weekly to help with emotions and turn taking / sharing etc as they were big factors
I went in today to collect information about her school triggers to relay back to the psychologist and OT, but instead of it being a note taking exercise based on their reports with 1 teacher, it was a meeting which took me by total surprise with 3 teachers and without my husband present
last year the head teacher said her behaviour was the worst she’d ever had
they confirmed again today her behaviour is the most severe they’ve had and especially at her age (4)
They have said the controlling and demands are disruptive the whole time and the only time she can focus is when she is 1 on 1 in a different class as she’s always worried about what everyone is doing / what’s going on rather than herself
Now I totally get the violence is not acceptable, the other kids and staff don’t deserve to be on the end of that no matter what, so please don’t think I ever think that’s acceptable. I have daily chats and made a lot of social stories for her to visualise what happens when you make nice choices and wrong ones. I taught her in November to walk away when angry and it worked up until this week.
the school have said she struggles to be in a class of 30 then when dead silent. So I then asked okay so what do you suggest private tutoring to which the head teacher laughed at me and said the borough wouldn’t fund that. I never asked them to, I was trying to ask what do I need to do, what environment would my daughter learn and be happy best in. They then said maybe a school with a unit attached. Again, silence.
I pretty much left there with no guidance what to do, considering all the school applications have closed. Every time I asked so who shall I speak to, schools won’t just say sure have 1:1 or 3:1 I need evidence from the school
”sure we can perhaps write a letter but we’re busy with meetings next week”
I spent the whole day contacting schools with these units asking what to do. They were all so helpful and said she would need an ECHP in place before even being considered so at least I know the next step
should her current school have already applied or suggested to apply for an ECHP considering they’ve pretty much said they cannot accommodate her at that school and I know I can do a parent referral, but if I force their hand to do it because they can’t have her there, is that a stronger application to the panel?
sorry I know this was a long post but it’s been a long year
I just feel like the school want her out as she’s too much trouble to deal with
for the record, yes at home she can be hardwork and testing at times, but no where near enough as school say. At home I am 1:1 of course, but they were delighted when I said I was paying for someone, then when I say well the progress I’ve seen has been great at home and until last week school was ok, they go yes but you’re doing that in a smaller atmosphere. It’s like I can’t win and I honestly feel I’ve hit rock bottom
what should I do?