Not heard from school Ds is due to start next week!

[youarenotkiddingme]

I've posted before about my DS having to do a MM.

It was after a student pulled a knife on him in class school covered it up and Ds too anxious to attend. Ds has ASD.

I wasn't totally on board with MM as feel he's need somewhere specialist (have EHCP refusal to assess tribunal in Nov) but agreed as Ds needs an education and it's what he wanted.

Told to look at schools. They wouldn't engage as 'full' and Ds school gave me the head tilt 'you must have misunderstood us'.

So basically had to name a school without discussion about what they'd offer etc.
I did this.

Was told meeting would be held to discuss MM with current and new placement.

Then got an email last day of term at end of day to say new school agreed Ds could start with them beginning of term and they think they'll contact me about uniform and timetable etc and they e fully briefed them on his needs. (Which they don't recognise so that should be fun )

So that's it. Ds apparently starts this school next Monday. I've heard nothing. When would be reasonable for me to expect to hear something and can I refuse to accept MM until we have a plan in place which will prevent this placement failing too?

I'm in a very similar position with dd who was school refusing following being attacked at school and also has ASD

We've got a verbal offer of a place but no start date as yet

If she doesn't start first day of term I know the placement will fail

I know the person dealing with dd's move is abroad until this weekend so come Tuesday I'll be on the phone

Monday of the first week back is probably the earliest that you will get any response as there will probably only be a receptionist, possibly exams officer and caretakers in. (maybe ICT support staff).

I would ring reception and see if your son's name is on the role. Other than that you could chase through your Local Education Authority.

It sounds like the managed move has gone through, but you could refuse to send him in until you have all the details that you want in place.

Yes MM is agreed and Ds due to start 'in new term'

So should I be ringing old school/ new school and reporting him as absent?

Surely old school should be ensuring its all gone through and Ds has started? (Mind you if they we're any good at actually caring for pupils we wouldn't be in this mess)

The old school will probably have him down as dual registration, so you will need to contact the new school in terms of absence.

If you check on the new schools website, they should have the term dates up and will/should have the first day (some schools do two days) back as inset, So it may be possible (if you are free) top camp in reception until you get answers. (I have no idea as to the schools set up as per pastoral units) but it should give you a chance to put forward your point of view and how you would like to go forward.

I'm at work during day and Ds also has a physio apt that day after school too.

I'm thinking not to contact anyone and wait and see. Eg he can't be absent if they haven't expected him? Then if I hear nothing sending an email to office asking them to contact me to arrange a meeting about him starting?

Theoretically, what should happen, if he is on the school's role and he doesn't turn up on the day that he is supposed to be there, the office should contact you within a couple of hours of the start of the school day and it will go down as an unauthorised absence.

Staff are unlikely to be contactable until 2 days before term starts. They will then be on training days and you should be able to get some answers. Good luck

That's my concern it'll be unauthorised absense. But how can we turn up without any details about when and where etc?

Ds already has 1 UA when I took him to gp re anxiety after the knife incident and school refused to accept being attacked by a knife as reason to be absent.

Don't worry, you will get staff before term starts for the students. I'm at work Thursday and Friday next week, and the students start on Monday.

Every teacher I know is in school for inset days next thurs and fri. If you email the general admin address now and follow up with a call next week I'm sure you'll get the info you need.

Our inset days are Monday and Tuesday, students start back on Wednesday 7th.

Op, what are their term dates? You will more than likely hear from them on the first inset day

From what I can tell from website they don't have inset first day and start on Monday. His old school have inset the first 2 days.

Our inset day is the Monday and selected pupils back on the Tuesday. If you ring on Tuesday next week the receptionist should be able to let you know.

Would it be reasonable for me to ask if I can meet them during next week if they are in?

I don't want to take the piss - or start off on a bad foot - but Ds cannot start ft until the plan is in place.

His ASD means he needs support.

There is nothing unreasonable about asking.

Thank you. I didn't want to appear pushy or OTT because I fear the old school will have pointed me in a bad light - they took offence at me wanting him to have support.

In fact they were bike and bullied me and I thought it was me until my parents - both teachers - said their professional conduct was horrendous but they've seen it before in schools that don't want difficult children - they make the largest lives difficult until parents can take no more because the children can't be 'got rid of' because of their responsibilities towards them.

Have you contacted the new school at all?

No I haven't contacted them.

Well I did when old school said to ask look at schools and say it for managed move. But they wouldn't meet due to being full but did agree to MM when old school asked.

So I've had to chose this school but know nothing about it. I was told we'd have a MM meeting with old/new school.

Then at end of school day on last day of term I got the email about him starting in new term and they think new school will contact me in advance about uniform and timetable etc.

I can get senco email off website but old school have made me so weary and fearful of asking for anything I am holding back because I don't want this placement to fail before us started because I ask for the things on his IPA to be followed.

Send the email, the worse that will happen is that you won't get a response. put in it what you have said here.

Send am email and phone up. Unless you have formally accepted a place they may be assuming that it's questionable if you are going. There will be staff around even if it's only senior management and administration. You need to know about paying for cafeteria etc from administration any way. They'll tell you when senco is in.

I didn't know I had to formally accept his school have arranged the MM. All I had to do was name school and then I believed that we'd all meet to discuss DS needs. I assumed the meeting would finalise the exact details, length of time of MM etc and be formalised on paper.

I was surprised to get email last day saying DS would start in new term. Old school aren't subtle about not actually giving a shit - I'll give them that!

It's even more shocking when you consider DS has ASD and anxiety and that's why he can't attend school and yet no one seems to be taking transition seriously.

Cafe isn't a problem - DS won't go in. He has a packed lunch and eats in student services away from any people!

You need to get in touch with the new school ASAP, admin staff will be there tomorrow. Confirm he is on roll, confirm start date/time and make sure they are aware of his size so they can provide uniform (either to collect before or to change into on first day). Get the e-mail of head of year and SENCO and e-mail re: needs. They should get back to you Thurs/Fri.

Most schools don't provide student timetables till the first day so I wouldn't worry about that.

Thank you. I'll try and call tomorrow. I need to meet senco before he starts to find out when he'll have literacy support, the LSA support in class, Sen base access for free time and elsa support etc.

Email don't phone. I doubt any office staff will be answering phones.

Who do I email? Senco, admin, head teacher?! I can't contact tutor or HoY as have no info.

It just feels a bit weird sending an email saying I believe my Ds is due to start your school next week. Can you confirm this and the arrangement please!