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?

What's the harm in phoning first, much easier to sort out with an actual conversation imo. If no one's there you can email.

Are you in England? Could the education department at the local council help, they should know which school is expecting your child

It all sounds very disorganised! Hope you get it sorted!

youarenotkiddingme

Phone first, that way you haven't lost anything for trying and you should get dates when they (senco etc.)are back in, if not email.

Don't worry I know which school he's meant to be starting! He's on roll at shitham academy his current school through the process.

It seriously is disorganised - DS is meant to be doing this MM for 6 weeks. I have no official start date, no transition meeting, no contact details for new school (though obviously I can get them) - no details of who my point of contact is, no details for what happens at the end etc!

All I know is his old school are not being very subtle about their determination to move him on!

I rang! Voicemail box is full! So Ive ring education inclusion service and left voicemail to call me back.

email the school's senco, cc in the headteacher and possibly head of year (if they have one), leave your telephone number and ask then to get back to you on the inset day ASAP. (putting all the other information in as well).

There is no inset day. The school starts next Monday on first day of term and try have 2 days in inset tacked on to a weekend at the end of the month.

So ds is expected in school Monday afaik - I'm fine with him not being there whilst we finalise the arrangements but do want clarification of how the absense will be registered!

Apologies if I've missed something but why is it so important to you how the absence is registered, aren't the other issues more pressing. Given that the whole situation seems to have been so badly handled I wouldn't give a second thought to who they record any absence

Because the way they are recording the absences is hindering my EHCP appeal and making it seem like it's me not sending Ds. Also it puts me at risk of facing ewo.
I want Ds in school but it needs to be done properly because otherwise placement risks failure again.

If Ds is meant to turn up on Monday - which the email hints at and he doesn't - because I have no details it's could be unauthorised absense.

Obviously it's very pressing. I'm gutted to have chosen a school for Ds which has a blatant disregard for the welfare of its students. I've had to live with that decision and come to terms with it.

I've left a message with inclusion officer and asked her to ring me with advice.

You really need to make sure DS is in on the first day, even if he ends up in the SENbase all day. Reasons for this:

• Most schools will consider a non-doctor supported absence on the 1st day of a managed move as an automatic failure of said move and he'll have to go back to his old school.
• The first day there are lots of newbies and so he will blend in more. If he misses that first day he will be the centre of attention and that could make him more anxious.
• Timetables, books etc. are given on the first day - again, possibly making him more anxious if he starts late.
• 1 day of unauthorised absence will unlikely make the EWO or EHCP problem worse.

If you can pop down the school Friday, there is going to be admin staff around and usually quite a few others high up who will be in sorting things. It's a shame you didn't go in results day as it was likely all the SMT were in then too.

If you can't speak to someone prior to Monday then go in with him, go in a bit early and explain the situation to the office. Emphasise that you wanted him to be there the 1st day and could you speak to someone about his needs.

I was in Majorca results day! Wouldn't have thought of it if I wasn't though tbh!

The thing isn't haven't been told explicitly Ds is expected first day of term. The email is very wishy washy.

First email is that X school will initiate MM but due to their work commitments it won't be this side of September. That school will look to organise the MM meeting on one of his schools insets first 2 days of term in order he can start X school asap.

Email on last day of term says head of Ss has liased with X school and they have organised Ds to start with them on their first day. (Have not been told what day that is!) email goes on to say that they believe X school will be in touch to organise his timetable and uniform and invite me in for a meeting.

There's no definite information or clear information. They didn't respond to my email asking these specific questions.

So I'm chasing around calling and phoning everyone. I have my own work commitments and cannot just turn up with Ds at school on Monday and hope for the best. I'm already in shit with my work due to time off after the schools original cock up.

And Ds was already classes as unauthorised absense the day he was off attending go appointment for anxiety.

I would try emailing the SENCo today. Dd's SENCo has been in touch a couple of times over the holiday to send me a copy of dd's timetable and to confirm TA's timetable and to check how I'm getting on with statement appeal (refusal to amend).
I would hope that there would be a transition plan in place before your ds was actually expected in school.

I will email tomorrow. I'll have to hope senco is aware Ds is starting - although it sounds like school have spoken to him - and ask if he is in Friday to discuss it.

I'd just got on board with this and it's pissing mean off again as its me having to do all the chasing. Grrrr!

He won't be going until the transition is complete. I have half an IPA here that's meant to be finished as part of the transition!

It's a shit document but it's better than nothing

It may be worth contacting the LEA and any other agencies that have been involved to see if they know anything and to keep them in the loop.

I've left message for inclusion officer to call me.

No one else involved - Sen team aren't interested. He doesn't have EHCP so not their problem

I've spoken to everyone in county I think! Waiting for call back but children's services have me number for dept of education

Must be serious if everyone's asking me if I've made a formal complaint and give me head hods contact!

This is such a shambles! I can't believe it has been left like this! Good luck and yes, put in a complaint once your son is settled!

I finally got hold of someone after ringing children's services. It's the area strategic manager for inclusion!

He agreed with everything I said, says Ds isn't starting anywhere until it's set up properly and wants to know why he doesn't have an EHCP?!

He's contacting school for me and will ring me tomorrow with update and next steps.
I've said I'm free all day Friday if school are and feel free to arrange a meeting on my behalf and give me details!

really good news.

I wonder if he will be able to use home contact numbers to move things along at a faster pace.

No idea but he appeared to genuinely be on my side and 'get it'

That's the most I've had for a long while so I'll take it