Funded home tutoring for school refuser

selfieelf · 2021-05-13T10:19:54+00:00

Has anyone managed to access funded home learning for their child? I have a school refuser and understand that after 15 days of a absence she's entitled to a home tutor. The school are reluctant to provide this and says she needs to be in school and "trying" before they can look at providing this. I'm at stalemate as she won't go in.

Original poster

selfieelf · 13/05/2021 11:20

I mean... if she was able to go in she wouldn't need the tutor

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lanthanum · 13/05/2021 12:07

What adaptations are they offering to help with getting her back in? Are they offering her a halfway house such as working in the library or attending part-time, or just expecting her to go straight back into lessons?

As an example, one school refuser I knew started off by coming in and working with the animal technician. Then they found a nice small languages set which wasn't too daunting. Then a similarly small and friendly maths set. It might not have been an ideal timetable, but it achieved the purpose of getting her back and working towards something more normal.

10brokengreenbottles · 13/05/2021 14:20

It is not the school who are responsible for medical needs EOTAS tuition. The statutory duty lies with the LA.

Provision should be arranged as soon as it becomes clear a pupil will be absent for 15 days. The education provided may not be home tutoring, if depends on individual needs - it may be home tutoring, online, hospital school, small group tuition.

If the LA won't provide education you can force them to via Judicial Review if necessary.

You should also consider applying for an EHCNA.

Original poster

selfieelf · 13/05/2021 15:46

@lanthanum

What adaptations are they offering to help with getting her back in? Are they offering her a halfway house such as working in the library or attending part-time, or just expecting her to go straight back into lessons?

As an example, one school refuser I knew started off by coming in and working with the animal technician. Then they found a nice small languages set which wasn't too daunting. Then a similarly small and friendly maths set. It might not have been an ideal timetable, but it achieved the purpose of getting her back and working towards something more normal.

They've said these kinds of options are possible but that she has to go in to school first so they can assess her needs. But I can't bloody get her in to school... so it's a bit of annoying stalemate

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Original poster

selfieelf · 13/05/2021 15:50

@10brokengreenbottles thank you. although it's the duty of the LA, I thought the school were the ones to arrange/apply in the first instance?

I'm getting so so angry at the school not telling me anything unless I use the exact string of words and acronyms together to form my question. Half the time it's me telling THEM about policy because I've read about it off an Internet forum. What's with all the secrecy?!

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GingerAndTheBiscuits · 13/05/2021 15:54

It’s a local authority duty under s19 of the education act 1996. Are the council aware the child isn’t attending? If not you should let them know that you need provision to be put in place because your child is out of school for “other” reasons. It doesn’t necessarily mean a home tutor but they do need to make arrangements for suitable education at school or otherwise. If no not then complain to the council and then the Ombudsman

Original poster

selfieelf · 13/05/2021 15:56

@GingerAndTheBiscuits I had assumed school would have a record and be making the LA aware of who was and wasn't attending but of course now I think about it - as if! I will let them know. Thanks x

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NewMatress · 13/05/2021 16:19

It won't necessarily be a home tutor (could be online tuition) and it might be far fewer hours than you're expecting, but PP is right, it's the LA not the school.

NewMatress · 13/05/2021 16:23

Actually, even where it is a tutor, we're trying to move away from tuition at home to tuition in libraries or similar spaces, the ultimate aim being to suppor the child back to school.

Original poster

selfieelf · 13/05/2021 16:29

She's having support (or will be if she ever gets to the top of the list!) in the form of counselling. All the support school is offering is only available if she in school so where I can't get her through the door it's of not use.

I want her to know that any form of hone tutoring is an interim measure rather than a solution, but it's the only way I can see that she can access learning without being in school.

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Original poster

selfieelf · 13/05/2021 16:30

A library or smoker would also be good, better in fact, than home

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Original poster

selfieelf · 13/05/2021 16:30

Smoker?! Haha similar

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lanthanum · 13/05/2021 17:34

Would your daughter cope with going in for a meeting? I can see that they wouldn't want to be making a home visit, and it might well make sense for there to be some discussion about what help she ight need and what arrangements can be made, but it ought to be possible to fix that up as a non-threatening meeting, with you there with her. There's a world of difference between "go to school, and Mrs X will see you after registration" and "we're going in at 3.30 to talk with Mrs X about what the school can do to help".

Are they sending any work home for her? There is probably, at the very least, whatever they set for her year group in the first lockdown, so it might not be too onerous for them to send something.

W00t · 13/05/2021 17:44

If it's an academy, they don't report attendance to LA- they're directly under the DfE.

Original poster

selfieelf · 13/05/2021 18:19

Thanks @lanthanum we did go in for a meeting together and they told her she could have a time out card to visit the SEN area if things got too much in class. She remained in school for that day but spent most of it crying in the loos so it wasn't a good experience. She said when she used the timeout card and went to the SEN area, the focus was all on getting her back in to class as quickly as possible so she's terrified of going back now.

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Original poster

selfieelf · 13/05/2021 18:20

@W00t

If it's an academy, they don't report attendance to LA- they're directly under the DfE.

Ah right, no, they're not an academy

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PresentingPercy · 13/05/2021 20:45

I used to arrange home tuition for school refusers in a former life.

I’m not qualified to say what any LA will do these days but I do think you should see your GP about her refusal to go to school. Obviously her reaction to school needs investigation and I would ask that she gets help.

Secondly there are severe limits to home tuition. The sciences, arts and technology are very difficult to teach at home for obvious reasons. Often home tuition covered around 4-5 subjects. I’m sure on line and small group working could help her too but we never organised this.

WyldStallions · 13/05/2021 20:50

What LA?
After covid this is a particularly hot topic in many LAs and a number are producing policies and/ or pathways.

Most policies are called EBSA or EBSNA or ABSA/ABSNA policies: emotionally based school avoidance/ non attendance or anxiety based school avoidance/ non attendance

The nutshell of most of them is that like any other SEN there should be an ed psych assessment and a proper plan put in place, with ECHP assessment if the plan doesn't work.

Original poster

selfieelf · 13/05/2021 20:55

Thank you that's good insight. She bypassed the GP by taking an overdose so is under care for her mental health now. I say "care" in the loosest of terms as it's been crap. I've spoken about that Ona different thread.

Ive asked for a an ECHP plan today as the school's plan was time out cards and reduced lessons which don't work as I can't get her near the place!

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Original poster

selfieelf · 13/05/2021 20:56

Also considering a PRU which, taking your comments on board about the practicalities of hands-on subjects being taught from home, could be the better option.

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itsgettingwierd · 13/05/2021 21:00

Good advice here.

But VERY IMPORTANT

Do not refer to it as school refusing. She isn't refusing and that makes it sound like a choice. This isn't a choice. This is a child too anxious to attend school, unable to access in school learning due to trauma/anxiety (only you know so choose which applies).

Remember to always say "ds is unable to attend school due to ......" "dd needs alternative provision to access education as she's unable to attend school due to ......".

If you use "refusing to attend" you'll simply get "you have a duty to make her".

NewMatress · 13/05/2021 21:16

I'm not sure that's helpful @itsgettingwierd.

ASR is a diagnosis. One which she'll need to access tuition via the LA. Our team need medical evidence to accept a referral.

Original poster

selfieelf · 13/05/2021 21:16

@itsgettingwierd

Good advice here.

But VERY IMPORTANT

Do not refer to it as school refusing. She isn't refusing and that makes it sound like a choice. This isn't a choice. This is a child too anxious to attend school, unable to access in school learning due to trauma/anxiety (only you know so choose which applies).

Remember to always say "ds is unable to attend school due to ......" "dd needs alternative provision to access education as she's unable to attend school due to ......".

If you use "refusing to attend" you'll simply get "you have a duty to make her".

Thank you I will absolutely make sure I do that.

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alwaysscared · 13/05/2021 21:17

I have no advice but this thread is very helpful. I have a 7 year old who is currently out of school due to his anxiety and panic attacks. I'm struggling to know where to turn.

10brokengreenbottles · 13/05/2021 21:22

You can apply for an EHCNA yourself. Don't wait for the school to do it. IPSEA have a model letter you can use.

Medical needs EOTAS tuition has to be the equivalent of full time, which doesn't mean school hours because, for example, when you are working 1:1 you cover the content quicker.

The school should refer on to the LA or at least loads with DD's medical team, but things will move much quicker if you prompt the school and LA in to action.

Lots of LAs have a centre(s) where those who are able to can go for tuition. In some LAs they are called PRUs but in others they aren't. For example, in Northamptonshire they have 2 - 1 Northampton and 1 on Kettering. And Kent have several.

Whatever you do, do not deregister. It is much easier to get support when on a school's roll - crudely, you are someone's problem, whereas it is all too easy to forget about pupils EHE.

Whilst evidence is required the LA must not delay arranging provision by insisting on a certain piece of evidence, for example a consultant letter, if it is not quickly available. The LA should look at what other evidence is available, for example from the GP.

alwaysscared you should pressure the LA to provide medical needs tuition. Alongside this you should apply for an EHCP.