School trips.... to complain or not?

[HornedViper]

My DS6 is undiagnosed at present (ASD ADHD suspected) just going through EHCP assessment as I type...

Have had many issues with his current school (mainstream). He currently attends the local PRU two days a week. Throughout this school year his father and I have been asked to take time off work to accompany him on trips (otherwise he could not attend). This is despite him having been assigned a full time TA via HNB funding since the beginning of the year.

Found out by automated text that the cost of a trip had decreased (knew nothing about the trip). Asked at the office and the letter went out on a day he was at the PRU and was scheduled for a day he would attend the PRU.

I asked his TA to have someone speak to me, as if the trip would go on to form part of his learning upon his return to class then he should be able to go. The response when it came, was that yes he could attend but only if we accompany him (no surprise there) and "if there was room on the coach" otherwise we would have to drive him ourselves.

It feels like they are putting more and more barriers in the way for him and us... Why shouldn't there be room on the coach, was he not thought of because he's out of sight out of mind while at the PRU? Any ideas on the rules about trips when a child is being educated at dual sites? I imagine it's a bit flaky...

I really want to complain, this is the latest in a long line of issues that I have bit my tongue over (all for the sake of maintaining a positive working relationship with the school)...

[Ellie56]

Good result OP!

[HornedViper]

Thanks for your perspective... as I mentioned the trip was going to be used as a teaching reference point back in class (so my son would have been disadvantaged by not attending). Technically all the children who attended the trip missed a day of school so I wouldn't view this as a reason not to pursue my complaint on his behalf. Also whether it was educational or even if it was a reward/team building trip I would have still argued that he should go.

Luckily there was no argument, the school acknowledged my concerns about inclusion, found additional support so that he could attend without parental support (for the first time this year!) and he went on to have a successful and enjoyable trip. They also agreed to review their policy going forwards.

Thanks all for your advice

[CityTeacher]

I would say that if he is currently attending two schools and was scheduled to be at the PRU the day of the trip, it seems right for him not to be invited. He isn't technically due at the school on that day and would be missing a day of school at the PRU to attend a school trip. It is very educational? Or more of a reward / team building trip? If it's completely educational you could probably argue his attendance.

[grasspigeons]

Gosh. I think this is a massive oversight on their part. I really hope it's not deliberate - it's hard not to see it that way.
There are circumstances where schools can risk assess and find they can't take child with them. Even taking into account the information bibesia provided which is correct. You'd normally expect schools to come up with different inclusive trip ideas if a trip had a particular risk for a particular child
But you'd expect a whole consultation with pafents and outside agencies involved with that process. Not done on the sly!

If you are complaining, follow the correct procedure.

[Bibesia]

This is absolutely clear disability discrimination. The school has a duty to put in place reasonable adjustments for disability, and if that means an extra staff member to enable him to put on school trips then that should be in place. Effectively they're saying that, as a direct result of his disability, your child can't go on these trips unless you go with him. Yet, presumably, if you didn't go they would have to arrange for someone to supervise him in school whilst the rest of the class went out - and deal with the fallout resulting from that, including the problems he would have if they're doing work based on the trip.

There's some useful guidance on the Equality and Human Rights Commission website, especially the document linked on this page - www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/publication-download/reasonable-adjustments-disabled-pupils. You might find it useful to contact them via their telephone advice line; details are on their website.

Note especially on page 20:

"The Act does not require a school to cancel school trips or any other activities arranged for pupils, but it does require a school to look at ways in which to ensure that disabled pupils are given the same opportunities to participate as other pupils. This might include considering alternative trips to those previously arranged by the school, providing additional assistance to enable the disabled pupil to attend or allowing the disabled pupil to attend for only some of the trip. By working with disabled pupils and their parents, who will have experience of taking their children on trips and outings, and learning from the experiences of other schools, schools are likely to be able to come up with solutions that mean that everyone is able to benefit from the trip or activity."

[HornedViper]

Thanks for your message @TheMagnoliaTree sorry if it didn't come across in my message, but it's not the fact that we are being asked to go that bothers me (we have accompanied him on other trips due to his impulsivity)... it's the fact that he wasn't included in the trip, that there was no provision made for him to attend and that to enable him to attend we would have to transport him ourselves... this seems to me that both he and us as parents are being treated unfairly.

I have made the decision to complain as I don't think it's right that children at dual provisions are not included on trips when it forms part of their learning when they return to class. Thanks for your advice in any case :)

[TheMagnoliaTree]

Have you seen the risk assessment for the trip and specifically your child on any trip?

Also even with a 1 to 1 TA it may be that your son poses a danger to himself or others (we had a child in our class not go on a school trip as he was a bolter, he did it on a swimming class and ran across a road without even looking) so he was not permitted on any school trips as they could not guarantee his safety even though he had a 1 to 1 TA within school for educational purposes. It was not her job to run after him.

Within school they were able to keep him safe but not outside of school. He is now at an alternative provision full time.