Do we have the right to ask for copies of forms school has filled in for a referral?

[linspins]

We are going through the process of a paediatricians assessment to see if our DS has ASD or ADHD. I'm not sure he will meet the diagnostic threshold, but I can see he has some traits of both. School has filled in the forms they were sent, and my DH asked them if we could have a copy of what they sent in. They said no, they are confidential. I don't want to change or argue with whatever they've written, but I'd also like to see what they've put so there are no surprises. Does anyone know, do we have any right to ask for copies of these? Do people normally see them? I don't entirely trust his school, and I'd just like to know what was written.

I am no lawyer, but I would assume that info they hold on your child you have a right to in respect of data protection etc? To be honest, If I was in your position I would be looking into this properly, as any school that is not transparent and won’t work with you in the interest of your child sounds very dubious.

School did not share the copies of the referral forms with us. Even worse they decided to give the questionnaires that the hospital gave them to fill in to a member of staff that didn't even know ds. This member of staff had no idea how to fill them in and pretty much wrote there were no issues. Useless and a waste of time! Ds did get an autism diagnosis despite them being unhelpful as it is pretty obvious to anyone that meets him.

When my son was going through the referral process (twice now, for ASD then three years later ADHD), CAMHS recommended that I collect the forms school had completed myself, and send them all in together with the ones I'd completed (because the deadline for returning was very strict and it was to be 100% sure they we received in time). I did this, and obviously made copies of them myself for my own records before sending.

School has also made three MASH referrals about my son (safeguarding) and on each occasion I have requested a copy of the referral, which school has complied with. I realised I had to do this after the first referral, when on talking with someone from MASH, it transpired school had detailed an instance of concern about my son's behaviour that nobody had ever mentioned to me. The person at MASH assured me it's my right to have a copy of the referral.

Thanks all, I'm definitely going to email in a formal request. The SENCo said "I assume you're trying to get a diagnosis?" Which annoyed me somewhat, because we aren't 'trying' to get one, I'd just like it confirmed one way or another. I suspect my DS might not reach diagnostic thresholds, but if he does, that's fine. If he doesn't, that's fine too, we will just keep supporting him and parenting him the best we can either way. I'm worried school may have overstated his needs on the forms and how he is, because they feel he ought to have a diagnosis.

Best practice would've been for school to fill the forms in with you to ensure that they were accurate. They definitely should share with them as you will be the one taking dc to any appointment and you shouldn't have any surprises.

You have a right to request your child's school record which should contain copies of any forms concerning your child. Do this in writing and offer to pay photocopying.

Well, DH emailed in a request for the forms, but this was denied. Not happy at all. We are now going to make a 'subject access request'.
Grrrr, why can't schools work with you? It makes me worry even more that they are hiding something.

linspins sorry to hear that they are being difficult. We are about to fight Ds's school about something that others have advised us is wrong. I'm planning on organising a meeting in the new year now as I don't have the energy to take them on before Christmas!

I agree that you should do the request. We only saw the questionnaires that the school fillled in as the paediatrician showed them to me to compare them to our scores.

You are right though, why is it never straightforward? Good luck.

Remember the forms were sent to the paediatrician. You might be more successful asking for a copy of the forms from them.

You can make a Subject Access Request for all information they hold on your son.

ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/your-right-to-get-copies-of-your-data/