Alternative provision?

[AnnieMB]

Looking for advice....my Y11 daughter is struggling to attend school due to anxiety, this has increased this year and she has missed the majority of lessons. I am supporting her to spend short periods at school whenever she feels up to it but it's a daily struggle and maintaining her mental wellbeing is my priority. She has managed to sit some mock exams which is a massive achievement. She has CAMHS involvement and is awaiting an autism assessment. She has an extended support plan/My Plan at school but no EHCP. There has been recent involvement from attendance and inclusion from the LA. They are offering some mentoring sessions and post 16 option support. School are supportive but have said no option to offer catch up sessions or tutoring. I asked school about accessing alternative provision and their view was still to focus on getting her back into school and lessons but I'm not confident that is achievable. Feels like we are hurtling towards GCSE's and I would love to get her through at least maths and English if possible to increase her next step options. Is there further help that we can access at this stage? Can I push for tutoring? Any advice would be much appreciated

If DD can’t attend school full time, the LA has a statutory duty to ensure she receives a suitable full-time education. This is the LA’s responsibility, not the school’s duty. Email the Director of Children’s Services requesting provision under section 19 of the Education Act 1996.

Alongside this, you should request an EHCNA. On their website, IPSEA has a model letter you can use.

Thanks very much for you reply, really helpful. We had a meeting with the LA inclusion & attendance officer today so I asked about Alternate Provision. I was told it would have to be agreed by school as they would fund it. Does that sound right?

No, that’s incorrect, but it is a myth LA’s like to perpetuate. The responsibility ultimately lies with the LA. Their duty is non-delegable, and the school does not have to agree.

Blue brick is correct….I work in alternative provision and students can do Functional Skills Maths and English instead of the stress of GCSE…..it can be paper based which means there is no stress of having to sit an exam so they will then be able to progress onto to college /work. The school initially have to find an AP who is willing to take your daughter which will be the issue, as most only take students who are close (very close) to being neet, who have EHCP or severe learning disabilities. The LA will fund this, post 16 also, if you haven’t already, get your Dr onboard with the anxiety prognosis , it’s massively underestimated in mainstream schools and there’s still the crappy ‘get a grip’ attitude (i worked in mainstream with a selective mute student due to crippling anxiety …most of the teachers told him she was ‘rude’ for not answering their questions 😡)

@Loulou108 the school doesn’t have to find an AP. The LA’s duty is non-delegable. S19 provision doesn’t have to be via a formal AP setting either. It could be home tuition or online. And while the LA has the ability to make provision for post 16 pupils, they don’t have a duty to, so the vast majority of the time they don’t.

Thanks all. I had a message today to say there was a wait list for alternative provision and my daughter is unlikely to get to the top of the list before the end of year 11. She is going in for 1-2 hours per day max but working alone rather than going to lessons. Could you explain the LA's responsibilities (s19?) in these kind of circumstances? She has missed so much education this academic year and things aren't getting any easier for her in terms of the level of anxiety she experiences each day.

Under section 19 of the Education Act 1996, the LA has a statutory duty to ensure compulsory school aged pupils unable to attend school full time receive a suitable full-time education. This should begin once it becomes clear 15 days will be missed. The days don’t need to have already been missed or consecutive. This duty is non-delegable. Waiting lists and lack of funding, resources, staff are not acceptable excuses. Email the Director of Children’s Services reminding them of their duty and requesting provision. If that doesn’t work, post on MN and you will be advised what to do next.

Also request an EHCNA if you haven’t already.