Possibly excluded from trip

[Blomme]

Hello, my son has a school day trip coming up this week. The school are still unsure if he will be allowed to come or not. They've asked a parent to volunteer but unfortunately we've both got to work that day. My son has situational mutism and ASC, he has an EHCP which is funded. Are they allowed to just exclude him from the trip? If he can't go their plan seems to be for him to spend the day in the school office with the receptionist. Has anyone had a similar experience? Thanks.

Of course he should be included but if he can't communicate with anyone on the trip (is that correct?) I can see it would be considered a risk. Does he have 1-1 through the EHCP? Does it say anything about trips?

What's happened previously about trips?

Rubbish that they've left it so late though.

Schools should not expect parents to accompany their DC. The school must make reasonable adjustments and abide by the Equality Act. What specifically is the school concerned about? Ask to see the risk assessment. Does DS’s EHCP detail, specify and quantify 1:1?

His last trip to he went with a TA and sat with a TA on the bus.
Where would the EHCP quantify a one to one? Which section please?
He usually has help from a TA at school, but different ones (so maybe one in the morning, a different TA in the afternoon, a third stepping in occasionally). He is comfortable with one TA and can talk no problem, fairly comfortable with the other TAs and can talk a bit to them. Class teacher has never heard him speak.

If DS has been on a trip before, what is different about this trip? If DS doesn’t go on the trip but normally has a TA at school (is this 1:1?) why can’t DS spend the day in school with the TA rather than the receptionist? 1:1 would be in section F.

Thanks for your reply. The section F doesn't specify 1 to 1 for the whole day, just for some sessions, although he spends the whole day being supported by a TA in school.
I don't know what's different about this trip or why it's been left so late. The head has said that there are several children in the class with specific needs, perhaps this really means too many with needs for them to cope.

Ask about the risk assessment and what is different about this trip. Make sure you follow up verbal conversations with emails so you have a paper trail as evidence should you need it. Point out they shouldn’t be requiring parents attend.

Separate from the trip, the EHCP needs improving. You should request an early review. On their website, IPSEA has a model letter you can use.