Is it worth sending this letter to teachers?

[stickygotstuck]

DD has ASD diagnosis, in year 10 mainstream, no EHCP, GCSEs next year.

She has missed quite a few lessons. She is having tougher time than usual lately, involving sporadic - and now regular - appointments with various MH professionals. As well as other unrelated medical appointments for the whole of this school year.

We have got an email from Attendance, asking why she had missed so may lessons lately and 'is there something the school can do to support her' and 'are pastoral and HoY aware and supporting her'. I was straight with them and told them that no, no support has been offered and HoY etc know nothing about this as they don't generally seem to know anything about her anyway.

I know all Attendance care about is, well, attendance, and the school is not interested as DD masks well and is sort of coping academically (but not as well as she could and under huge stress).

But it got me thinking, should we send a letter to her individual teachers telling them about the reasons for missing lessons, but also explaining how extremely hard it is for her just being there? (And that mocks are unlikely to be great 🙁).

Should I take this opportunity and send an update to her actual teachers? Been meaning to do this for a while. SENCO etc. are supposed to update her teachers of any issues but (1) it doesn't seem to be the case and (2) they are pretty clueless about DD.

Yes, send an update. I would also request a meeting with the SENCO and request an EHCNA.

Thank you Brum

I know I should speak to the SENCO too, but I have pretty much given up on them. They talk the talk, but they do nothing at all. We had a meeting where they told us of all the adjustments they would implement, half of which DD never got. They have now decided she doesn't need them.

There is also an assistant SENCO, who pretty much said that I should contact him and not the actual SENCO. It feels like being dismissed before you open your mouth. So in my head, I have sacked them!

I'm fact, I asked Attendance who I should speak to to update, and they told me that the SENCO/Pastoral would get in touch. Which they haven't done (it's only been a couple of days, but I really don't expect them to).

DD has a good relationship with most of her teachers, so my instinct is to inform them instead.

About the EHCNA, we decided against an EHCP. Frankly, we had a lot on our plate and I just didn't think it was worth the aggravation and my little energy was better spent in helping DD cope by other means. Naively, I thought we could manage dealing directly with the teaches, who have been far more responsive. Her GCSEs are coming up next year and now it's too late to request, again, any adjustments.

If the SENCO is ignoring you/ or following through on plans, complain.

It isn’t too late to request an EHCNA.

Thanks Brum.

I know it sounds defeatist, but I really don't think it would achieve anything at this stage. We and DD have spent the last 3 years finding strategies to help her. Essentially, when an issue comes up, we speak to the specific teacher and they do their best to accommodate her.

I just wondered how such a letter would be received by the teachers (the only ones that matter to DD, and me).

I think a letter/email is fine.

Personally, I still think it is worth requesting an EHCNA, especially in preparation for post 16.

You may be right, even if too late for the GCSEs.

Going by what other people tell me, the school's track record is to minimise any issue and totally disregard the EHCPs, perhaps do something if you complain often and loud enough, usually too late.

Thank you.

You may have to appeal to get a well written EHCP, but the school can’t just ignore an EHCP written correctly because it can be enforced. Ultimately it is the LA who is responsible for ensuring the provision in EHCPs is provided.