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SEN

Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

Original poster

What would you do? Moving school when a child has SENs and the new school is being funny

54 replies

SparklyGothKat · 10/12/2008 14:58

Please bear with me, this may be long!

DD1 is currently at a school 2.5 miles away, we have managed to secure a place at the school round the corner for DD1 and DD2. They are supposed to start in jan.

Dd1 has Cerebral Palsy, ADHD and learning problems. She has done well at her current school, but we need to move them to the neareer school due to DS1 moving to secondary school in sept and we wouldn't be able to transport Ds1 and the girls to 2 different school in opposite directions.

had a meeting last week with the head of the new school and she was going on about budgets, tables and how she can't take DD1 without more support. She has spent her SEN budget for the year, so wouldn;t be able to provide additional support for DD1.

After lots of thought me and DH decided that the budget wasn't our problem and decided to send her there anyway.

Today the head has phoned me and said was I aware that Dd1 is currently in a class in 19 and that to move her to a class of 31 without support would be madness

She is trying to put pressure on me to refuse the place, i know that!!

OP posts:
dustystar · 10/12/2008 14:59

Does she have a statement?

wrinklytum · 10/12/2008 15:01

Can you contact your SENCO? (probably silly q,new toit all,dd just beginning to be statemented and doesnt go to school til 2010!)

MarmadukeScarlet · 10/12/2008 15:05

If you DD has a Statement they have to legally provide her with the help it specifies on there, surely?

Seems very bad budgeting to have spent it all 1 term into the school year - does a schools fiscal year run Sept to Sept, I'm not sure? It may be that they have allocated the budget rather than spent it, in which case she will have to reallocate it.

Contact your LEA additional needs office and discuss with them.

Good luck.

Original poster
SparklyGothKat · 10/12/2008 17:22

she has a statement. I don't know what to do, the head of the new school has been funny with us since the start. Do I want Dd1 in a school where she isn't wanted??!!!

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MarmadukeScarlet · 10/12/2008 17:25

TBH honest I'd say no.

I removed DS from my DD's school as the head (and therefore cascaded to teaching staff) made it quite obvious that he was not wanted (CP & communication disorder) I now have 2 drop offs at opposite sides of a busy gridlocked town.

My DS has flourished and is very happy at a school where they value him.

Original poster
SparklyGothKat · 10/12/2008 17:27

thats what I am thinking, Dd1 has done well at her current school, but it would be easier to move her. Surely the head shouldn't be putting the pressure on me tho... isn't that discrimation???

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Original poster
SparklyGothKat · 10/12/2008 17:29

See the problem we will have come sept, is that Ds1 has CP too, and he will not be going to a school in our town as none of the schools are adapted, so will be at 1 of the 2 adapted schools in the neighbouring towns.

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VinoEsmeralda · 10/12/2008 17:31

I agree with MarmadukeScarlet- if she is happy why go through changes which might unsettle her plus if she is indeed unwanted it will casue so much stress.

BUT I would take it further as agree it is discrimation but only if I have the time and energy. She is very rude!!

As an alternative could you opt for a carshare so DS gets dropped off with another child???

Original poster
SparklyGothKat · 10/12/2008 17:32

WRT Carsharing, if Ds1 gets into the school we really want (and have applied under rule 2 for) none of the children in our town will be there.

OP posts:
misdee · 10/12/2008 17:33

no the head shouldnt be putting pressure on you and you should report it tbh as it is discrimination.

you cannot physically be at two different schools at one time in different towns to do the school runs come sept. you know moving her to the walking-distance school is the sensible choice, and tbh the budgets etc are not your responsibility.

i understand what u mean about moving her to a school where she isnt wanted, but what can you physcially do?

moston · 10/12/2008 17:33

wouldn't the budget move with your child though?

Original poster
SparklyGothKat · 10/12/2008 17:36

she hasn't got any staff to work with Dd1. DD1 is very behind compared to her peers, but has done really well at her current school.

I have been trying to find out if we will be able to get transport for DS1 come sept, so I can keep them where they are.

And yes, the Head is very rude!!!

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Original poster
SparklyGothKat · 10/12/2008 17:38

I have been on the phone today with the Advicery teacher, and IPSEA. I have tried to get hold of our SEN officer too.

We have a meeting at county hall this friday, am going with guns blazing lol

OP posts:
glinda · 10/12/2008 17:43

Ok- 2 of your children have statements. What does the statement provide? If your child's needs are "High need and low incidence" the funding should follow from the LEA. Lower need statements may be met by money delegated to schools. I think I would consider asking for the statements to be reviewed and requesting that a chaperoned taxi to school be added to one of the statements.

Original poster
SparklyGothKat · 10/12/2008 17:49

unfortunely only DD1 has a statement, and she isn't in the 'high band' so get money through the school (as I understand it#)

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Original poster
SparklyGothKat · 10/12/2008 17:51

and the other thing is if we refuse the place ast the nearest school (due to the head) then dd1 will be refused transport as the education dept. have offered us a place for her our nearest school..

shoved over a barrel comes to mind

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Original poster
SparklyGothKat · 10/12/2008 17:54

The head actually admitted in the meeting last week that she didn't want DD1 but she has been forced by the SEN team.

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Original poster
SparklyGothKat · 10/12/2008 18:06

do I want her at a school where she will be resented and we will be as a family too? The head just seems worried about her SATs results and how having Dd1 will impact on her 'died-hard (school's name) girls'

OP posts:
glinda · 10/12/2008 18:16

If your ds has to travel to a different town because that is the nearest school which can cope with his special needs the LEA must fund his transport. However I would also have to ask why his local school cannot educate a child with CP? ALL schools should be adapted to serve their local children's needs.

BitOfFun · 10/12/2008 18:42

I am by no means an expert, but I have a dd with special needs attending a special school, and she is bussed there and back with an escort on a specially provided minibus. Is it worth calling the council's transport section to see if this is an option? I would rather this happened to enable her to stay where she is happy if I were you. I hope you find some answers, it sounds very stressful!

Original poster
SparklyGothKat · 10/12/2008 20:23

The nearest school for Ds1 is over 3 floors, and has not been adapted due to the other 2 schools having adaptions.

I feel like my head is going to mush atm, I don't know what to do

OP posts:
cat64 · 10/12/2008 20:44

This reply has been deleted

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Original poster
SparklyGothKat · 10/12/2008 20:51

nearly right

Ds1 is starting secondary school sept 2009.

We have asked about deferring the places till sept 2009 to get the extra support in place but have been told that if we defer, and then another child comes along with a statement then we will lose the places.

OP posts:
cat64 · 10/12/2008 21:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
SparklyGothKat · 10/12/2008 21:45

My head hurts so much from all the thinking, I can't work out what to do for the best, I really can't

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