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SEN

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

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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:

wrinklytum · 10/12/2008 21:47

SGK for you.

Can you appeal to anyone.Have read some SN threads where they mention an adjudicatory body of some kind?TBH the head doesn't sound very supportive

Original poster

SparklyGothKat · 10/12/2008 21:53

she keeps on about how dd1 is at 'this level' and none of the class are that behind. (BTW her levels are too high for MLD school) And how are the teacher and TA going to cope without extra support, and she can't take DD1 without more funding. I have had enough!!!

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TotalChaos · 10/12/2008 21:56

sorry the headteacher is being a cow. Have you had a chance to speak to the class teacher and senco to see if they have got something more helpful to say?

Original poster

SparklyGothKat · 10/12/2008 21:59

no, they are going to be at the meetig on friday. I briefly met the SENco but he started on about how DD1 will be in a class of 31 and how this will affect her learning

OP posts:

cat64 · 10/12/2008 22:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

SparklyGothKat · 10/12/2008 22:20

she said something about differentiating and how 'her teacher' doesn't need to be told how to teach and how being gven some sheets and a number chart isn't enough (what she was on about, I have no idea)

Its her learning thats the issue.

OP posts:

Hassled · 10/12/2008 22:28

The first 5 hours of the statemented hours do come out of the school's SEN budget. So while the Statemented money will come with your DD1, the school will still have to fund the first 5 hours a week - that's what the HT is on about.

But that is absolutely not your problem. Guns blazing is the right attitude. The school have to employ whatever 1-1 support the Statement says, and the fact that she doesn't have anyone at the moment is her issue, not yours. I'm livid on your behalf - you could ask to see a copy of the school's Inclusion Policy, where it will, I'm sure, talk about giving every child equal opportunities to thrive, etc. The HT is being a cow. Grrr!

Original poster

SparklyGothKat · 10/12/2008 22:39

Well we have estabilised (sp?) that the HT is being a cow.. lol

But would you do? Send Dd1 there or keep her at her current school.

OP posts:

Hassled · 10/12/2008 22:46

It's bloody tricky and I can see why you feel you're turning to mush.

If I were you, I don't think I would go with the new school. The HT will continue to be arsey; any time you have issues or things to discuss you will feel tense and wound up before you even go in there, which your DDs will pick up on. You will never feel a relaxed part of the school community.

But having said that, while it would bother me, it might be something you're well able to cope with and won't be an issue after the initial awkwardness. And if you get a good LSA, you might never need to see the HT again.

The school transport issue with your DS is worth following up - if you don't have to do that school run, everything else will be easier. If his catchment school isn't equipped to meet his needs, then they would have to provide transport if the alternative is more than 3 miles away (I think).

Original poster

SparklyGothKat · 10/12/2008 22:51

the secondary schools are 3.0 and 3.4 miles from us. Advicory teacher is hopeful we will get transport for him.

I am strong enough to take the HT on, but whether I am strong enough to do it daily, I am not so sure,

OP posts:

cory · 11/12/2008 08:45

Dd actually spent 3 years at a junior school where the head made it very clear that he did not want her and did everything to make us leave. We kept her because she was happy otherwise- teachers, friends were fine- and because it was the local school. In the end it was the head who retired for health reasons, not dd. With hindsight, we should have acted much more quickly, kept a log on any incidents that were discriminatory and reported him; instead, we let him take the initiative for far too long. Once we did go for him, he folded.

Not saying that I advise you to take this place, but if it's what you have to do, then be prepared to fight. You do have the law on your side, and hopefully you will also be able to get the teachers, the SENCO and the other children on your side.

Have to say, we won in the end but at a very high cost to me; I am still struggling with the aftermath.

cory · 11/12/2008 08:46

Should have added that dd does not have CP, but chronic pain and mobility problems.

Original poster

SparklyGothKat · 11/12/2008 12:56

spoke to SEN officer, she said we can't let HT bully us, I know that. She is going to find out if we are entitled to transport for DS1 in sept. she is hopeful that we are. If that is the case then we will be leaving the girls where they are, as I am not willing to put my Dd1 into a school where she is not wanted.

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dustystar · 11/12/2008 16:41

I would aslo be concerned about sending my child to a school where the Ht had made it clear they were not wanted. This happened with ds at his first school and the HT made life really difficult for all of us.

Sorry the HT is being such a cow. Good luck for tomorrow.

Original poster

SparklyGothKat · 12/12/2008 13:40

well ok that meeting was fun!!!! The senco and the teacher were there, I had to laugh when he started on about budgets and funding, MLD schools etc and then the SEN manager shot him down and said 'this is not a discussion for in front of the parents, if you have concerns then it should have been brought up in the panel meeting'

Dh gave as good as we got, and we know now that the school have to provide support even if they have no money left, how they do it is down to the school, not us.

We have decided that Dd1 WILL go to the school, and sod the budget!!

OP posts:

dustystar · 12/12/2008 13:42

Good for the SEN manager. When ds old head said inappropriate things there was a sort of collective shudder around the table but no-one actually picked her up on it.

dustystar · 12/12/2008 13:42

Good for the SEN manager. When ds old head said inappropriate things there was a sort of collective shudder around the table but no-one actually picked her up on it.

Original poster

SparklyGothKat · 12/12/2008 13:46

The Senco was shaking!! physically shaking!! I think he thought it would just be me there, and wasn't expecting DH to be there too. He had a list of things to say and he wasn't allowed pmsl!! They are really nice people, but let the HT rule them a bit.

Also found out that if DD1 isn't on their register in January, they will not be able to put DD1 on their register for SEN funding for April. So she has to go there in janaury in order for them to get the funding, otherwise it will be NEXT april.

OP posts:

misdee · 12/12/2008 13:58

ah a little victory then!

hopefully once dd1 is there they wil lsee she is an assest to the school. she is not 'that child with SEN' but one of the sweetest funniest girls i know. and not just saying that cos she is my neice. she can be really sensitive as well, remember the mouse...

Original poster

SparklyGothKat · 12/12/2008 14:03

oh yes the dead mouse, that the others were poking with sticks, and DD1 was crying saying 'it was a living creature mummy, we should bury it' I was tempted to lob it over the fence but we buried it.

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Original poster

SparklyGothKat · 14/12/2008 08:51

arrghh!! I am actually really undecided, DH wants to send the girls there. I thought that I was ok with the idea but something is holding me back.

We have found out (from imfomation from Parent Partnership) that Ds1 is entitled to transport to secondary school. And that is making me think about just leaving the girls where they are.

I need to make a decision by the end of the week.

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chocaholic73 · 14/12/2008 16:16

Sparkly ..have been following your thread with interest .. if I were you, now you know your son will have transport, if your girls are happy and doing well where they are, I would leave them. The LEA (and I think I am in the same one as you) does have a duty to provide support but if the Head really doesnt seem keen, you are going to be battling the whole time. You have a tough decision to make, i was always told go with your instincts. good luck.

Original poster

SparklyGothKat · 14/12/2008 16:22

am in herts. I have discussed it with family and friends and I still don't know what to do.. can't put my finger on what is holding me back but something is, and I am not 100% sure about moving them

OP posts:

chocaholic73 · 14/12/2008 16:45

yes thought so, I am too. So if your son is getting transport, you can get your daughters to the school they are at at the moment? You also said, I think (brain not functioning well today) that DD1 is doing well and is well supported where she is. If you moved her and her sister and either of them weren't happy and she wasn't well supported, you would feel bad I am sure. When we moved here, I looked at 7 primary schools for DD2 (then Year 4), all in the same town. There were some which clearly didnt have the right ethos for a child with SEN, even though they made the right noises and I wouldnt have sent her to some of them for anything. One or two, made it perfectly clear that they didnt want her and I didnt want her going somewhere she was unwelcome. What I am trying to say is that schools can vary tremendously, even though on paper they should be providing the same support, in practice it doesnt work out that way.

bramblebooks · 14/12/2008 17:08

OMG! I can't believe the way that you have been treated. The HT needs her backside kicking. It is ILLEGAL under the SEN code of practice to refuse a child entry to the school because of their special needs, and County panels are very wise to the caveats in the SEN code that allow HTs to refuse entry because they think that the child will disrupt the 'efficient education' of others in the school.

She needs some serious training in SEN.

Sounds like youve got good support. You go girl!

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