school problems: urgent

[MuffinToptheMule]

Hello everyone.

I'm a lurker on the sn boards and an everyday mumsnetter (although I'm not a mum).

I am posting on the behalf of a friend.

Friend's ds has just started school. He has gone into P1. This is in Scotland. Ds will be 5 at the end of this month. Ds attended a developmental nursery on a part time basis for the previous year.
His school place is offered is called 'integrated mainstream'. This means that he will be in a base unit attached to the school in the morning and in the mainstream class in the afternoon. Ds also has transport to and from the school.
For the past two weeks ds has been attending for half days, as have all other p1 children, so they can settle in. The children will begin full days on Monday.

This afternoon my friend received a phone call from the headmistress of the school saying that ds will only be able to attend school for half days and he will not receive transport from school but will receive it to school. My friend has to go to a meeting on Tuesday with the head and an educational psychologist. My friends doesn't know what to do.

Her ds should be at school full time and she has just started a full time college course. Her dp works full time. What are their rights? Can the school just refuse to have him for the afternoon? And refuse his transport?

I've put all the details I can think of but please ask if you need anymore. I am grateful for responses.

TIA

Responses needed asap as school will close in an hour. Sorry to be rude.

Sorry no idea but I have worked in a school where children with challenging behaviour were only allowed to attend part time.

I'm sorry, i don't know what the law in scotland is.

i know there are some Scottish mums on the board, so hopefully they will come along.

However, in England (FWIW, which might not be much!):

the term after a child is 5 they have to be full time in school, so that wuold be form Jan (can, of course be full time before, but legally must be the term after they turn 5)

if a child is entitled to transport, then the transport should be both ways - the criteria tend to be on distance here, which obviously is the same mornig and afternoon!

what is the reason given for only being able to attend half days? surely this is discrimination, as his peers are all going full days.

does the boy have a statement?

I hope somebody more useful comes along for you

she could call SNIP - 0131 536 0583

it's the special needs information point at the Sick Kids, I have heard they are really helpful.

about snip:

www.snipinfo.org/parents.htm

oops they are now called Kindred

www.kindred-scotland.org/

There reason is that it may be easier for him and not so demanding. By the sounds of it, he has settled in well, enjoys his time at school and his parents can already see improvements in his speech.

Just going to have a look at snip now.

Thank you

thanks, will look at kindred.

The number is the same I think anyway

You could also try ACE (advice service on matters educational. I think they have an advice line and should be able to tell you the legal implications. Sorry can't be more help.

Thanks for all the help so far. Just trying to call friend now but her phone is engaged. I'm so angry on their behalf. How can the school just phone up on a Friday afternoon and drop this bombshell?

Is it possible that the support staff they had in place for the afternoons has let them down at the last minute?

the people who should be deciding whether easier/less demanding for the boy would be his parents.

unless they have requested part time schooling (which they haven't) then he has a right to full time education, just like any other child.

sounds as thought they are dressing up easier for the school as easier for the child, imo.

what were the transition plans from the nursery?

was there any suggestion ever that he would not be going full time?

Also try

ISEA - Independent Special Education Advice (Scotland)

Helpline: 0131 454 0082

www.isea.org.uk/

"Our Scotland?s Advocacy for Education project (fondly known as SAFE) is funded for three years by the Big Lottery Fund to provide practical support to parents who are in disagreement with their local authority?s decision regarding the provision and/or services to meet their child?s additional support needs. The service is provided through a telephone helpline, individual case work, and providing representation and advocacy for families who are appealing against their local authority?s decision via one of the many routes open to parents and young people through the 1980 and 2004 education legislation."

Just got through to them. They were on the phone to ds's nursery. The nursery staff can't understand why this has happened. The parents are going to the school now to find the headteacher.

There had never been any suggestion about part time school before this.

yes, speaking to the Head is a good idea, then ISEA if she feels she wants to appeal.

Thanks fanjo. I'll message them the links as they are on the way to the school right now.

Just spoke to my friends. They went to the school and met with the head teacher. The head teacher said that the transport won't stop. She also said that he can come for full days but is is her suggestion that he shouldn't. This is not what she said on the phone. The head teacher feels that full time school would be too much for him. The parents disagree.
The child is going to go for a half day on monday and tuesday and there will be a meeting with the ed pysch and head teacher on tuesday afternoon.
The parents will say they want him in full time.

I think the head was just trying to push her luck. She was very defensive apparently in the meeting.

Thanks again for your help.

glad he doesn't have to miss out!

I'd advise your friend to start keeping written records of any interactions with the school, copies of emails, backing up phone calls with a letter or email stating what was said, with dates.
If the head is going to be a bit of a chancer, it's as well to have exactly what was agreed and suggested and said written down as evidence to call on if there's a difference of opinion
Not in an aggressive or mistrustful way, just advice from a teacher.

I agree with Goblinchild, having had issues with a very similar HT.