What should be in my child's records

[Mreid]

Hi,
I've arranged to go into school to look at my daughter's school records next week. I want to find out what all past levels she as reached. What exactly will the schools hold. She is on sn register and I have many issues with her progress. She is in YR 4 and at level 1. I am asking for her to referred if refused I am doing it myself. Will there be a seperate folder for sn? Should it show any assessments i.e how they put the past rubbish iep's together (which I just found out about 6 weeks ago and had 9in total and been on them since reception). How can I tell if they have doctored them (which I feel they are going to do). I want to know how much involvement as senco had with her. Anything else should I look for. Getting myself prepared for meeting and my complaints to the HT. Then onto LEA myself.
Thanks again everyone..really appreciate it.

Yes, SN stuff could very well be in another file, I'd ensure I ask specifically to see that if I was you, otherwise you may need to make a separate trip.

thanks,shall make sure this afternoon.I did say I wanted to see everything including any SN. But another mention won't do any harm.

Going in on Friday morning..school dragged feet as HT wants to be there. Can anybody tell me what key things should be in records when a child as had 9 iep's and on SA. No idea what they should have recorded especially making up these targets ect..going to look for all past levels since she started but need to know what should be there because I don't trust the school. Feel they might doctor them. Thanks in advance for any advice.

just wondering if its worth you also asking to copy it or some of it while youre there, may prove useful if these records get "lost"

Definitely ask for photocopies of the whole school file. They may charge but there are set costs which they must not exceed - I think the max they can charge you is £40? but it's a long time since I got DS's photocopied.

You're right not to trust them.

You should find everything that has been written about him. that will include

IEP's
Statement
Ed Pysch reports
School nurse reports
Incident Reports
Serious Incident Reports
Teachers note between themselves
Ltters to LA etc that mention him specifically
Letters school and the LA have sent to you.

Everything

Can they refuse to copy them all. And why do you think HT as to be present. Interested in teachers notes especially. Wish there was Ed Pysch but as said previously, senco totally refused request. Very good idea to get all copies, good to know that there is a max charge...be worth every penny I think.. Thanks all

Basically they are trying it on

Yes - you have a legal right to obtain a copy of your child's school (and SN) file.

The HT having to be there is their own (nonsense) rule - probably to intimidate / discourage you. He/she will be worried about why you want to see them.

Not surprising that the SENCO did not know of this right to see and obtain a copy - they seem to know less about SN rights than we do.

I didn't go in to school to view my own DS's file. I just wrote a letter to the Head stating my right to obtain a copy and confirming that i would pay the costs involved up tothe maximum permitted which, as I said, was £40.

Quote the Data protection Act 1984:

Educational records

Parents, and pupils who are 16 or over, have had the right to see local education authority (LEA) school records for a number of years. The DPA has now extended this right to younger pupils. There is no minimum age: any pupil who makes a written request to see their school records is entitled to do so, unless the pupil does not have the ability to understand what they are asking for. The right applies to any information produced by a teacher, an education welfare officer or an employee of the LEA. Access must be given within 15 days.

In addition to the general exemptions in the DPA:

Information likely to cause serious harm to the pupil or someone else's physical or mental health is exempt.

Information about a possible risk of child abuse can be withheld from a parent if disclosure would not be in the child's best interests.

Educational records can be inspected free of charge. Photocopying charges are limited to a maximum of £1 for the first 20 pages, plus a further £1 for every subsequent 10 pages, up to a maximum of £50. This maximum applies regardless of how many pages are supplied.

Fees

Straightforward requests are generally handled free of charge. However, if your request is time-consuming, you may be asked to pay a fee, based on the number of hours of staff time spent on the request. A certain number of free hours is normally allowed (usually between one and five, depending on the department) followed by an hourly charge of £15 or £20. You will be told the likely charges in advance, and asked if you agree to pay.

and don't forget accident book, you're also entitled to anything about your dc they hold on their computerised record eg attendance, lates, Depending on the school this may include such useful stuff as how dc's sats etc compare with other kids at school / national standards.

Thanks WetAugust and mariagoretti..interested in the compared with other kids at school. Also gave me food for thought about computer as well.Shall ask if there are things on computer if they just hand me files over,they can't hide anything from me can they? I assumed everything written (silly me). But i did repeat myself about I wanted to see everything that is in files regarding my daughter. I know that HT might think I'll be intimidated but there is no chance. Hubby coming with me and I have said we are making notes and we will not be discussing anything in front of her. I'll have my conversation with her when I have got everything I need. Apparently I am the first parent who as ever requested to see their childs records. I will be sure to get copies. Thanks again I really appreciate all your advice.

It'sthe old chestnut - How can I be sure they've not witheld what I don't know about?

Just get the ful file copied. Count the pages when you visit and expect the same number of p/c's.

If you sunsequently find they have witheld info you have the right to complaint to the Information Commissioner or whatever he's call - the guy that oversees the DPA.

And prepare to be shocked about what you find in the files. I was.

I know theres going to be plenty of shocks but the BIG chew of the tongue moment will be if they put anything about our input. I'll fight so hard to stay calm (I'm a redhead with temper to go with it) but I'm determined to do it.

Any copies of letters you have written to school shouild also be in his file.

Missing from my DS's file were:

Copies of IEPs
Letters from me to school
Outcomes from serous incident reports
Failures to record serious injuries sustained at school
Details of converstaions school had with Police when we called them in to investigate serious injuries

etc etc.

That's why when I used to write a letter to school I alwys ensured I sent a copy to someone else i.e. Governors, LEA etc.

If school 'conveniently' lost my letter someone else would still have a copy on their file.

I hope it goes well for you.

Thank you so much WetAugust there as been no correspondence yet but I shall know for future reference. It's all new to me as I've said everything as only come out in the open 2 months ago but I can't believe how much I know about things now and that's because of you and many others. Without all your advice I would be still be listening to the crap from my daughters teachers (like the past 4 years)and thinking they are the professionals and know best (what a fool was I). But you have all put a big fire in my belly and am soooooo ready to go (still probably need you all in due course). Your advice is amazing and I sincerely applaud you all.

Thanks - I listened to so much crap that my DS didn't receive his formal dx until aged 15.

Once I knew what he had been denied I went for them - big time. I ended up suing (and winning) an educational negligence case - but it was all too late in his educational life.

But that was in the dark ages when Aspergers was not as widely recognised as it is these days and parenst were naive and trusting enough to believe evry lie that school told them

You're definitely doing the right thing in holding them to account while your child is still young enough to benefit from that.

Best wishes

Oh you give me so much drive and determination and yes you (who have been through it)know what's best. Shall update on my battle. All I can say is you help me with giving me so much determination even though it's scary of what's to come. But with what advice I have read and seeing other threads I know who is in the wrong. I wish that we had SN groups locally because I bet there is parents now listening to schools taking their word as gospel (and they know best)but that isn't the case.