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SN children

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Original poster

Ofsted inspection, they have asked me to keep ds off,

47 replies

wheretonow · 16/02/2011 18:47

So what now? I am fuming. I know he would find it stressful, strangers asking questions and things being different so for his sake I am going to keep him home but I remember a similar thread a few years ago and I was adament that I would not keep MY child off and expressed how disgusted I was. Here it is happening to me. DS is 7 with HFA.

I am a regular btw but don't want to be recognised as I have recommended MN to a few people I know now, who know my situation with ds, I wouldn't want them to know ALL my other business as well.

So what do I do now? I am trying to get a change of placement for him anyway so surely this could help in some way.

OP posts:

Goblinchild · 16/02/2011 18:51

You can choose.
Keep him off because you think it best for him and agree that the school is asking in his best interests.
Keep him off and write to the OFSTED inspector to tell him what has happened, preferably before the inspection finishes so s/he has time to ask searching questions of the school about inclusion.
Send him in.

EllenJane1 · 16/02/2011 18:52

That is absolutely terrible. Please let the OFSTED inspectors know if you can without making life too difficult for your DS.

Anna85 · 16/02/2011 18:53

I would be the same as you and fuming!! I had a similar experience where non of the parents of children with SN were sent home a parent questionnaire before our school ofsted inspection!!

Marne · 16/02/2011 18:54

I would be .

Dd2 was kept out of asembely last week as they were showing around the new head .

I would send him in.

Original poster

wheretonow · 16/02/2011 18:59

Ex H, DS's Dad wants to send him in to make a point and so do I BUT I do know it would be stressful for ds but I am still pissed off. At the end of the day THE REASON ds is finds it so stressful there is that while they do make SOME allowances they are not nearly enough or effective. For example this is a huge Victorian Built Primary but they are unable to find even one small corner to create a retreat area for ds when he gets stressed, he ends up in the IT suite, which is hardly suitable because other kids need to use it. The Head shows NO interest whatsoever, has never been to one, multi disciplinary meeting in all the time we have been there. Her sole contribution to my sons education has been to tell me that he needs to be "trained" out of his behaviours.

FWIW I do not believe for one second the school are asking in his best interests though that of course is the avenue they tried to go down when they asked me.

OP posts:

Pixel · 16/02/2011 18:59

I would be too. Have the school said it is because of it being stressful for ds? If so that is a cop-out because there's no reason why he should have to be asked questions. I'm sure the Ofsted inspectors would make allowances for special needs, FGS.

CheeryCherry · 16/02/2011 19:00

If you possibly could, I would send him in. However if it will do more harm than good, do keep him off, but yes - get to school and pick up one of the parental questionnaires - they have to give each parent a say - and it is all strictly confidential. I would be completely honest in my views of this. It makes me wonder if the school are really thinking of his well-being, or merely themselves. Surely they have visitors coming and going during an average week?

Pixel · 16/02/2011 19:00

Oh sorry, cross posted. Well that's the real reason then, they don't want their woefully inadequate SN provisions to be shown up.

Original poster

wheretonow · 16/02/2011 19:00

I also heard (not through them) that they wanted me to keep him off because they had visits from abroad to demonstrate "an improving school" to them ffs! Somehow I didn't get the message and he went in anyway but they rang me to pick him up early.

OP posts:

Original poster

wheretonow · 16/02/2011 19:02

It is a one day inspection, can I still get a form for that? Blimey I would love to let them have it with both barrels but I have two dc there and don't want to make life even harder for them.

OP posts:

Pixel · 16/02/2011 19:03

How dare they! They are in effect saying that your ds lowers the tone of the school!

Spinkle · 16/02/2011 19:03

That's pretty shitty.

Get onto the County Inclusion Officer - they could get into deep poo over this.

We all know it happens. My husband was once despatched with a coach full of 'difficult' children on a coach one day when the inspectors were due in (he's a teacher, I should add!). The head 'I don't care where you take them, just get them off the premises'. Charming.

My DS was manoevered out of a school trip also recently. It's a kick in the teeth, isn't it?
I said I would keep him at home, but if I had another episode of this then I was gonna get nasty and heads would roll and I knew my/his rights.

Funnily enough, they've been nice as pie since. I'm sure I now have a reputation as 'prickly' and I don't care.

If we don't stand up for our kids then no one will.

The inspectors will not judge the school badly on the kids' behaviour. They judge the school on how they deal with it. They're looking at the school/staff NOT the kids.

PositiveAttitude · 16/02/2011 19:04

If you want to tell the inspectors, you can phone them.
I was not sent a questionnaire when DD3s school was inspected. I was not told about the inspection until afterwards and DD3 was deliberately kept out of the way, IMO. I phoned OFSTED and spoke to a lovely lady, but because it was a week after the inspection, nothing could be done, so do something while they are still there, if you want to.

I think it is disgusting that they have asked you to keep your DS at home. Was it put as a question as in "do you think it would be best for DS?" Or was it a definite no-no! If they were doing their job properly then they should be able to make sure that DS was cared for and looked after in such a way that he would not even know anything about the inspection.

on your behalf!!

Original poster

wheretonow · 16/02/2011 19:08

No, not a question. They didn't think he would manage. At the end of the list of WHY he wouldn't manage they did ask "what do you think". I said "I think ds's place is in school whatever visitors you may have!" BUT I don't want him to be stressed out and I know he would be , BUT may I just be clear NOT necessarily because THEY are there but because he is ALWAYS stressed out at school!

OP posts:

bigcar · 16/02/2011 19:09

Oh that's crap isn't it! If it was me I would send my dd3 in but then it wouldn't bother her having extra people in the class, or ask them if they want to do it as an exclusion? Will they even get into every class in one day?

newname0601 · 16/02/2011 19:09

I would write to the inspector, as a parent of a child at the school you have a right to do that. If you think its in your ds's best interests to keep him home then do so but I would be seething to have been asked to do. If they had said to you that they had an inspection and if you felt it would be to much for ds then we don't mind if he doesn't come in but its entirely up to you, then that would have been different.

Original poster

wheretonow · 16/02/2011 19:12

I don't know. I don't know what to do really. I wasn't even told there was a parents evening this week until I received a text message today saying it had been cancelled!

OP posts:

Original poster

wheretonow · 16/02/2011 19:13

Should I go in and see if there are any forms tomorrow? I have to take dd anyway. Not sure they will have them if it is only one day.

OP posts:

EllenJane1 · 16/02/2011 19:13

I think they always have to get some parental input?

cornslik · 16/02/2011 19:20

The inspectors are very low key and try not to disrupt lessons as much as possible. Won't it upset his routine being off school anyway?

FickleFreckle · 16/02/2011 19:22

wheretonow, I really feel for you - on the one hand I would not want to subject my son to unnecessary distress but nor would I want the school to "get away with it" if they are going to make out their SN provision is better than it is. Personally I think I would either fill out the questionnaire or if not able to then write to Ofsted and let them know that while ds was asked to stay off as no adequate provision could be made to support him through the inspection you will be happy to answer any questions about his inclusion. They should be able to read between the lines

I appreciate that Ofsted inspections are really stressful and nervewracking for schools and they want to keep everything as predictable as possible, so if the school had otherwise been brilliant I would cut them some slack, but if they have been as you describe then no way, you aren't getting away with hiding my son away like some dirty little secret!!

moondog · 16/02/2011 19:23

It seesm to speak voolumes to me about their attitude. The schools I know of want kids who might be considered challenging to be there so OFSTED have a realistic picture of day to day running.

These are good schools.

Original poster

wheretonow · 16/02/2011 19:41

I want to do something to defend ds but I don't know what . I suppose this must help when it comes to applying for a change of placement surely. I can make sure the panel know that the school asked for him to not be there on a number of days because his behaviour could not be guaranteed, surely this is proof that he cannot cope in a MS environment?

I swore I would never let this happen to ds.

OP posts:

bullet234 · 16/02/2011 19:54

If he would become significantly more distressed when the Ofsted inspectors have their visit, then keep him off for his sake.
If you think there would be little difference, then send him in. An Ofsted inspection needs to be able to see as many pupils as possible, not just the ones that the teachers think will give the school the highest criteria. Your ds is not an inconvenience, he is a child who has the right to an education.

Bonkerz · 16/02/2011 20:03

If the school recognise that he will struggle then it is up to THEM to provide the extra support to help him cope! EVERY CHILD MATTERS and each child's needs should be met!

When my DS was going through diagnosis the school he was at had a 3 day OFSTED inspection. Up till this point (DS aged only 6) the school had been ringing me daily to collect DS as they couldnt cope and wouldnt (said couldnt but know differently) give support as he didnt have a finalised statement and were infact fighting the statement saying DS DIDNT need it! LOL
I noticed DS hadnt been sent home and he had said he was working with just TA and HIM so on the third day i went into the classroom and asked to speak to the teacher who looked very sheepish. OFSTED inspector was sat in corner with clipboard so i said in a loud voice how impressed i had been with DS behaviour the last 2 days and said that obviously the full time support was working and asked if it was going to conitnue once OFSTED had left!!!!!! Teacher was hugely embarrassed especially after i flounced out without letting her answer! The school got slated in their report and was put into special measures and head was sacked and replaced with a SEN specialist HT for a year!
DS left that school 3 months later!

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