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Help please - MS Primary School and Stairs

5 replies

smashingtime · 09/05/2011 20:13

DD (3) will be starting school in Sept. She has some mild mobility issues which affect her balance and fine motor, but she is pretty able considering - and very independent and determined! I phoned the school today to ask if we could have a meeting before she starts to assess what kind of support she may need. It sounds as though their main concern is that she can manage a flight of stairs. There are two staircases in the school - one of which she won't have to use until she is in Year 5. She is just about able to go up and down the stairs unaided (on a good day!) but often crawls up for speed.

I'm concerned they may make an issue of this when I meet the Head as I know they have prevented a disabled pupil from starting the school in the past. Does anyone know what my rights are regarding reasonable access to the school? They have a very bland SN policy so don't know whether they are going to raise obstacles to her being able to go to the school or not!

Anyone with any advice or experience - would be very grateful so I can appear knowledgeable at this meeting!

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budgieshell · 09/05/2011 22:20

We had the same problem many years ago (DD now 9). We where told the school would meet her needs. Walked up and down stairs with daughter, headteacher and an idiot from inclusion services. The headteacher said DD needed an adult with her at all times but didn't have funding to support that.
Inclusion said DD would be fine setting off a few minutes before everyone else. Headteacher and I looked at her blankley and said the same thing "your expecting a four year old to go on her own up and down stairs".

To cut a long story short if your child has no funding the best advice I can give you is find a school she can cope with. We had to find a small school with no steps after all school places had been given. We managed to find one and it's the best thing we did.

Keep in mind your child will be walking around the school at busy times of day when children will be pushing and shoving.

If your DD has a statement or other support a TA will be there to help her if not you need to be happy with what the school suggests. You may want to pick the best school but the safety of your child is important too.

madwomanintheattic · 10/05/2011 05:51

you need to ask your ot to carry out an access assessment. the ot will recommend the adaptations that are necessary etc in order for your child to be able to access the setting.

be aware that some areas will already have a suitable accessible primary school (on a level) and so will be extremely reluctant to spend any more money. particulary if the building is, for example, an old victorian school etc etc.

have they decided whether to statement or not? tbh, a setting with stairs and no support is going to be a nightmare - as budgie says, she will get jostled and bumped. you need to be very clear that this is not just a health and safety issue for your child, but for all the other children too - as they will be the ones she knocks over when she falls on the steps. (dd2 has actually managed to take out the supervising TA - we are of course very proud Grin)

but anyway, you need to ask for an access assessment to be carried. dd will need to work her way around the school, and the ot will come up with a report of everything that needs to be adapted, from internal and external stair rails (or ramps) to soap dispensers/ grab bars in the toilet.

as budgie says, the safest option is usually for the child with the motor impairment to go first (early) or last (late). it's ok when they are tiny (with supervision) but a right pita later when they want to be moving around with their friends.

visit a few local schools with dd, ask the lea which are accessible, and then male your mind up. if the inaccessible primary is the one you definitely want, you might have to come up with a reasonable explanation why the accessible one won't meet her needs.

are her fine motor issues going to need additional support too? (i know you haven't mentioned statementing, but it might be worth asking the q)

i'm not really sure why you are doing all the running around? where is your nursery in this? there should be a proper transition meeting etc etc. is it just because it's so early? too early? are you jumping the lea gun? speak to the area inco for early years at the lea and ask for some advice. (has she been seen by the area inco in setting at nursery? they should already have done an assessment there tbh)

she sounds similar to dd2 tbh. dd2 was independently mobile indoors for yr r but used a croc walker for playtime. they put ramps in, and double stair rails, and grab rails, and moved all the soap dispensers so she could reach them etc etc. but she was statemented with 1-1 and came with extra money. Grin and the ht of the accessible school had already said it wasn't an appropriate setting for my dcs, so i made a point of insisting she attend the same infant school as her siblings. she doesn't have any lds. it was an old victorian school with steps everywhere. Grin

having made it accessible for dd2 (and actually for a child who was VI - they did the painting at the same time) the school is now a much sought after placement for kids with sn... about 25% of each yr r are statemented now!

smashingtime · 10/05/2011 20:10

Thank you very much for your really helpful replies! Lots of points I hadn't even considered here. The main issue I have is that DS is already at the school and so it would be so much easier for us to have both kids at one school.

I will talk to playgroup - they have offered to come into school so I know they will be supportive.

Feel a little concerned that DD will literally be the only child in the school with mobility issues but is a small school so does have its plus points.

OP posts:
budgieshell · 10/05/2011 21:48

If your DD starts in september you will have to get these things moving soon cause it all takes time. Talk to as many people as you can physio, ot, nursery and the school ask what will happen and what will be in place the very day she starts school. Good luck, I'm sure once your happy with the set up it will be a lot easier sending your DD off on her first day of school, she will make great progress with the right support.

smashingtime · 11/05/2011 09:27

Thanks budgieshell - much appreciated Smile

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