PhD dedication

[appropriatelytrained]

I'm getting my PhD bound. I'd like to dedication to all of you brave folks forced to battle for our kids. You've absolutely kept me going and got me through this

I'm looking for a pithy quote or saying from someone of note to sum the whole thing up

So far, I'm considering
Truth is mighty and will prevail. There is nothing the matter with this, except that it ain't so. ~Mark Twain, Notebook, 1935

Any advances!!!

They can be as underhand as they like but if they see him against your express wishes where there are no Child Protection concerns etc it is, to the best of my knowledge, inadmissable.

By the way, the green spot scenario ended like this:

Them: DS' school?
Me: Can I speak to SENCO?
Them: Just a minute
Them: She's unavailable and says she's busy teaching for the next two weeks but will call you after that.
Me: Okay can I leave her a message?
Them: Yes
Me: Tell them I want the green spot gone by tomorrow morning.
Them: Okay.

Sure enough it was!!!!!!

What they are doing as an alternative though I'll probably never find out.

Oh Star, it does get you like that doesn't it?

Working, I suppose they know it would look bad if they tried it on as well.

It just shows you how crap this system is doesn't it? You fight for interventions and then doubt the motivation of everyone arriving on the scene.

They have just had the 4th witness refused for not knowing my child so I think that they're on a sticky wicket with another witness who does not know him, so I suspect everything

Good for you Star!

OK, EP has got back to me. She is going to talk to this years and next year's staff about transition. Not to DS.

She will talk to me separately if I would like.

Given that only one staff member really understands his needs, what is the point of this? What is the point of excluding me from this meeting?

Perhaps she is really trying to collect evidence?

TBH, transitions that aren't properly planned don't go down too well with tribunals.

Can you write to her now and ask her when you will get the details of the outcome of her meeting with staff because you want to work with your ds to prepare him.

Do you think I should ask her outright and say I am suspicious that this comes on the back of learning she is a Tribunal witness and ask why, if she accepts I know DS best (which she has written), it is appropriate to plan transition without me?

I was going to ask that she ensures she is speaking to people who know him and his needs. She says she often consults schools about children's needs without speaking to them. But I don't think this makes it good practice

Well, I wouldn't tbh. The risk of you looking like a paranoid difficult parent is greater than what you would get out of it.

You can ask politely at the tribunal if this is usual practice though vand highlight the incomptenece there.

Alternatively, you can write an extremely polite letter asking if it is usual practice (don't mention the tribunal) to exclude parents from the transition preparations. Then you can read out that and the reply on the day?

I have looked at the professional guidelines for EPs. It says:

Informed consent

There are a number of situations where the educational psychologist may not be working directly with a young person but is advising other professionals (e.g. teachers). In these circumstances, educational psychologists should establish that informed consent has been obtained from the parents/carers.

So she does need my consent to have this meeting and I would need to know how she is to satisfy herself that she's taking to people who know DS's needs so she can advise appropriately and why she thinks I need to be seen separately?

I sort of disagree Star.

I think that it doesn't matter in this situation if you "look" anything. I wouldn't let anyone go to school without permission at this stage of a process that is gearing up for Tribunal.

I've come across some "paranoid and difficult" parents in my time who have fought for provision in our units and to be honest, anyone you want working withh your child won't bear silly grudges or alter their behaviour to your child in any way because you fight for their rights.

Anyone else can... beeep.

Okay. Good. I'm glad you disagree. I'm learning loads here and I really do need to.

The next tribunal I'm on my own as we quite frankly cannot afford two paid tribunals this year.

So working do you think I should say frankly that I am concerned that this intervention has come after I have discovered she is to be a Tribunal witness and I have pointed out that she has not worked with my child or supported him.

This makes me concerned about the purpose of the visit and the reason for my exclusion

I wouldn't even get into it.

I'd just say that you don't want a visit or assessment at this time. A typical reason for not wanting one is they may do assessments that invalidate the results of paid professionals e.g. assessments that can't be repeated within a six month timeframe.

Just say that you are aware they want to visit and you would have welcomed this input a few months ago but at this point in time you feel it is not necessary as it's unlikely that an intervention could be put in place and measured appropriately ahead of the Tribunal so you don't want to waste taxpayer's money on visits to generate paperwork alone.

Do what Star's school have done, in reverse. You have a wealth of evidence, thanks, and you don't need additional professional input related to the Tribunal.

Have you requested a copy of notes etc under the Data Protection Act? You could ask for these as there may be a record of discussions between professionals suggesting this visit.

There are better experts on these matters than I on these boards though!

But she says she is advising on transition for the new teacher/TA. How do get around that?

Not just notes - all written information that is patient/student identifiable e.g. has your son's name and any of the following: d/o/b, your name, the school's name, the name of other professionals involved in his care, your address etc.

Yes, I've done that as soon as I heard she was a witness.

Is any of the transition dependent on the tribunal outcome?

No.

And the head is saying she has asked the EP in to help her teachers (as I've been banging on about getting further support).

May be I should tie this into requiring a proper intervention - ie her advice should be based on the fullest and most accurate information available from all parties (including me) and she bloody well follows it up

'Could' it be?

i.e. the TA might need to be someone entirely different if you are asking for different hours/qualifications etc.?

The strategies for his ability to cope with the transition i.e. visuals, visits, plans etc. could be dependent on his communication needs which you are currently disagreeing about?

Can your request a copy of the head teachers request for the EP to attend, or the EP's dated telephone record?

Can you not just simply request that the EP and all other partners and LA personel sod off until after the tribunal because their smell is puting you right off your food?

God, they don't do records!!

I have pointed out that staff do not know his needs and strategies to cope with transition remain untested.