School not giving full hours. DS public humiliation. BAD DAY!

[SOTIRIA]

We went to see the HT today and they are offering half of statemented hours as they say DS works in small groups anyway in the morning and doesn't need any more 1 to 1. He does flexi schooling some afternoons so they are offering to employ someone for 6 hours a week. Statement says 20 hours. What do others think? Do I complain? What do I say? What rights do I have?

I'm also very down because of the nativity play. Why did I let DS be in it? "What is your son in the play?" the parents ask. My reply, "nothing" He is just in the room beside the stage, covering his ears and making weird facial expressions. It is humiliating. Everyone can see that he is different. I'm sick of telling other parents that their child did really well and listening to how well they are doing in Maths etc.

Sorry you are feeling this way. How is your ds coping in school (other than with all the Christmassy stuff)?

His covering his ears etc - does he have sensory processing disorder?

20 hours on his statement - what does his statement actually say? Does it actually say that he has accesss to 20 hours of TA time? The school has to offer the statemented number of hours but unless it says exlusively or solely for your ds, school can count those mornings your ds is doing towards those 20 hours.

How old is your ds? If he is 5, he is entitled to full time education.

Hope you feel better soon.

thanks for reply. DS is 6 but i'm happy with flexi-schooling as he is improving academically. However, i don't think FT home education would be good for him. Statement does say small group work for some of the support but I know he can't focus without huge emotional support. Statement also says reduced distraction and stress breaks which both need 1 to 1. I feel school is just trying to save money. i'll study the statement again.

I am not sure and I could well be wrong but if the 20 hours support is written into the statement then surely the school must stick to it? If he is having stress breaks etc then that must be happening throughout the day from morning to afternoon?

when are they due to re assess your ds statement? was he flexi schooling when the 20 hours went on the statement or was he full time school during that time. I am asking as I am wondering if the school want to reduce because he isnt there all of the time now....

He is entitled to full time in school schooling. By not being in school the school /LA are being let off the hook and will continue to do so as it is far eaiser than taking respsonsiblity for the education of a child who has a SSEN.
In effect tehy are not adapting his environment successfully and accordingly they are letting you take the strain.
Does the SSEN say 20 hrs 1:1 or is it silent on the point? If it sayes 1:1 then that is what they do full stop.

I think it may be helpful to get some advice from IPSEA or SOS:SEN.

It does depend on the exact wording of the statement. 'Small group work' can be wide open to interpretation as the school sees fit. Does your son only attend school 3 afternoons and they would employ someone for those? Does he manage lunchtime and breaks without support?

The play sounds hard and loads of people here have been through that.

Christmas plays are hell. Mine tried to switch the lights off! I don't think your LEA would be too pleased actually. They are sending in the money to the school for your child which clearly the school are using to fund other stuff. Fine - group work is great but it sounds as if he needs more one to one and that is what the LEA are paying for. You need to re read the statement carefully and see what provision is actually written in there. I know that LEAs do get pissed off with schools because they know that the money gets sent in and then 'diverted' off to other stuff. 20 hours is a lot - very nearly the maximum and when you consider you are flexi schooling as well then they can't be using all the money. I would re read the statement and then phone your LEA case worker and have a chunter. Who is he with for the small groups and for what? It may be that he is with a specialist teacher and that is going to be more expensive than with a TA or HLTA. There is nothing wrong with small group work, infact a mix of individual, small group and large class with support is ideal but I can't understand why there isn't more support within the mainstream classroom for this 20 hours.

good luck.

If the Statement says 20 hours then school has a legal duty to provide 20 hours.

Don't forget the 20 hours was arrived at after a full assessment of the amount of support he needs.

If you agree to half it be prepared for them to reduce it formally at Annual Review and possibly even further.

Thanks for all the replies. The statement says 1-1 and work in small groups. The small groups that the HT says is included is just ordinary group work with the class TA. The school's timetable also states that he will have occasional OT and phonics or handwriting every day. I wonder if i can ask for records of how often this actually take place.

The flexi schooling is at my request and he has made a lot of progress because of it. I'm happy for the school to reduce the statemented hours in line with his attendance but he is in school for 80% of the time. Parent partnership were in the meeting and didn't object so I went along with it at the time.

The annual review is in Feb so not too long away it might be worth waiting till then.