Why are school stooping so low and jepardising my dd's educational needs

[Madprest]

Some might remember me from previous posts. My tribunal date is in June and we have had meetings with LEA & school. Sum it up at the end of meeting LEA suggested for DD to have a BPVS and to refer to IDSS for a specialist teacher to come in and assess her. Yet school think she is doing great. Still waiting for response (2 weeks up to now) for a response from a letter drafted from my IPSEA volunteer, which entailed many contradictions and findings.

Anyway all of a sudden her grades have jumped up by 3/4 sub levels and she looks on paper that she is on target, even though she as never met any key stage targets ever. Reading level fantastic yet she as been on the Gold band for 14 mths. Teacher "oh, you should of come in and told me", yet she still struggles reading this band. Yet she reads to teacher and TA (yet they didn't notice).But my anger and shock that they had a TA who handed her test papers back to amend answers and fill in the questions where she left blank. I feel like I am being cornered in every way. They will deny it, they want this to look good at tribunal, they withhold information for as long as they can. My god do these people not understand it is just to get her help (that she deserves). I know I need a private EP to get the support for tribunal but it's getting the money together. Please someone keep focused because I think I'm at the point I do not know where or how to continue.

Sorry for ranting and thanks

it's shit, it really is. Unfortunately I think you realise pretty quickly that it's not about your child, just the budget that comes first. It isn't personal, I think a lot of us on this board have had similar treatment, doesn't mean you won't get what your dd needs in the end. Keep going and make sure you keep records of all of this and confirm everything they say in writing.

Thanks Ninja, I write everything down and I still get shocked with what actions they keep preparing to do to cover their failings. Been advised by ISEA volunteer to write to Director of Education and Governors ~(even though the chair and HT are one big click). Shall do that tomorrow when I am feeling stronger and refreshed. Thank you for your reply. Makes you feel like grabbing em by scruff of the neck sometimes (lol).

Half the time you're not writing to people for their action but to produce 'evidence' that there is more than one side to a story iyswim.

Oh i know this 1 ever so well, for i have had the same problem when dds school makes out that her levels are higher than what they actually are, the best one i came across was on one of her IEPs and you could clearly see where they had changed her grade from a low score to a higher 1 and then on her school report all we could do was laugh cause there is slightly stretching what they can do and then there is litrally taking the mick. I had to take it all the way to the tribunal and 2 days before we were due into court they decided to test her and it came back exactly what we had been saying for over 4yrs. im now happy to say that she is statmented but not making any progress even if the school says she is. I just cant wait to get her moved out of there in july. Iv still got the issue of where they dont listen to the problems i have at home with her, cause acording to the teachers im lying.

Yes Star, evidence..which school trying so hard to cover up. Always reluctant to produce i.e last years tests because of big discrepancies with teacher assess and test results. Oh they are kept in school records..mmm oh no they are not, got them last year

I actually found a post it note had been photocopied to a letter i had written to the school asking could i have a copy of the IEP they said existed and targets were being met at Tribunal. The post it note said 'tell mum, this was due to a change in criteria and back date IEP'

They then produced a back dated IEP with targets met!

They also stated at Tribunal that ds was meeting his OT targets, i then received a copy of his OT assessment sheet where no targets had been met (after tribunal)

Sad fact is they lie, be prepared for this at Tribunal.

Also should have added if you are on benefits or a low income, you can get free reports ie EP, SALT etc. You can also get free legal help with the drafting of appeal papers etc.

Yes, I too have been exposed to the incredible lies school and agencies will tell to cover their own arses when a tribunal is pending.

They don't give a toss about the child concerned. It's all about them.

Can you move schools? I now trust my son's school so when his grades improve, it is a cause for celebration not frustration and doubt.

I spent too long banging my head against a brick wall with a school that lied because they didn't know how to support him. It will never change.

What was your experiences like at tribunal? Do you think they see through all the bullshit. I partly feel that now they are making it look good with grades, surely from past grades showing none have been met and all of a sudden since issues have arose they have changed dramatically. I know her work is still the same as is her reading.

I think it's time to move because they are not concerned and there is on communication at all

Thanks

At Tribunal, the school were believed as they work on the assumption that school are unbiased and tell the truth.

School provided no evidence of progress or programmes they said were in place. But i naively thought that school would tell the truth and i didnt provide any evidence that they were lying. I was quite shell shocked to be honest. After leaving Tribunal, all the evidence of them telling lies was there in black and white, i just wasnt prepared for it.

Well done claw, makes a change eh! Just feel nervous with all these grades suddenly leaped so high in such a short period...surely this must speak volumes.

I took both my sons out and home educated for 6 months after school started lying about a SLT programme my son had never had.

Our SLT went in for final pre-Tribunal report and the head was so aggressive and rude. They lied like mad to our SLT who then went out and saw DS lying on a bench, alone, fully clothed on sports day. She saw through their crap and said this child is not being included and school haven't got a clue.

Our solicitor tried to settle before Tribunal and I was going to go ahead and do it myself with DH but then they listed the hearing the day before to a city 30 miles away. Bang went our childcare plans.

I couldn't face doing it on my own with them all lying after we had already left school. I had also been branded 'vexatious' two weeks before by the LA and prevented from corresponding with them to raise the fact that my son's provision was still not in place (6 months after the issue of his statement).

So I wrote and asked the Tribunal to deal with it on the papers.

They didn't even bother to read them. Clearly didn't read the reports - said EPs were agreeing which they were not. They were miles apart on hours (ours said full-time support, theirs 20 hours). They didn't even rule on half the issues - e.g. no ruling on Part 4! Crap judgment in which they basically said 'what a lovely school and what awful difficult parents'

I instruct a mediator to deal with stuff now. She gave me the best advice when I wanted to challenge the ruling. Move on. Get a decent school to work with you and help your son. That's what I did.

The LA can still lie and their 'experts' don't know what they're doing but the school are honest, helpful and they really care about my son.

Also beware of school saying they will back your request, then changing their mind at the last minute. Ds's school did this, so that i didnt chase them for copies of what i had previously requested and therefore didnt have the evidence i needed at Tribunal.

For example at Tribunal ds's IEP was out of date, i didnt bother chasing this as i thought the school were backing me. Had i chased this, i would have found out that it didnt exist.

It is unbelievably a total disgrace on schools constantly treating parents like us (who only want the best for our child) in this disgusting manner. Do not know how they sleep at night...hope one day they get pay back BIG STYLE. Agree it's time to start looking at changing schools because this one hasn't got her interests at heart.

OP this is nowhere near as low as schools can go I'm afraid.

Never make a phone call when an email will do - even for standard stuff like doc appointments or abscence. You need a written record of EVERYTHING. If at all possible bring along a friend who is not on the LEA payroll (Granny is preferable to parent partnership etc) so that you have an independent witness. Type of your own notes afterwards of what was said.

If a child is at P levels and a school is saying they are at level 2 say it's easy to get an independent pysch or similar (private tutoring service?) to test the child and submit the true levels. Ask for copies of the actual work that show your child is at the high standard and then get them to repeat similiar tasks under "laboratory" conditions.

I used "clicknread" a computerised phonics programme to show an independent score of my child's reading ability. Mathswhizz does similiar reporting I think. Lots of the online educational programmes let you do a "baseline" assessment to see what level your child should start at when you decide to subscribe.

Argos often do mega cheap camcorders. Use one to demonstrate lack of selfcare skills etc.

Make it obvious you will not go away, shut up or be quite under any circumstances. Drop the words "judicial review" a few times in front of any staff who might actually know what one is (the average class teacher won't).

Do remember you can name a DIFFERENT school for part 4. If a school is slack and uncooperative they won't suddenly change their spots just cos a statement appears. People either care or they don't. Don't be scared to request a different school in part 4 to the current one. If it's also mainstream tell the truth - this mob lie to much for anyone to accurately assess progress and you need your child in the care of people who take pride in their professional integrity.

If anything comes down to he said/she said Tribunal will always find in favour of the school LEA and disregard your word as a parent. They can say what they like YOU have to have the proof for everything in black and white.

You can win @ Tribunal provided you hold calm and firm in the line of total lies, character assinination and worse. It's not easy to do as they upset you so much. However do remember that's kinda their point, and the more wrong they are, the more outrageous the lies etc will get.

More Tribunals are lost cos they drove Mum to the brink of a nervous breakdown than cos the facts of the case weren't in the parents favour imho. Know this is their game and decide here and now you will not under any circumstances let them see that they are getting under your skin.

Keep ALL paperwork, never phone when you can email over the most trivial things, and stay as cool as cucumber - that's my secret formula for "how to win at Tribunal"

It is a disgrace, which is often the case where money is concerned, not just the money it costs in giving extra help ie statement, the LA paid for a new unit in ds's school round about the time of Tribunal, so ud be surprised how far some school will go to keep in with the LA. Conspiracy theories over, before i look like a total loon

I changed schools after applying for SA, bad move on my part as at Tribunal it was clear that ds's previous school couldnt met his needs and needed the direction of a statement. Ds new school literally smothered him in help to look good at Tribunal, then promptly removed it just before Tribunal 'as they felt it wasnt needed'

Old school just had no idea of ASD or what to do, they didnt even have a social skills group and ds was really suffering, i couldnt leave him there a minute longer. New school knew exactly how to play the game.

Now looking back if i had left ds at his old school (which i couldnt possibly do) i think he would have a statement.

Unless your child has quite severe special needs or is disruptive, chances are most schools will overlook that child, is my conclusion.

'I instruct a mediator to deal with stuff now. She gave me the best advice when I wanted to challenge the ruling. Move on. Get a decent school to work with you and help your son. That's what I did.'

I think this takes a huge amount of maturity and guts tbh. It's the recognition that you are right, that you have been wronged in the worst way but that you going to put your child before your own needs to redress the balance, win a fight or get justice.

I've done similar now and for someone like me it was very hard. I probably should have done it sooner.

Really understand your point there claw especially about behaviour because she is very quiet (left in her little world) she as been well and truly overlooked.
Boc...shall look at that thank you so much eeryone.

I am in the process of looking to get a private EP, not going to be cheap (I know) but IPSEA volunteer as suggested to go for this. Get the money some how and just want to know what problems she is having. My heart goes out for her...time to dry these tears and put Bocs advise into action, don't let them under my skin

So perfectly said Star. I always say I wish I would have acted sooner..thank you so much.

Madprest, "grades suddenly leaped so high in such a short period...surely this must speak volumes"

To you it does, but to a Tribunal its progress, unless you have something to prove otherwise as Bochead says, you need evidence, rather than you just saying its unbelievable bullshit iyswim.

I was saying on another thread last year ds was on 0.4 centile semantic and 3 years behind vocab. Ds received little or no help in school, hadnt met any SALT targets, then all of sudden, he is reassessed and he is on the 75th/50th centile for these things. It seems unbelievable. But if i was to go to Tribunal with that, on the grounds of its unbelievable i wouldnt get anywhere and would probably be viewed as being quite negative. I am now having to save to get a private SALT assessment.

Unfortunately when you have a quiet passive child who is having difficulties, its about how school are coping, rather than the child.