They've started it up again...Grrrrrrr

[LucyManga]

DS is 7 and has AS. His last school (mainstream) found it virtually impossible to cope with his behaviour, even with a 1-2-1 TA, and so started asking us to pick him in the middle of the day, suggesting a reduced timetable etc etc. Eventually, I rebelled and said if they wanted to exclude him they would have to do it officially.

He is now in specialist provision within another mainstream primary. First year there was fabulous, but the teaching staff have changed and it has really gone down hill. DS seems to have regressed in his behaviour .

The school are now starting to ring and ask us to collect him. It is a pattern that is definitely picking up speed and I am really worried about it. I have emailed the HT today to express my concerns. What else can / should I be doing? I can't just be living in fear of phonecalls to ask me to dash across the city to pick him up because they can't cope - either he attend the school or he doesnt!

I think you're going to have to do the same thing you did previously - insist that if they are sending him home that they exclude him officially. In the meantime, I would request an urgent meeting with the senco, teacher, headteacher together and find out what specifically is going on. Is his behaviour deteriorating or changing? Or are they not coping with it as well (possibly due to staff changes or whatever)? I would make sure you're clear that you feel there has been a big change in his support from last year to this year, and see what precisely is going on.

They cannot simply keep saying "come get him" and leave it at that. A responsible school would be asking you to come in and discuss the problems they appear to experiencing and seeing what can be done to cope with and hopefully improve the behaviour.

Think IPSEA have some information re such informal exclusions on their website www.ipsea.org.uk.

School are treading on very dodgy ground here.

Does your DS have a statement in place?. If not I would apply for such a document from the LEA asap (again IPSEA's website is helpful re this).

www.ipsea.org.uk/What-you-need-to-know/Exclusion

Hi all. Thanks for replies.

Yes, DS has had a Statement since 2010. His 'resourced provision' at school is specifically for HFA!

I have gone in quite hard with an email to the HT re: 'unofficial exclusions' and have requested a meeting after Easter.

I am despairing, really. His first year at this school was so encouraging, but the staff changes mean the whole ethos of the place seems to have changed, too, and my DS just seems to be viewed as a problem, now .

Am glad to read your DS has a statement as this will further help him legally speaking.

I would be speaking to IPSEA or one of the other charities like ACE or SOSSEN in your particular circumstances.