Star, Wet, Agnes and all you other great people....educational welfare officer

[claw4]

EWO phoned me today, as school had passed on my letter to her.

She is saying that LA do not provide home tutors.

She is saying i need to get camhs to refer him to a medical needs centre.

She is saying she wants to meet with me in September.

She said she wanted to phone my GP. I told her no need, they had the letter that my gp wrote just days ago, situation hasnt changed. Told her I would consult with my gp and provide any updated info as and when necessary.

I thought the LA had to provide home tutors when appropriate.

I definitely would not give her permission to ring the GP. I don't like any communication between school and medical that is not in writing, so that I can have a copy for my files.

I'm puzzled... is she trying to push his educational need off on CAMHS???

She is confused but not completely wrong - a medical needs centre I think may be a medical school like a PRU this would need to be paid for by the schools SEN budget - For this to happen school usually need advice from Camhs that this is appropriate but if pushed the LEA knows this is their responsibility.

So she has probably been told this is how this works from her bossess but it's not strictly true.

Hi Triggles, i think she felt she just had to do something as school had passed her my letter.

According to the education act they do, i did quote this in my letter, but it hasnt made a difference.

I think the LA are just trying to pass the buck.

It is how it would work for say a pregnant teenager or a child who needed a small environment through bring ill and who was in and of hospital but I don't think its relavant in your sons case where they need to do a statement so you can choose an appropriate school.

I will have to follow this conversation up in writing, reminding them of section 19 in full.

PRU is not appropriate to ds's needs. His injuries are healing, home tutor is what is needed and the responsibility is with them, not Camhs.

Claw, this isn't an area I am familiar with but certainly wrote to EWORLD confirming her advice that the LA do not provide home tutors and asking if you understood correctly. They may well not do much in the way of home tutoring but to say they simply don't 'DO' something is a blanket policy and illegal.

You must not insist on home tutors however, but on an education for your Ds, for which home tutors may be one option.

Wrt getting CAMHS to refer your Ds somewhere. This is not your responsibility. If his educational need can be met in such a place then it is up to the LA to demonstrate that. Therefore THEY need to speak to CAHMS, which the only true way to do so is by requesting their advice for evidence for a statutory assessment, - for which we come full circle.

Btw, do you actually WANT home tutors or is this one of your bargaining chips?

Claw

She's lying.

They do provide home tutors.

CAMHS have no role in education.

There is no such thing as a medical needs centre that provides education.

DSs home tutors were ordinary teachers (from the PRU) who visited us at home for hourly sessions when they could fit him in. Talking to them, they had in the past provided tuition for pupils who were bed-ridden in hospital as well as post-natal teenagers.

If you have a children's hospital in your area there will be a Hospital School - which although situated in a hospital is under LA control. DS attended one while he was a long-term day patient.

So there is tuition - she just can't be arsed to tell you where to go for it. The Case Worker wouldn't arrange DS's tuition and made me contact EOTAS - another section within the Education Service within the LA.

Google your Council + EOTAS as see what comes up.

If there truly is nothing in your area then write personally to the Director of Education reminding them of their statutory responsibility to provide an education to a child who is quite capable of benefitting from it (and copy your Local councillor). You can get their names on your Council's website.

Lying gits!

Hi Star, well ds is going to be out of school until he gets a statement, which could take some time or never happen. What with appeal and up and coming solicitors appointment and having ds at home, i havent really given it much thought. Apart from them having to provide an education outside of school might sway their statement decision. My only thoughts have been on statement if im honest.

Wet, when ds was in hospital with his injuries, a tutor provided work for him, although he wasnt allowed to leave his room or have contact with anyone, so she would just drop work off for him.

The EWO who phoned me said as well as being the EWO for ds's school, she was also the officer for home ed kids and was a bit puzzled as to why it had been passed to her, if ds was still on role.

Thanks for the advice guys, all much clearer now.

Quick google of Council - EOTAS, nothing came up

The EWO can get involved for different reasons ie playing truant, too many sickness days off school, attendance low etc. If its to do with bullying or something like that the EWO can liase with the school to make it a safer place for a child and deal with the bullying or whatever is causing upset and not wanting to go to school.

When I took DS out of school the first time the EWO didnt get involved. They did this time due to the school informing the EWO that I had de-registered him which was correct. They are not bothered and dont even want to see me till the hols start.

IF the EWO wants your son back in education just plainly tell them that the GP letter confirms his reason for absence. DS needs a statement of needs to make sure his needs are met within the school setting so can he/she put that on record that you WANT your child in school but no statement is preventing that from happening and making him ill in the process. Put phone down and let them get on with it till appeal, save your energy for that x

not that you want your child in school I meant you want your child to have an EDUCATION (silly me)

We in our area do have a school for medical needs Wet - it is run by the LA and not linked to the hospital and to get reffered there Camhs have to recomend this but the LA have to pay and take this from the schools budget. It is not a PRU but is also not a ASD provision which is what your ds may need claw. They do have private tutors but they make parents fight hard to get them.

Bloody meddling school
Why are school involving all and sundry?
Its a complete waste of time for people who are not involved with your DS to be dragged into it by school

I would write to the LA Chief Exec and cc SEN Officer
Say what has happened - contact by EWO - EWO not clear why been asked to be involved - just repeat that your DS cannot currently attend school for medical reasons, he can however manage education at home - and you expect the LA to now arrange suitable provision as per section 19.

Am sure the LA are ignoring you until the end of term so they don't have to fund it

I agree it is for the LA to say how they intend to provide a suitable education - an offer of medical school or tuition etc should come from the LA formally in writing and presumably after someone has assessed your DS!

I would also say that it is unhelpful for school to be writing to numerous professionals many of whom do not seem to know why they are being involved and that is a waste of their time and yours for you to provide the same information again and again to professionals who do intend to offer any services or be involved further.

Say you would like one key contact who will take charge of the case and liaise with you / school / other professionals because it is in no-ones interest for numerous unnecessary referrals, phone calls and visits to be made.

The bully HT is running scared, with her SENCO.

They're probably not bad people but they've made some mistakes and are in the shit trying to justify themselves.

This EWO, is also the attendance officer for ds's school, although she was ill informed, she thought i wanted to home ed ds and thats why she had been passed the info.

But i have to say off all the people i have spoken to she did seem more understanding, a bit sympathetic even, she seemed concerned. I also liked the fact that she wanted to meet with me and hear what i had to say, without school being there. I know she works for the LA and i have to careful, but i was thinking that maybe she could be helpful?

At the moment i have no one on side, apart from CAMHS who are basically saying their hands are tied, as ds has been discharged.

All i have to do is literally let her read Camhs reports, which everyone already has a copy of anyhow. Even a child could read the report and comprehend that is the school envirnoment that is making ds anxious. I think it would be pretty easy to get her on side.

Or should i just give up all hope of anyone actually working for the child and having their best interest at heart?

I told her ds was too ill to attend, had been self harming since he started school 2 and half years ago, ended up in hospital because of it. School were unable to follow recommendations as they did not understand and needed the direction of a statement. She seemed quite shocked that ds was self harming and school were not doing anything to help ds. I liked the fact, that she was shocked.

Would add everyone i have spoken to PP, SS etc seemed more concerned with technicalities, rather than the fact this is a child's life we are talking about.

She seemed genuinely concerned about ds and how to make things 'right' for him if that makes sense.

Ive just googled schools for medical needs in my borough, they are PRU's.

"Admission to these schools is by a Statement of Special Educational Needs that names the school"

"One primary is designated for pupils with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD)"

Sorry my mind is working at 100 times per hour! im trying to fit as much in as i can before ds wakes up!

Im assuming now would be a good time to decide what i want for ds, what would be best for him and im not actually sure what my options are.

I dont think special school is right for ds, in fact it would do him more harm than good.

Yet he struggles in MS.

What is available for children who are 'in the middle'?

I think ds could cope anywhere, given the right support. He is very socialable, he wants to interact and communicate. Potentially academically could do very well.

I got his school report yesterday, its all over the place. Since his last report, a year ago, according to school he has made 5 sub levels of progress, but last year he got all 'b's', this year despite making 5 sub levels of progress, he got all 'c's'

Which ties in with one minute reporting to LA he is 2c for example, then a month later he is 2b to tribunal, then IEP which is dated pre-tribunal and pre-reporting to LA he is a 3.

According to this years report he is now 3b's for everything. But i will say despite their muddled reporting of NC levels, academically from what i see at home he is very bright

Claw, I woukd give this woman a go, but I woukd also try and think hard about what she might be able to offer, as well as the risks.

By risks I mean is she likely to be flagged up to tribunal as another provision you have been given, another professional who is 'helping' and there is also a risk that she'll be bullied into writing a statement against you.

You're pretty switched on about things though so I think you coukd probably trust your gut with this one.

Claw, there is not one such thing as a special school. Go on the NAS website and visit every school listed within an hour of commuting, including the state schools of other counties. MS with additions, state specials and independent.

There are an increasing number of independent mainstream schools for children that would 'survive rather than thrive' in a state mainstream. Personally I don't see them as especially ms, but more for parents in denial, but there are more and more of these places springing up which coukd present a good option.

I have my own experience and journey which affects my view.

Ds is in a special school. He is 5.5 with an IQ of a 7.2 year old. His school isn't especially academic which bothers me. BUT he is learning at last. He SHOULD be able to attend a ms, but attitudes and budgets prevent this, NOT Ds' ability.

In a MS school the academic level woukd be better suited, but what is the point if he can't access it, or more to the point, isn't expected to?

Star with the EWO, would it not look unreasonable of me to refuse to meet, especially as she is the attendance officer, as well as the home ed officer, so in theory she should be helping to make attendance possible for ds, which is what i suppose i want the end result to be. I know attendance not being possible is only a side effect of inadequate educational provision, how much weight would her opinion carry if she agreed with this?

Especially as i have in effect already refused to enter into discussions with SS and school. I dont want to come across as 'difficult'.

My main concern is ds's emotional well being. His emotional well being would improve greatly if he wasnt struggling so much with his difficulties, if school would just follow the recommendations, rather than assuming that his difficulties do not have any impact on him, because he 'appears' fine. I cant see any school doing that, whether that be 'special' or otherwise.

Why would a school bother recasting language, breaking down instructions, using picture and visual cues for example, when you have a child who can seemingly follow instructions without any difficulty? Ds just copies what everyone else is doing, but as a result not understanding is causing him anxiety, low self confidence etc, etc. He then scratches his skin, because he is 'rubbish' everyone else is 'smarter' etc, etc. rather than screaming and shouting or demonstrating his confusion at the time

Why woukd a school bother!?

Exactly why Ds is in a SS. But I do hasten to add, it isn't a 'SS', it is a SS selected from 20, the majority of which I woukd have never considered for Ds.

Go and have a look at your options.

Found ASD learning centres, which are just around the corner for me, they offer tuition in the interim for children who are out of school. I will give them a ring to see what their criteria is.