Head refusing to have Independent Parental Supporter at SEN dispute resolution meeting - can she do this?!

[abeltasman]

My child's Head recently steamrollered some preparation we agreed with the SENCO for his transfer day into Y3. He has ASD and was v anxious about moving into a class with an unknown (new to school) teacher. We got advice from the Outreach worker and suggested extremely simple and achievable methods to help him, which were agreed in our last SENCO meeting. At that meeting in passing they said they wanted to take him off the SEN register but didnt state why. W were also told we could have no input into our sons IEP. My son is currently being treated by camhs for sleep issues due to anxiety from school and has sensory issues that are not being addressed at school.

On the day of the transfer we found none of the agreed preparation had happened, and questioned the Head. She said that she'd 'decided not to do it' and then went onto criticise my parenting as a reason for his anxiety! This despite a letter from camhs stating his issues stemmed from school. As you can understand we are NOT happy and wrote to her stating this.

She called a meeting with us and the SENCO and class teacher. We let her know for courtesy that an IPS from Parent Partnership would attend, as recommended by the Family support Worker. She responded that she 'would not have the IPS at the meeting'. We explained that we wanted them there and that we were not comfortable holding the meeting without them. She responded that she 'would not have them there' and the meeting would go ahead but without them. I was on the phone with the Supporter at the time and she she had never known a Head to refuse an IPS and it was ringing huge warning bells.

What do we do now? We are unhappy with the SEN provision, the way we are steamrollered at every meeting, the fact we can't input into the IEp, and we do not trust the Head one iota, hence asking for an IPS. I understand from the Code of Practice that the LEa has to provide them. Can the head refuse and what legal position is she in? The IPS is appalled.

maybe call IPSEA to clarify the law General Advice Line: 0800 018 4016
Or SOSSEN Call our helpline on 020 8538 3731
The SOSSEN website says in its advice never to attend a meeting alone, to always take someone with you.

It sounds very dodgy to me

Those alarm bells are certainly ringing. It sounds like this totally obstructive HT person is doing everything possible not to have your son in this school.

On a wider level has anyone ever mentioned that you should apply for a statement?.

I would not be sending him to this school now seeing as they are acting this way now. This is how they're going to act in the future as well.

Who wanted to take your DS off the SEN register?. That and the business with the IEP (i.e no imput from yourselves) sounds well dodgy.

Ok suggested plan of action:-

1. Gather together EVERY bit of paper concerning your child you've ever had over the weekend. Monday morning ask the school secretary for copies of any meeting minutes etc that are missing.

1. On Monday look up the IPSEA website and write and post a statement application. If you can hand deliver it to the Town Hall. Address the letter to Head of Children's services - with an ASD diagnosis the request will be taken seriously. (The statementing process automatically brings "outsiders" such as the LEA EP in to see what's happening in school, meaning a school has to at least appear to be following the rules for the 6 months it takes to process.)

1. Get onto your local council SEN officer and explain what's happened. I'm not even sure the Head's stance is legal.

1. Ring IPSEA & get their advice on the HT's legal status regarding this. My gut feeling is that you can ask the HT if she'd prefer your solicitor or the council sen officer to be present instead .

If it isn't legal notify OFSTEAD.

1. Give serious thought as to whether you want your child to continue at this school. key words here:- "duty of care"(his emotional well being) & "access to the curriculum". If you decide, as I advise to change - a statement will give you access to a far wider range of specialist mainstream and unit provision & therefore choice of alternatives.

This sounds distinctly dodgy, abeltasman, do listen to those warning bells, they are ringing loud and clear! Contact the governors urgently (today), raise the issue, wave a copy of the SEN Code of Practice at them and demand to see a copy of their SEN policy. If I were you I would have a VERY low threshold for contacting the LEA.
Good luck
HW
x

IPS worker or not you must know by now that this placement is not going to work. Find a new school ASAP. Keeps DS at home until then as his placement is currently inadequate without appropriate transition arrangements in place.

I agree with what everyone else has said. Definate alarm bells of an obstructive school.

From now on email school only do not speak in person or by phone. If you have to then confirm the conversation in an email so you have a paper trail.

For a school to not want an advocate or IPS present then they are non budging on their decisions and can railroad you into anything to be honest.

I would defo apply for a statement now.

x

If you get a statement you can pretty much get into any school you wish regardless of spaces available btw.

Is this an academy?

However unjust it is and however much you may legally be able to make them do things, if they do not want to help your child walk away. I have seen it so many times on here but schools like this do not change - not quick enough for your child anyway. Walk away and find a better one. It will save you a lot of heartache in the long run.

The alternative is to apply for a statement and use their uselessness against them to get the statement and then move. But do not underestimate how much schools like this will lie to cover up their crap provision. Better to find a school that will work with you to get a statement

I'm with Agnes, start calling other schools and drafting an 'exit letter' for the governors' chair. There ARE nice schools out there that get SN and know exactly how to treat kids as individuals. My Ds1 is starting Y3 too (dx of AS but no statement) and when I think how proactive and thoughtful and together both schools have been compared to yours I am so sad. Move on to better things.

I have to agree that finding another school is probably the course of action that will provide you with the best solution. Unfortunately, this does not address the head's horrible behaviour. I would still, even if you leave, make sure this is followed up on and investigated, as other parents who are overwhelmed may not be strong enough to fight it or may simply not realise she is treating them badly.

Thank you all for your advice and support. We are caught between a rock and a hard place here, as all the schools around are full or oversubscribed - believe me, I have checked! As well as being unsuitable for various reasons. Frustratingly, the other staff are wonderful, and in the past I have just avoided dealing with the Head. We have a new SENCO coming in so I hope that will make a difference. Ultimately though I agree with you all, but we don't have any options other than to hold a meeting with an IPS and ensure everything is written down and signed and agreed until such time as other options appear. We were offered independent school places but even with significant funding, we can't afford them. SO frustrating.

Oh, and I found out what the head actually said to the IPS - and the Parent Partnership folk are gobsmacked! I will be talking to the LEA about the statementing, but I would put money on it being virtually impossible. As it is a VA school, the Governors have more clout than the LEA.

Thank you again for your help :)

I would write to the governors suggesting that the head have some extra training in SN and diversity.

Abelta. You say the other schools are unsuitable. THIS school is unsuitable.

With a statement you can get into any mainstream state school of you choosing regardless of how 'full' they are.

Sticking with a school like this will drain your ability to change schools later when it has become critical. Change now whilst you have the energy to overcome the 'unsuitability' of the other schools.