Head teachers perogative???

[schoolmisery]

Ds was placed on a part-time timetable for most of last year. Have complained to school and LA about this as well as other issues. School would not answer the question of why he was part time for so long (originally part of a PSP). LA have now said that the length of time was due to ds's behaviour being a health and safety issue and it was the HT's perogative to make the decision when to have him back full-time.
School would only have him there for the hours on the sm when the sm said that any support above those hours would need to be supplied by the school. Following complaint the sm hours have now been increased to full time. IPSEA have advised me that there is no basis in law for a part-time timetable and I mentioned the recommendations that these should be time limited but was told that this is guidance only and not governed by law.
I know that school can put children on a part-time timetable as part of a PSP but can they keep placing them on a PSP and therefore part-time whenever they want? Also, I am concerned that when ds next breaches their behaviour policy they will just exclude him quoting health and safety reasons although we now have a dx so they would have to be wary of discrimination I guess. Would be grateful for any advice on this.

This is awful. have you looked at any independent schools for SN? I was just wondering what would be the reaction if you found somewhere suitable which would take him fill time and suggested you would seek to change part 4 to name this very expensive provision? perhaps the LA would seek to solve these problems with current provision more quickly because if you were sitting in front of a tribunal panel it would be very difficult for them to convince the panel that they were providing an adequate education for your son on a part time timetable! I would start quietly investigating alternatives in case this is a route you need to take.

headteacher's perogative? he is legally entitled to a f/t education that meets his needs. LA are hoping you won't challenge issues by telling you porkies I reckon. Also the LA are legally responsible for ensuring he gets the support on the sm not school.

Have you contacted your local parent partnership service? Our ds2 has asd and we had meetings with the school before he started to discuss his issues as statement was going through. The head wanted ds to start pt initially which was unworkable for us as i had changed my hrs at work to fit in with school drop off/pick ups and we have no family to help and we also felt very strongly that he would be confused by pt and needed to start ft as he had been ft at nursey and had been fine. Anyway, our pp service came to a meeting and told the head he was treating ds differently to every other child due to his support needs. He did start ft and was ok. Our parent partnership were good and were quite blunt with the headteacher.

They have now increased the sm hours now though as school said that he couldn't go back full time without it! I asked why this didn't happen sooner hence the response about health and safety. LA state that every decision was taken in ds's best interests and were reasonable decisions at the time. They say that any further concerns about the school's decisions have to go the the governing body who will obviously just agree with the HT so I feel I can go nowhere with this really.

diet I did contact PP who said that he could be placed on a part time timetable as part of a PSP.

Oh and LA said that although he had been unable to attend full time he was maintained in education and did not get a permanent exclusion on his record

The sm is due to be re-written because of dx and I need to find a suitable high school. The local ones all seem to have behaviour policies that state they can place children on part-time timetable if necessary or even place them in a short stay school.

How old is your son? I think you really need to start looking at others schools for ASAP, the current school is not meeting his needs with a part time place. We looked at about 20 schools, ms and special to find the right one and although it was time consuming, it gave real clarity on where my daughter should be educated.

Look in neighbouring LEAs too.