ADHD - Punishment in Secondary School

[mickeyshell]

My 13 yr old son is in year 8 at High School and I am now at my wits end with them and the next step is the SENDIST tribunal. They keep continually giving him detentions for behaviours that are typical of children with ADHD (poor organisation, not producing enough work, talking, losing equipment, defiance) and they tell me they they must treat all children the same etc.

I feel they are discriminating against him as he does have a disability which im pairs him day to day but they have now got the authority's solicitors involved and they have wrote to tell me that they are not discriminating so I am starting to doubt myself. I have never said that he should not be made accountable for his actions but I feel they should be trying to modify his behaviour and not just punish it. He will continue to make the same mistake again and again (like most children with ADHD) unless they do specific work on him regarding these behaviours but they just wont listen.

They have basically told me that they dont need to make reasonable adjustments as he does not have a statement!!! I have tried to applyfor one but they told me he is only displaying low level bahviours which is true but the school punish for every little thing. He is never eligible to take part in any end of term reward activities as he doesnt meet the criteria because he has gained too many detentions and it just excludes him even more from his peers as he already doesn't have any real friends only ones who mock him.

I have got IPSEA involved and we are obtaining evidence to take them to tribunal in May but just wondered if anyone else had been through anything similar and won the school and got them to change their behaviour policy to take into account children with SEN/disabilties.

After almost 18 months of complaining about this and now going ahead to SENDIST school have finally said they want to meet and talk about it but I dont have confidence in them changing any policies and feel like I want to proceed with the case but dont want to if I have not got a chance of winning.

This has taken over my life and makes me so ill sometimes I just want them to accept he cant always help how he is. He is a likeable boy (many teachers have said this) and tries so hard but school always fail to recognise this.

Hi mickey and welcome to the board, sorry you and your ds are having such a hard time.

Whoever told you that they dont need to make reasonable adjustments was lying! That is what inclusion is all about, make adjustments for children to allow them to access all areas of school. They wouldnt say that if it was a child needing a ramp for a wheelchair or a signing interpreter for a hearing impaired child would they?

They are discriminating against him as I am sure IPSEA have confirmed to you.
Sadly some schools just dont want to meet the needs of children with SN 's and no matter how hard you fight they wont change.

Is there any way your Ds could move schools to an inclusive school where his needs would be met and he wouldnt be punished for things he cant do anything about.

What I find sad is that often children dont actually need a huge amount of support to be able to cope but without any support they have got no chance.

Good luck

Hi mickey and welcome. I don't have any experience of tribunals but just wanted to say I am not surprised it's taking over your life, having to fight on this level must be overwhelming. Presumably your ds has been diagnosed by the NHS? In which case your school your school is on shaky ground and is breaking the law by failing to accommodate your ds and his difficulties. It will be interesting to see what angle the LA solicitors will take in this situation in light of this school's unlawful behaviour.

Don't know if you have the option to move schools or would rather fight the fight, but I hope you get some resolution to this awful situation, and if you stay at this school, I hope you succeed in taking this school to task and get justice not only for you but for other children. Stick around on here for excellent advice. Wishing you strength and good luck.

Hi there many thanks for your replies and thank you for agreeing that you also think school are discriminating. I sway between thinking yes they are wrong and I am going to fight them but every now and again I doubt things and feel I cant fight anymore.
I would love for my son to move schools but he refuses to look into it he thinks he is fine where he is and that he has friends but I know they are not true friends its as if he has accepted that he gets mocked and taunted and also gets punished all the time.
He has had a diagnosis of moderate ADHD via the CAMHS at the NHS although initially we did get this private (although this was from a recently retired NHS consultant who is very reputable and specialises in ADHD) I asked to be reffered to them because I felt the private diagnosis was why school were not taking it seriously but the NHS completely agree with the diagnosis and his ADHD specialist Nurse has been very good even providing an excellent report as evidence for me at the Tribunal.
I get so angry and upset that as parents of children with SEN and disabilities we have to fight for them to get the education they deserve.
Once again thanks for taking the time to reply and empower me to carry on with my cause.
Hopefully someone who has been through something similar may respond to give me more of an insight in the SENDIST process.

Out of interest how is your son doing now? Has there been a happy outcome for him, is he doing well now school is behind him. Asking as I find myself in this position.