Information disclosure within the SEN system: your stories

[inappropriatelyemployed]

I have what I think is some very interesting news about a possible campaign.

I have met with leading international privacy lawyers who are prepared to act for free in relation to raising the issue of unlawful information sharing between LAs and their NHS colleagues in the SEN process. This will include issues of disclosing reports to Tribunal without consent, passing on information without consent, discussing our children to fix up reports and inaccurate information in reports, etc

They have said they will organise a meeting with the ICO and throw their weight behind lobbying for the issue of clear guidelines.

The firm are prepared to do all the leg work for this as a pro bono project. They are looking for case examples of these practices so we can compile a dossier.

I know some of us have been on the receiving end of some very shoddy practices.

Can you PM me if you would like to get involved by sharing your story? This would be treated confidentially and used just to lobby the ICO. it could be anonymised if you would prefer

[hoxtonbabe]

It shouldn't have to be ordered...we have a right to know what information is held on us or our children. They get my sick, the lot of them.

[carrotcrusher]

Pity that they can't be ordered to provide this.
I am at tribunal shortly and,after months of saying that all paperwork was sent, I am now receiving things that were not released before .
This has only happened following court orders though and I am sorry to discover that I was right about certain things being hidden. It's a shame it has to be like that and that there are no consequences for the people that try to hide factual information or pretend that it doesn't exist.

[hoxtonbabe]

Here we go..asked the information dept to send me all papers held with EP, this was accepted and about 2 weeks ago the officer emailed she had the papers and would get it out to me the next day...she's now refusing to give me the papers by ignoring my emails/update requests, we have now gone over the 40days with no explanation so now I have that to sort that out upon everything else's...they really are shits.

[inappropriatelyemployed]

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[inappropriatelyemployed]

Bumping guys - we still need your help and your stories.

[inappropriatelyemployed]

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[inappropriatelyemployed]

Thanks, I would urge others to help if you can. I know it can be stressful and God knows none of us have got the time. But just a brief summary might really help add weight to our campaign and it's not every day you get a firm of lawyers prepared to act for free!!

[TOWIELA]

Now my story is over, and the fat lady has finally sung, do what you want with my story.

Very strange reading this thread back now months later with the benefit of hindsight and knowing our final result. I also appear to have written my posts on this thread under 4 different names (oops!). But perhaps name-changing here on a support board shows the level of fear parents have when fighting their LAs.

I hope more people tell your their stories, IE. The only way we can stamp out some of these terrible practices is if parents individually stand up to be counted.

[inappropriatelyemployed]

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[inappropriatelyemployed]

Hi

I'm bumping this. Your stories are needed.

This is a chance to do something small but practical and positive to try and change poor practices - or at least provide parents some clear guidance to argue with.

To recap, more information about the kind of examples we are looking for can be found here and info can be shared confidentially with the Inofrmation Commissioner to lobby him NOT to ask him to investigate specific cases.


Thanks for your help.

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[inappropriatelyemployed]

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[StarlightMcKenzie]

Ta. I'm on it. Just need to finish off one.

[bochead]

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[inappropriatelyemployed]

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[inappropriatelyemployed]

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[NoHaudinMaWheest]

Long story afterwards. HT went ahead with illegal exclusion, we challenged it, BoG agreed it was wrong. By that time it was too late for Ds who in panic mode refused to return. He had home tutoring for the rest of yr5.

Meantime we had applied for SA -school was stalling- eventually LA issued a statement but without naming a school. We had said it was clear original school did not want him and had named another local school. We decided not to pussyfoot around this time and went to tribunal. Once tribunal date was set LA caved in and named school we wanted.

By this time Ds was in Link education for pupils out of school and in a reasonable small group. He was able to build up to attending the ms school 1 and a half afternoons a week.

LA reckoned it would be impossible to find a ms secondary to take him or that he could cope with (there were no suitable ss schools) and that he would stay in Link until 16. This was totally unsuitable as little in the way of specialist teachers or facilities and Ds is academically able and motivated.

More by chance than anything else we found a ms secondary able and willing to support him. He has just finished GCSEs there and the support has been excellent and as much a matter of attitude as resources. Even when his OCD had a major exacerbation (nothing to do with school) and he spent large parts of yrs8&9 housebound or in hospital, they were very supportive.

Unfortunately this school doesn't have a 6th form so he is having to move for A levels. On paper support at new school looks good as is attitude but we will see. Current battle with LA is over transport.

I have pm you for the form.

[inappropriatelyemployed]

Thanks. That is really helpful but shocking, I am so sorry. What happened with your son?

Could you PM me and I will send you a form to complete and post this on.

[NoHaudinMaWheest]

I am not entirely sure if this is the sort of thing you are looking for and it was years ago (about 6).

Ds then yr5 was on the verge of being diagnosed with HFA. He had already been diagnosed with OCD and it was this that was causing problems in school. However they weren't major and not disruptive and he was largely benefitting and participating in class. Main issue was being unable to use the toilet without help. With school's agreement I was going in at lunchtime to help him.

With hindsight the HT was determined to get rid of him. I was new to SN and naive. With our permission his psychiatrist had spoken to HT and explained something of what his diagnoses meant.

A few weeks I later got a call out of the blue from HT asking me not to bring Ds to school the following week. When challenged as to why the HT said that she had spoken to the psychiatrist that day who had said that Ds was a very sick little boy who ought to be in hospital.

At an emergency appointment with the psychiartist she said that she had said nothing of the sort and corrected in writing what she had said. This was that OCD could not be cured with a magic wand and that if HT felt she could not meet his needs in school then it was up to her to source alternative provision.

The HT was obviously trying to get the psychiatrist to approve her decision to oust Ds. She did not have our permission to contact the psychiatrist. When we asked psychiatrist why she had spoken to HT without our permission she said that she consider permission for previous contact would be ongoing.

This was not our understanding and given the difficult situation with the school we would certainly have wanted to be consulted before each contact.