"missing in Education"

[Scottishdancer]

We are moving house in 2 weeks time. Mainly to get away from the awful school ds is currently at , and to be nearer to the school he should be at, but that the tribunal panel refused. We will then have to appeal again.Ds is currently school refusing, but when we move we will have to name a school there (which we know he wont go to!) His current school have said that if we don't tell them where he is going before he leaves, they will mark him as"missing in education" What will happen to his statement. Only one of the schools in the area we are moving to is willing to take him, and it is not suitable at all. He has severe sensory processing disorder and this school has bells for everything! What can we do?

Scottish - I am so sorry you are going through this. It really stinks and is awful. I hope the move goes well.

I googled the LA for 'missing in education' and very helpfully it took me to their webpage where it says that it is vital they find these children because they are at risk and may be living a life of abuse! What hypocrisy! What about the abuse from the LA not placing your DC in the correct educational setting!

Then their school phobia page told me that children and parents should talk together and if that doesn't work, the pupil should talk to the teacher. Once again, the LA totally and utterly missing the point.

Why doesn't this total lack of any kind of help still surprise me!

Could you register your DC for the new school. Then have a chat with the new school and request that although he's registered from when you move, he won't start until September. Tell them that this is a fresh start for him and you want to give it your absolute best shot. So, this will give them (the school) time to get all his provision in place for September. It'll also give DC time to settle in his new house and new surroundings. Convince the school that it would be pointless him settling in for 2 weeks and then breaking up for the end of the year until September. Play the game and give yourselves all a breather until September.

Then in September start evidence gathering about his school refusals. If possible get a friend to go with you to the school and get them to video you trying to coax your son into the school. Keep a daily diary of his anxiety. Try and get a video of his distress when the bells go off.

I really don't know what else to suggest.

You can deregister him and home educate him until a suitable school place is found.

If I deregister him what happens to his statement? Also if I agree to home educate then surely the LA wont bother to find him a place as it is saving them money?

I think you need to get some legal advice. Various education otherwise sites say that the legally the LA doesn't have to provide the provision in the Statement. Other websites talk about the AR still legally having to take place. But I can't find anything that says what happens to the actual Statement.

They are trying to put your child in the category of kids that "disappear" never to be seen again. You aren't fugitives, you are a normal ordinary family moving house - so behave like one. You will be registering with a new GP, going to Church or other community activities in the community, not hiding your child in some dungeon ffs!

Remember families move house all the time without being bullied. Schools do NOT have jurisdiction over where you can live. You could be moving due to family commitments, another birth, a great job offer, obtaining social housing or any number of reasons. Only the official family court has the power to restrict where you can live (eg when parents split up and one parent wants to take the child from Glasgow to Cornwall at the expense of the child's right to see the other parent).

Is it a different LA?

If so then your requirement to "inform" is to the new LA. Get in there first by stating that you are moving into the catchment of the new school and want a place. Ask the EWO at the town hall about transition planning directly. Be proactive and upfront in the new area, walk into their town hall and ask to see a SW face to face. Perhaps you can arrange an appointment with the bell ringing school for them to send work home for you to do as a short term measure while you wait for a place at the school you want.

This is a "head office" issue, not an individual school one, so talk to the organ grinders, not the monkeys. Let the central planners see upfront and in your face you have sod all to hide.

Ring contact a family and the NAS as they'll have advice. IPSEA will know what happens with the statement, but normally new LA's have to honor the old one for 6 months or as long as it takes for them to update it based on their own local service offerings iyswim.