Reduced Time Table

[OneInEight]

School are really struggling with ds2 and have asked to put him on a reduced time table. We have agreed temporarily but are there any guidelines as to how long this can be and whether he should be given work to cover the hours he is missing.

A meeting has already been organised with the LA to see what our next step can be. We are already asking for an independent school for secondary and I think school feel it would be in ds2's interests to put it in place sooner rather than latter. I am not sure the LA will agree but think we have pretty much exhausted other options with this school placement failing.

Does your DS have a Statement?

Ds2 is entitled to full time education and a reduced timetable is illegal unless they're going to put something like home tuition in place instead. That said, it may be sensible to agree to it temporarily to give everyone some breathing space, particularly since the school seems to be more or less on your side - provided that there is a definite plan in place to get him into full time education in a school that is able to meet his needs ASAP.

What a shame one I really hope the LA support you with the Indie school ASAP poor Ds2 its such a shame for another placement to fail

Wet dont think one will mind if I answer your question.

I believe her Ds2 has a statement with quite alot of hours on it!

Yes, he does have a statement. We do want to carry on working with school so have agreed to it at least until we have the meeting with the LA. We would not be happy if they suggest it for the rest of the school year though.

Hi

Neenypops is absolutely correct. By failing to provide full time education it is, in fact, an ellegal exclusion, as every child is entitled to a full-time education.

So basically the school is saying that they cannot meet his need, even with amount of support that's stated in the Statement.

If that is so the school should be discussing the best way forward with you and the LA.

It may be that additional resources are required - so the Statement is reviewed and support is increased

It may be that a maintained speacila school is required - bui these don't usually carry vacancies

It may be that an independant school is required.

But the one thing that is clear is that if you agree to keep him off school - even temporarily on a reduced timetable - you will find the pressure is then off the LA to come up with a permamant solution to this crisis. You may find you have conveniently solved their 'problem; by keeping him at home.

So I would suggest that you don't agree to this illegal exclusion and if you do keep him off school you insist that they send a home tutor to make up the hours.

I bet that you have absolutely zero in the way of documentation from either the school or the LA acknowledging that school cannot meet your DS's needs on a full-time basis and requesting that you agree to a part time timetable. I say this because they know that if they put this in writing they would weaken any potntial SEND case you may have in the future when (if) the LA have not come up with a suitable placement / the required amount of support.

It would be well worth while documenting your forthcoming meeting with the LA and following it up with by sending a summary after the meeting to school and the LA stating that, at their request, you have very relucyantly agreed to a part time timetable, however you expect a permanent solution to have been found before Christmas.

Otherwise these exclusions have a tendency to continue for months/years while the LA and school drag their feet (and save money)and the child is denied a full-time education.

Thank you Wet. I have written a letter today asking for documentation as you are correct in thinking we do not have any yet.

There is govt guidance aimed at children with medical needs who cannot attend school full-time here

This ACE guidance on exclusions explains fined term exclusions (which is what I think a PT timetable is). But makes it clear that exclusion can only be for a behaviour reason.

So which is it? Is it an exclusion or a medical (?mental health) need. If its just they cannot support his SEN then the solution isn't PT its a different placement / more support

All the guidance is clear that education should be FT and anything less should be either because thats all the child can manage (for a medical reason) or as a short term measure alongside a reintegration plan.

If the whole placement is inadequate then they should be doing an urgent review and arranging a transfer.

Also reports on Childrens Commissioner (Always Someone else's problem) and Local Govt Ombudsman (Out of school out of mind) websites about this issue of using PT timetables / illegal exclusions

You can also ask for social care to do an assessment to provide respite at home if your child is going to be at home when you reasonably could expect to be able to go out and work etc.

Thank you Agnes. Lots of interesting reading for me there. The underlying reason for his problems is SEN (AS) but because we are not managing to meet his needs there are both mental health and behavioural issues so he ticks a lot of boxes. I gave up my job in January because of school problems & the disabilities team at social services have refused to take the family on so not a chance of respite. The latter is probably justified as providing I am not forcing him to go to school/out of the house he is generally OK at home.