There must be a way out of this mess but at the moment I can't see it.

[NoHaudinMaWheest]

Dd has had mobility problems for about a year now. She has been thoroughly investigated and no physical cause found. Largely because nothing physical can be identified rather than because there are any obvious factors it is considered a psychosomatic condition and she has at last be referred to a psychotherapist at CAMHS. Even if this does help it will be a long process.

She uses a self-propelled wheelchair and as her school has a support base for physically disabled students, the whole school is very accessible so she has managed independently.

Since last week the problems have spread to her hands and arms. She is unable to move her right arm at all and has limited use of her left hand. Her legs are also worse so she now cannot stand even on crutches and her bum shuffling which she uses to get around at home is much more difficult.

She requires help with washing dressing and eating and is unable to write. She also can't get into her bed and is sleeping on the sofa.

The biggest immediate problem is that she can't self-propel and so can't go to school as she can't get around. School say they have no staff to push her. LA says it is not their problem as she doesn't have a statement. IPSEA say it is very much their problem and that there are emergency provisions which allow support to be put in place while waiting for a statement.

Quite apart from not wanting to go through the whole statementing thing again, I am wondering how long emergency provision will take. She isn't ill and desperately wants to be back in school.

As I have health problems myself and a Ds with considerable support needs, I am wondering how much longer I can keep going with the amount of physical help I am giving her but don't know if any help with that will be forthcoming.

I have been contacting every professional she is or has been involved with and other agencies but they always say they will get back but never do. I am currently waiting for 10 different people to contact me. (OK a couple are for ds.)

Any experience or advice welcome as are honks and hand holding.

SEN CoP:

"7:14 For some very young children with complex needs the LEA should accept as evidence one over-arching report from the lead professional involved with the child. This approach might also be appropriate for an older child who through an accident or ill health suddenly acquires easily identifiable complex needs that require the LEA to assess and make
provision."

Could the paed be helpful here? Perhaps if they were made aware that your DD is desperate to go to school but is being prevented from doing so and the school's response is that she should use a powerchair or be pushed by peers (thus reinforcing her 'disability') they may be willing to write.

"Children have special educational needs if they have a learning difficulty
which calls for special educational provision to be made for them.
Children have a learning difficulty if they:
...
(b) have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of
educational facilities of a kind generally provided for children of the same
age in schools within the area of the local education authority"

"A person has a disability for the purposes of this Act if he has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on
his ability to carry out normal day-to day activities."
Section 1(1), Disability Discrimination Act 1995

Your DD has had limited mobility for a year. She is disabled, whatever the cause.

Get IPSEA onto this.

Yes, you're right Polter.

This is not going to go away tomorrow, next week, next month or probably even next year. How long is it acceptable for her to be out of education? How long is it acceptable to make do with stop-gap measures?

The poor girl -if she doesn't have a psychological condition causing it now, she'll have one by the time they find out what is causing it!!

NoHaudin, don't let them fob you off.

I have no intention of letting them fob me off.
I'll get back to IPSEA on Monday and probably MP too.
Not going down the media route as dd would hate it.

I know now that ds was inches away from being denied a real education and tbh it was only a series of coincidences that prevented that.

Dd's needs are actually straightforward compared with his.

I have much more idea what I am doing and am less afraid to do it.

Actually I am outraged by this.
What dd needs is not complex.
The school has an excellent reputation for SEN provision, and, up until now, I thought a deserved one.
Though it shouldn't matter in reality it does, dd is a model pupil with high academic achievement.

And she still can't get the provision she needs.

I would contact the LA and ask for the service that is responsible for school inclusion. LAs must moniter children missing education and have a duty to investigate anyone not able to attend school (and not being home educated).
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/268987/cme_guidance.pdf

What a difficult situation for everyone. I can see why you are at your wit's end.

How do you want your daughter to be transported around school? If a powered wheelchair is out of the question do you want a TA/teacher to push her in an unpowered one?

I think you would have to provide that yourself or ask the GP to get one for you.

I can't believe the LA's response - well obviously, sadly, I can believe it - but you know what I mean. Our LA was on our case the first day ds was off with anxiety saying he would be going straight onto the Missing From Education register and they would arrange home tuition if it wasn't resolved quickly - and they are pretty crap as LAs go.

Regardless of whether your dd's health issues are physical or psychological in origin, she fits the official definition of having a disability and it's the LA's responsibility to make education accessible for your dd. How they do it and what funds they use are nothing to do with you and you shouldn't be needing to even think about it.

I would definitely be onto your MP first thing Monday and send a copy of any correspondence you send the MP to the Head of Children's Services at your LA - for information. It was only when we started addressing our letters to the Head of CS that they finally pulled their fingers out and sorted out ds's statement.

Morgause - she has one, but can't push it herself, any more.

Problem is that because a lot of services have been privatised and transferred to Virgin Care, there doesn't seem to be a head of Children's services anymore.
Education is still County Council though.

Plan for Monday:
Contact EWO
Contact IPSEA there must be some provision for suddenly acquired /worsened disabilities.
Contact MP.

And as a side order progress SS complaint re ds's case to Stage 2.

Thanks Polter very useful.

NoHoudin: there will be a school nurse. May have a Virgin payslip, but probably close enough to her pension not to care. Same for 'Designated Doctor Safeguarding'. And physio, and head of wheelchair services.

Also there will be an educational welfare officer (email every day 'She's well enough for school, please can she come ', cc EWO & school nurse)

MP is ok, though perhaps not as useful as direct contact with the councillor who is the 'statutory lead member' for children & families. Example

Am I right in how I understand the NHS formulation and plan?:

Can't walk, but probably malingering or all in her head, so best ignored
Recent inability to use three limbs is probably all in her head too
No evidence of any diagnosable mental or physical illness, we did look
She can use a manual wheelchair, if it doesn't bother anyone but herself
Theres a long waiting list for counselling, she's on it

(Unsaid) Sibling special needs, mum over-anxious, what d'you expect

A response from PP is not a response from the council (LA could deny all knowledge) You need to follow this up and i would just write to chief exec, set out the situation factually (imagine tribunal reading it so no emotion just facts), your request (someone to push chair or failing that home tuition put in place immediately), how long your dd out of school already, set out pp response and then ask for written confirmation within three working days that the pp response is the councils official position (ie they don't propose to make any provision avail). You can say you require written reasons for the decision so you can take advice on your legal position. Then you could see if can get solicitor eg Irwin Mitchell to do a JR letter on legal aid. If no luck with Sols go to LGO. May be worth even speaking to someone like Irwin Mitchell first?

I think the local safeguarding paediatrician could be a useful ally. Of all the area's professionals they are going to be the most used to dealing with multiple agencies doing buck-passing, lack of logic, and everyone tiptoeing around without making clear, accountable plans.
You can ring them. Self-referral. Ask them to assess. Reasons:

If your dd has something physical, are you neglecting (involuntary) by not dealing with it.
If she is malingering/imagining, are you doing physical and emotional abuse (involuntary) by allowing her to become sofa bound
If she has a psychological illness, neglect (involuntary) by not dealing with it
If it's you somehow hypnotising or influencing her into malingering/imagining, all of the above
If it's a complex mixture, all of the above

You then flap their clear, concise, useful advice under everyone's noses

If you get nowhere on Monday, get legal advice. DD is entitled to full time education and reasonable adjustments for her disability, and would get legal aid in her own name to help her enforce that.

Hiya

Came back because I realised that what I wrote looked really accusing and rude. It wasn't meant to.

My intention was to help avoid this 'medically unexplained' thing being used as a synonym for harmful, hidden, presumptions (although hopefully your professionals are more upfront than that).

The danger assumptions to watch out for are:
'we don't know, so we can't help'
'we don't know, so nobody else will either'
'we don't know, so may as well assume it's all down to the mum'.

Maria you weren't sounding rude.
She actually has been investigated quite thoroughly. The things she can and can't do are quite strange so I understand why they think it is likely to be a psychological problem.
She has now got to the top of the psychotherapy waiting list.

No-one has suggested that she is malingering. However school and PP seem to think that 'psychological' gives them the right to say what would be best for dd in a way they never would about a 'physical illness'.

We have a GP appointment on Wed. If he decides not to rerefer dd I will ask him to explain his reasoning which I think will be helpful for dd as well as me.

Update this morning.

I phoned EWO. She said other students pushing her was an acceptable solution used in other schools. I said 'no way' and school wasn't keen either. She said she would phone SENCO. I then had a phone call from SENCO saying she could come into school, they would push her to the library and bring her work there. That isn't a good permanent solution but will at least get her back to school and not out of sight, out of mind. I will still be pushing for a permanent solution.

I phoned advisory teacher for physical difficulties. She is going to contact SENCO, LA, physio and is sure she can sort out a solution. Why did noone think to contact her before or even tell me of her existence? I only found her details by accident when looking for EWO number.

IPSEA suggests writing to school (HT and Chair of Governors) saying I consider them to be in breach of Equality Act if they don't provide support either from their own resources or by pressing LA for funds. That will be my next step if AT doesn't come up with the goods.

Phone call from LA confirming receipt of my application for SA.

That's fantastic, NoHaudin!