help needed re changing schools

[stillwearingaredribbon]

I want to move my DD's school as IMO she is being failed at her present school
I have a long list of where I believe she is being failed, I have also been lied to by school
At the present time she is sat alone in a corner in class and is desperately unhappy. I have tried to talk to class teacher about this and have been shouted at. She was very unprofessional
HT told me I need to trust them and let them get on with it or move her

She is so unhappy I don't think I have an option in moving her. I have asked for an interim statement review
I have found a suitable school who are willing to take her. HT wants me to move her using the 'parental choice' option and is pushing me to fill in the application and have her moved straight after the easter holiday
The new school are less keen because the HT (and he is quite correct in this) does not want a hurried transitions and needs time to appoint a TA for her
If I go down the parental choice route she will not be eligible for funded transport
I feel quite ill at taking on the school, the HT and senco are very forceful but I don't feel I have an option
If her needs were being met I would not consider moving her
I would be grateful for any advice on how to manage this

Wow. First well done for taking the plunge. The school sounds awful.

I don't if dc has a statement does that mean you are entitled to transport anyway?

I'll have a look ad see what I can find.

I think you want to give the relationship with your new school the best chance.

What do you think about keeping dc at home? I know the law says that she is entitled to a full time education that meets her needs, but if the new school is the quickest way of getting her needs met, then is that worth considering? Just an idea.

Right, off to research transport

OK This from the IPSEA website

Does the child have SEN, a disability or mobility problems which affects their ability to walk to school?
If Yes, and the LA has not offered a place at a nearer qualifying school, then the LA must make suitable travel arrangements free of charge if the child’s SEN, disability or mobility problem means they cannot reasonably be expected to walk to school.

Note, if the child has a statement or a EHC Plan then it does not matter if there is a nearer suitable school that could be named in the statement/plan so long as naming it is not inefficient to the local authority’s resources. If the local authority has written a sentence into the placement part of the statement/plan to relieve themselves of the duty to provide transport on the basis that there is a nearer school on the condition of naming your preferred school you will need to consider appealing to the tribunal to get this sentence removed so your preferred school is named unconditionally for the purpose of receiving transport.

Which school is nearest?

The school she is at now is the nearest
Her disability is not physical so no mobility issues although there are safety issues when out

You are not automatically entitled to transport just because she has a statement. It varies for each LA but generally they will provide transport to the nearest school that can meet a child's needs if that school is over the usual distance criteria (2 miles i think for primary). If the parent chooses a school which is further away then the LA may refuse to fund transport.

If you feel that you need to move her then go for it but it does need to be done carefully just like the new HT has said. Don't be forced to go down the parental choice route, if the school is failing to meet her needs then they need to be held to account. If the LA agree that the current school is not meeting needs then you have more of a case for transport as well.

I would ring your statementing officer and ask their advice!

I agree that it sounds like you are right to move her.

Good luck

Well I have a feeling that it is a choice of your money or your blood pressure.

I don't want to make light of it, but if you feel quite ill taking on the school, then, much as we can all will you on and point you to other sources of support, your health is important for you and dc.

If the transport cost is serious, then it is all hands to the deck trying to get LA/Tribunal to accept transfer.

I have ideas....

I do want to do this because I am unhappy that HT is trying to push me into the parent choice option IMO to cover up the failings of the school
I will get someone to support me in the review meeting
I know the school will deny much of what I say so what happens then?

We were lied to by my daughter's primary school about how they were meeting her needs when they weren't. On paper, this resourced primary school should have met her needs but due to poor management and an inflexible system of time tabling it failed most of the kids there with additional needs. The HT would have said anything to cover her own back.

We obtained indepedent reports from a Salt and EP to show this. We sent the EP into school and know the school were very nervous. The upshot was we got the new reports included into her statement and moved her towards the middle of year 6 to the school she still attends (goes from about 7 to 19). It did take us a long time and was costly.

How to get confessions at the meeting with HT and CT?

Well the first thing I suggest is to be ever so nice. It will be painful, I know, but people are always much more forthcoming when you are nice to them and flatter them a bit.

I am outraged at what is happening to dc, and have no doubt that it is the school's attitude that is at fault, but you need evidence, and being nice may be easiest way to get it.

If you want to give them enough rope to hang themselves with, then maybe going to the meetings with the line that you have heard that dcs can be phased if things are done differently at home and at school.
Then you might be able to say that as you know that they are the professionals and that they have the training, (flattery) and you are just a mum, you really want to hear exactly what techniques they are using, in case the distress that you are seeing in dc at home is because you are doing things differently at home. You could also feed them some guff about not wanting to rush into moving in case it makes no difference.

With luck, by now they will be thinking that at last you have seen the light that it is not the schools fault, it is all down to mum getting things wrong at home. In this mindset they may give up everything that they want you to hear. And be happy to amplify to answer your questions. Fingers crossed that is what happens.

Let them wax lyrical, and take copious notes. Write up a note of the meeting afterwards and send it to them.

You don't need to be drawn on whether you think they have been doing the right things, just say that you want to think about it and you will get back to them.

If what they say differs enormously from what dc is telling you, would you be able to check with others in dc's class - maybe via their parents?

If what they say fits with reality and is clearly the reason why ds is miserable, then bingo, you have the evidence. They will have had a note of the meeting and had a chance to comment if you have put anything down that is wrong.

Apologies if I have just done a huge post for something that is wide of the mark...