'Reasonable adjustments' in school for SN children?

[DancingHippo]

Posting here for traffic.

DS (age 14) is classed as having severe learning difficulties. Sec school have dealt with this woefully and I am currently fighting to get him an EHCP which is difficult as the school are not being clear on what support he is getting. This has been an ongoing saga for 2 years now.

The way the school is dealing with him on a behavioural level is really making me quite frustrated. We have been told that DS's cognitive function is much lower than an average child his age, so he is operating at about age 7/8. School are consistently giving detentions for very minor things like forgetting equipment (he has working memory issues too), being late for classes as he wanders around in between lessons, retaliating to being called 'retard' by calling names back, pressing the buzzer on the gate to be let out of school for too long because the receptionist was too busy to open it and being 'obstinate' when shouted at said receptionist, etc.

Today they have put him in isolation (again) for getting 4 detentions in the same days for incidents as above. They have tried doing this before and I complained and said I would not support him being put in isolation for minor infringements like these which are exacerbated by his LD's but they argue that they have to treat all children the same.

Who is right here?

Have they described this woman as the SENCO in the tribunal paperwork? If so, can you get a staff list saying who the actual SENCO is and produce that if they're still claiming at the hearing that she's SENCO?

That is bizarre about the not senco being called as a witness as senco! Definitely raise that in the hearing!

Have you ever emailed the real senco? If you have print off the emails and take them with you!

Wee need zzzzz with her diagram about equal opportunities.

found it!

With a helpful explanation for the hard of learning school

I love that picture ouryve and @ hard of learning school

Thanks again for all the support on this thread.

Update After my meeting last week with the LEA and the school, the LEA have just rung and said they now WILL conduct an EHCP assessment! I can withdraw my appeal which we were going to have wait until September for.

I am very pleased. Obviously nothing may come out of it but at least it's a start to DS's difficulties being taken seriously.

Not sure where this leaves me with moving DS to a new secondary in September as I imagine that the Assessment may not have been concluded by then.

Anyone know if I can still move him, or will I have to leave him where he is for the meantime?

You don't need to withdraw it yet. And, tbh, I'd be very reluctant to do so till the assessment was confirmed in writing, and actually begun cynical old mare here

They can always contact SENDIST and say they have conceded.

If he doesn't have an EHC plan yet, (assessments don't count as lots of assessed dc don't get a Plan) then he is under the same rules as any random dc who wants to move schools-

ie he can move schools as he & you want, but only if they've got a place, and no one else takes priority for it.

Don't withdraw the appeal, get it recorded in a consent order with dates when they'll begin the assessment and when they'll give you the decision as to whether they will issue an EHCP.