SENDS DD told not many teachers WILL like her!!

[messedupagainn]

Dd year 11 has just been identified as having severe leaning disability (despite a 8 year battle) anxiety and is on pathway for ASD.

She has major or sensory issues one of which include not been able to have ankles covered, this means trousers must be rolled up

After years of going back and forth with school over this I contacted my local SENDIASS for help who pointed me in the direction of the equality act 2010 that basics states school have duty to make reasonable adjustments to uniform due to sensory issues etc

Emailed school with this info and rather than responding to me the hunted my Dd down, told her they will compromise and Dd must have her trousers down when asked but when this head of house isn't about she doesn't care, she also said if Dd refused she would be in detention every break and lunch when Dd said she wouldn't go teacher told her how it would negatively impact her time at school as not many teachers would like her 😡 fuming as Dd has anxiety and really worry's about being judged and what others think of her.

Where do I go from here? Can school refuse this adjustment

No, they can’t. If you have diagnosis in writing then they are specifically discrimating. You need the evidence to hand before taking them to task though

Hi op,

Not being rude but how has she got to Y11 in (presumably mainstream school) with a severe learning disability and no support?

Whoever diagnosed her will surely have given some specific recommendations?

In terms of reasonable adjustments mainstream schools can be reluctant to allow them (in my experience) for things like uniform but that doesn't mean they are right.

Noeuf she got to year 11 because no one would listen to me, taken 8 years and the only reason they got ed phyc in in June was due to school refusal and me totally losing the plot... she has been failed massively by every school she ever went to.

Again no diagnosis as only just started with asd assessment so we're looking at 2 years

Hi op, I wonder if it's the terminology then that confused me. I'm sorry you're having a hard time.

Try the local send IASS or Www.ipsea.org.uk for some information?

Sorry you’re going through this, it’s all to a familiar story, my niece was only recently diagnosed at 15. It took a year of going back and forth, constant emails over things happening that were triggering anxiety. Mom kept a log of issues and kept a written trail via email or letters to school (getting receipts each time). You may have already done this but try to arrange a meeting with the SENCo and take a log of issues with dates and times. Explain how these are all anxiety inducing and how it’s affecting your child’s ability to learn and well being. Insist on whole school announcement as all staff should be aware of your child’s anxiety and triggers (allowances for uniform). If they plan to go to post 16 think about applying for EHCP based on transition and the support that will be needed for that. IPSEA, SOSSEN, NAS, Special Needs Jungle and Child Law all give really useful information to help you support your case. Apologies if I’ve repeated anything you have already seen/ heard/ done. Have the school sorted out Access Arrangements for exams? You don’t need a diagnosis for reasonable adjustments or to even apply for ECHP (you need to show your child may have a SEN, if he has a severe learning disability and is on a pathway for ASD that should be enough). Good Luck!