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COVID & SEN - To Send to School or Not....

3 replies

Blossom4538 · 09/01/2021 20:33

Hi all,

Sorry if long!
I’m really in two minds as to whether to send my Daughter to school, next week. She is in a small nurture group, in primary. ASD and EHCP, so has been offered a place.

I am really concerned about the local rates of Covid. I am concerned at her catching it, or H and myself catching it, for many reasons - carer to an elderly relative, caring for Dd, Dd can’t cope when we’re ill - coughing or sniffling as an enormous trigger for her.
We are all healthy as far as we know - DD had inhaler for a while a good few years ago now for allergies/asthma symptoms. My chest does seem to be my weak point, if I get run down etc.

However, if we choose to keep DD home and try remote learning:-

1:- DD is very reclusive recently - stays in room, won’t engage in much and will very rarely go out. She is extremely anxious around other people, due to the risk of one or two of her biggest triggers. Keeping her at home could potentially exacerbate things.

2- She has always found it a challenge to attend school and last term was particularly bad, with 52% attendance, despite plenty of support from school, awful mornings prior to school and then a really traumatic hour outside school, trying to get her in.
Could even further time away from school make it even harder for her to eventually return and attend?

3-It will be unlikely she will do much of the Home Learning, if any!

Prior to Christmas, things were coming to a head. We felt like withdrawing her from school or just keeping her at home for a while. In process of requesting Specialist provision to be added to her EHCP, particularly for secondary, or even before (she’s Yr5).

What would you do?! 😬

OP posts:
Ellie56 · 10/01/2021 16:07

Apart from the Covid issue, it doesn't sound as though the current placement is working anyway. " A really traumatic hour outside school, trying to get her in," indicates, however well intentioned, that the school is not meeting her needs.

Ask for a reassessment of needs with a view to changing placement.
www.ipsea.org.uk/asking-for-a-re-assessment-of-a-child-or-young-persons-needs

And if your daughter cannot attend school due to high anxiety, the LA still have a legal duty to secure the provision in the EHCP so whatever you do, don't elect to home educate.

Is CAMHS involved?

Blossom4538 · 10/01/2021 17:34

Thanks so much for replying.

She now really wants to go! 🤦🏻‍♀️

We are in close contact with the LA reassessing needs and support currently, stating specialist provision (awaiting to go to panel) and if not approved, in the meantime they have mentioned a tutor or other options. She will need specialist for secondary though.

Yep, we are under CAMHS and have regular phone conversations and a meeting with Dr there, to meet our DD scheduled (was in person, now video...which DD can’t cope with). We have tried for meds for anxiety or to help with sleep, to no avail.

OP posts:
DanielleCrofts · 02/02/2021 14:21

This is interesting, I've been debating this issue too. My son's school is saying that they won't be able to cater for him if he goes back, that he won't have a 1:1 despite him being funded for one through his EHCP, and that he will be in a mixed bubble with kids and adults that he doesn't know. What is your school offering in terms of bubbles and support?

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