School refusal

[Unintentionallycausingoffence]

DS attends a SS and had missed several days because of recurring bugs and anxiety about change of routine at home. At school DS is doing very well, very settled and happy. The Head teacher has called a meeting with me tommorow, I’m concerned the outcome will be drastic. Until now DS attendance has been almost 100%

Are the changes of routine at home now settled or is it an ongoing situation? How many days of EBSA are you talking about? What support is included in the EHCP at the moment? Is an early review of the EHCP necessary?

You’re concerned the outcome of the meeting will be drastic? It won’t be.

The changes in routine are a little more settled as in the last few weeks we’ve gone from Christmas holiday to school. I think the transition from holiday to school has been difficult. DS has missed 15 or 16 days out of 23 so far.

You definitely need to request an early review. On their website IPSEA has a model letter you can use.

In the meantime, if DS cannot attend school full-time the LA must ensure anything detailed, specified and quantified in F is provided and, if compulsory school age, a suitable full-time education.

What was different about the transition from holiday to term time at Christmas compared to other school holidays?

DS gets very excited about the Christmas lights and unwrapping presents, maybe over excited. The previous Christmas he wouldn’t leave the house for days over the holiday, then he wouldn’t visit anyone’s home. So last Christmas we didn’t plan anything we just took each day as it came. Other holidays we have a plan and we prepare DS each day.

Had meeting with Head Teacher. Who says DS has no problems in school. She feels it’s a transition problem from
home to school. They can get staff members to meet him once he’s at school but we have been given Now and Next cards and she said keep using those, be firm as he needs to go to school.

The HT sounds like she is lacking in understanding about EBSA.