AuDHD child on reduced timetable

[RisetteMcG]

Hello all, I'm looking for a little advice.

My son is diagnosed with ADHD and Autism, he's 4 years old but is exceptionally bright. I have insited on an EHCP and they have ONLY just started the application.

The school has had him on a reduced timetable since October 2024, he only did 1 month of full hours after he first started school.

The school have said my son is disruptive, violent, swears and inconsolable. We don't see any of this behaviour at home other than he doesn't like when people stare at him, it causes him to become quite upset but NEVER violent. I DO understand children can mask.

When we go on days out he's very overly cuddly and loving toward other children and people. He plays really lovely with children we meet out and is always trying to comfort them.

School have him for 1 hour a day and have done since March as they felt he was not coping at school.

I was told that I would have to give up my job by the headmaster "as parents we have to make sacrifices". This has MASSIVELY impacted my MH as I'm now a SAHM when I never wanted to be, I had a great career and the extra money helped my husband who is FT military.

School accidentally sent an email to me which was for SENCO saying that my son was close to permanent exclusion following an incident in March (before 1 hrs timetable was put in place). I have not had another meeting with the headmaster to even extend his hours even though I have insisted and reiterated that I would like my son to recieve some type of education like every other child. He does 121 with a teacher he really likes for his hour and she has NEVER complained when I pick him up of any bad behaviour.

I understand the point of wanting everyone safe and them thinking he is not coping but I'm starting to really crumble that my son is an outcast, he keeps asking me "why can't I be like everyone else and learn and do full days?". I really feel at the end of my rope (literally) and I'm holding on for my DH and son. He isn't invited on any trips or sports days etc and the one time he was, my husband was expected to have time off of work to drive him to the destination and stay with him.

Any advice would be massively appreciated or even just some comfort. I have no idea if I'm just being unreasonable or expecting too much from the school, I just want my son to have something for himself, a chance like anyone else does.

Goodness! Poor you, it sounds a very tricky situation!

The part -timetable is illegal if you don't
agree to it. You can say you want him in full time. However, by doing this you are risking permanent exclusion if the school cannot keep other students/ teachers/ your son safe due to his behaviour.

It sounds like the one-to-one with a teacher for an hour is going great. How is his learning? Is he where he is expected to be? It sounds as if they are managing his learning, just not able to manage his behaviour?

You mention no problems with his behaviour? But for a highly intelligent child to get a ADHD and autism diagnosis at 4 you and your supporting clinicians must have had some concerns? Most places won’t even diagnose ADHD at 4.

How has the communication from the school been? I wonder it that is some of the problem, that their communication about what is going on is very poor - to get to the point of exclusion in Reception is uncommon with you not really knowing what is going on. What are they saying in their meetings? Are you having regular meetings? Can’t believe they have only just started the EHCP process now, but have had him on a reduced time table since October, that’s dreadful!!

It looks as if you have a couple of different options.

First -work with the school towards a fuller timetable slowly. It sounds as if he is completely separated from his class right now? Maybe if he behaves better outside he could have break time outside with the rest of his school before his one-to-one? And then try to build it up an hour at a time? Or if he is better with everyone sitting down, then circle time?

You could just say he is going back full-time as what they are doing is illegal but I think this could lead to more problems rather than solving them.

Alternatively look around for a special school/ unit within a school that would suit his needs. You will need the EHCP but it sounds as if the school should have lots of evidence of need! It doesn’t need to be forever but the school seem to be saying that main-stream is not the right place for him right now.

Hope something in this essay is helpful!

The school is unlawfully, informally suspending DS. You don’t have to allow it to continue. At the moment there is no incentive for the school to increase DS’s time. You can inform the HT DS will be attending full time (or part-time but more than he is attending if you prefer) unless he is formally suspended. Don’t worry if DS is formally suspended. A formal exclusion instead of an unlawful, informal exclusion will a) provide evidence of unmet needs to to help you pursue an EHCP, b) force the school to follow due process, c) limit the number of days the school can suspend for, d) allow you to challenge any suspension, and e) once DS is compulsory school age, ensure he receives alternative education for longer suspensions.

Until DS is compulsory school age, you can choose to send DS part-time if you want to, but it is your choice, not the school’s decision.

2.17 of the School Admissions Code (which you can see here) makes it clear it is the parents’ choice:
“Admission authorities must provide for the admission of all children in the September following their fourth birthday. The authority must make it clear in their arrangements that where they have offered a child a place at a school:
a) that child is entitled to a full-time place in the September following their fourth birthday;
b) the child’s parents can defer the date their child is admitted to the school until later in the school year but not beyond the point at which they reach compulsory school age and not beyond the beginning of the final term of the school year for which it was made; and
c) where the parents wish, children may attend part-time until later in the school year but not beyond the point at which they reach compulsory school age.”

You may also find the statutory school suspension and exclusion guidance helpful here. Most of it applies to those below compulsory school aged. Where it doesn’t, it explicitly says so as stated on page 6.
Some bits you particularly might find helpful are:
“19. Suspending a pupil for a short period of time, such as half a day, is permissible but the formal suspension process must still be followed. Each disciplinary suspension and permanent exclusion must be confirmed to the parents in writing with notice of the reasons for the suspension or permanent exclusion.”

Also of interest may be:

“20. Any exclusion of a pupil, even for short periods, must be formally recorded. It would also be unlawful to exclude a pupil simply because they have SEN or a disability that the school feels it is unable to meet…An informal or unofficial exclusion, such as sending a pupil home ‘to cool off’, is unlawful when it does not follow the formal school exclusion process and regardless of whether it occurs with the agreement of parents.”

And

“30. A part-time timetable should not be used to manage a pupil’s behaviour”

Home is a very different environment. It and you probably meet DS’s needs more Han a school environment does. Often DC display challenging behaviour at home rather than school, but it isn’t rare for it to be the other way round.

Has a request for an EHCNA actually been submitted to the LA yet? If not, you can do it yourself. On their website, IPSEA has a model letter you can use.