Just a very quick question re: stimming

[Chocol8]

Sorry for my ignorance, but could I just ask - does stimming only apply to a physical movement or do noises count as stimming too?

My ds has more recently been making alot of noises either in between speaking and also eating (also cleaning teeth). I used to do this when I was younger and it used to drive my Mum bonkers.

Aww thanks Figleaf - my ds did his first half "tester" day this afternoon and he loved it. He even won a prize for numeracy...he would never have done that in his "old" school, they only ever saw a "naughty" child, not a child with SN. He is back there for the morning session (after assembly - as the very high ceiling in the hall freaked him out a bit) on Monday, but he did have a lovely afternoon.

I saw the deputy and the head when I went to collect him from his old school but I just couldn't look them in the eye.

I did copy the letter to the LEA as Davros suggested - and will be copying the detailed letter about her after Easter when he is all settled in his new school. Will post it here before sending it off as I know I will be taking great advice.

Can`t wait - S**t, fans etc

Well, she's only got herself to blame - she made the s**t and I am mearly helping it into the fan (chortle). Will have to start the letter very soon although I have notes and what I posted on here as reminders. I don't want to forget anything.

I thought figleaf was talking about Arsenal.... shit fans Couldn't work it out!

Heh heh heh Davros!!!!

Wouldn`t I have had to add "balls" to the s**t fans posting to be truly tralking about Arsenal

I'll try this but not sure it will work...just looked in the archives for this thread.

I have nearly finished the bones of the "stinking" letter to the LEA and the Chair of Govs, however, the question is: what exactly do I want to get out of this? Should I ask for an apology? What should be done do you think? My ds starts his new school on Tuesday (she says, breathing a sigh of relief) but I cannot just drop this matter, I have to bring it to the attention of the school governors or someone who can pull her and the SENCo up on it.

The letter runs to 5 pages so far, but I think the conclusion will run on to 1 more page.

Any advice - MrsF, Jayzmummy? gratefully accepted, thank you. x

Only 5 pages choc???? Mine was 10 pages long....10 pages of detailed facts explaining how the school failed to accomodate a child with a disability, how they failed to acknowledge or even recognise his strengths, how he was victimised by both staff and pupils etc etc.....if you have a spare hour I dont mind sending you a copy!!!!!!

I started my letter to the B of Gov's by explaining the reason why my son would no longer be returning to school was as a direct result of the schools inability to meet the needs of a child with ASD and I hoped that my letter would be instrumental in the B of Gov's ensuring that all children with SEN were given access to a differentiated curriculum which would enable the children to reach their full potential within a mainstream environment!!!!!! I can dream cant I????
I then offered typical examples of how the head from hell had directly been responsible for failing to ensure J's needs were met and his inability to implement the directions given in J's statement.

CC the letter to Director of Education, MP, LEA officer, Paediatrician.....infact anyone and everyone who has been involved with your ds.
The sent copies to the head from hell and the she devil SENCO the day after I had sent them to the B of Gov's etc. I use a 2nd class satmp so it took just that bit longer.....just gave me satisfaction knowing that everyone else had a copy and they didnt!!!!!

Have been thinking of you....good luck....and good luck for ds in his new school.

Thanks for your reply Jayzmummy - wow, 10 pages! Nice one!

It has just been suggested that I ring Community Service Direct who helped me some weeks ago to actually write the letter on their letterheaded paper - it may carry some more weight that way. They can use what I have written which is the bones of the letter and build on that. I have left a message for them to call me back tomorrow evening.

If it is a possibility to actually email me the letter you wrote, I would be extremely grateful. I think I have written a good letter but it is difficult to layout in terms of making sense and dates etc. So I have started with an intro about dx and then launched into the facts from Sept when his help was discontinued under the new head. I have reiterated the more important points in the conclusion.

I have been told by PP that the chances are I will receive a letter from the Govs that sticks up for the head - which I will be very angry at. I am not sure that PP really understand why I feel the need to write a letter, but if nothing else, it's closure and the knowledge that I have at least tried to warn other people about this woman/school.

My ds starts his new school tomorrow which is great, as I am sure he will flourish there, but why do I still feel so angry? Because of the head, I now have to take ds to school and back everyday, meaning a 6 hour working day straight through with no lunch, 5 days a week. It means I have to work at a job I dislike because it is near to the new school and the chances of finding another one to accomodate the hours is hard to find..if I am ill, I still have to drive 12 miles to drop/collect him daily (the traffic is just stupid where I live), whereas the old school is conveniently 5 minutes away from home. It's just nonsense and I get the feeling I will just be sent a pathetic letter in return for putting up with all their crap for months. Meanwhile, the head goes round thinking she's won and that she's dispatched another SEN child from her school. Call it revenge, but I cannot rest until I have had my say at the dispicable way we have been treated.

Did you ask for anything Jayzmummy? My letter is about the way we have been treated and that it is unacceptable but there must be something they should do to put matters "right" (for want of a better word).

I think the governors have to reply to you by law within 2 weeks. I imagine you will get a bland reply at first but if you ask to initiate the complaints procedure a formal inquirey must follow. You will be asked to give evidence(written or oral)to the enquiry and the results will be made known to you. I feel that any goverening body "stuck" with a woman like this may try to support her, but you never know. Even if she squeeks out of this inquirey, you will have made things difficult for her (possibly for weeks). The other reason to do this is to begin to build up "blots" on her record. Most parents just leave a school and never initiate formal complaints procudure, you have more guts and determination than that - go for it!

I would be less concerned with the School Governors, although of course they need to be included, and looking more at targeting the LEA, maybe copy someone at the NAS? LEAs are terrified of words like discrimination, inequality, disability rights etc.

I was going to write to the LEA and copy the Chair of Gov's as I wanted to follow the complaint proceedure correctly, however I found out that even if I send the letter to the Head of LEA, he will pass it onto the school - to the Head directly and tell her to deal with it. Of course, this is not what I want. I do not want to set foot inside that school again! I dunno about guts Figleaf - more like pig-headed determination!

You are right about the words re the LEA Davros, I am gonna make sure I use every one of them to show her for what she is.

On the bright side, ds went to his new school today and absolutely LOVED it! He has made loads of new friends and his teacher said you couldn't even tell he was the new child in the class! Phew!!!

Once you have been through the complaints procedure and got the bland rebuttal from the governors (or not hopefully) you can then escalate the procedure up to the LEA. At that point they can`t pass it back to the school because you will have been through that aspect of the procedure.

You can call it guts or pig headed determination but I think you have a case here that deserves to be heard and resolved.

I have near as damn it completed my letter and need to get it sent off. I have read it to friends and relatives (and my xh's girlfriend's sister who is a SENCO).

They all think it's a good letter, however I would value the expert opinion of MN.

The thing is, the letter is VERY long so it may blow up our pc's if I post it here.

Would it be possible to email it to a few of you to read and make comments on please?

Choc....you have my email....more than happy to have a look.
JMxx

Jayzmummy - I have just emailed you (in anticipation!!!), thank you. x

I hadnt read this thread for a little while or id have offered to proof read too, I still will if you need a second opinion (I`m an ex teacher and current LEA governor).

If Jayzmummy has completed the job for you, have you sent it?

Iread it and it was fine...?think Choc has sent it off now??? Not sure so dont quote me!

Thanks. Hope it does the trick.

Just seen this thread again - Figleaf, thank you for the offer. Actually all six letters went tonight (couldn't believe the weight of them!). I sent the one to Chair of Governors by Recorded delivery and the rest with Proof of Postage.

I feel slightly relieved that they have eventually gone now, but I guess they may arrive tomorrow but the reply will be delayed because of the Bank holiday. The letter has taken weeks to write because I just couldn't seem to get my head around the whole thing. But reading the letter back, I am happy that it is quite good and says what I want it to - I nicked a couple of bits from Jayzmummy's excellent letter.

Thanks for the offer Figgy and also thanks again for proof reading Jayzmummy (incidents...I will get it right!).

Remember they get 2 weeks to reply so dont torture yourself waiting for the post each day. Sit back knowing its someone elses turn to stew. When the reply comes, calmly decide your next move (but be sure to tell us about it!).

Thanks Figgy - yes, apparently they have 7 school days to confirm receipt of my letter then have to reply in full in 20 days.

I took a copy in for the Autistic group my son attended this morning and showed interested friends. Alot of them were astounded that I had bothered to put pen to paper as they reckon that although it was a good letter, to complain about our treatment is like "p***g in the wind. I can see there point, but I felt compelled not to just let it go.

I don't expect a good reply from the school, but am fully prepared to take it further if necessary.
I will of course, keep in you informed!!!!

Any news?

Aww, Figgy - thanks for remembering! I had a letter from the head on Saturday morning saying that the Chair of Gov's had received my letter of complaint and would contact me within the next "two weeks with a substantive response".

They do actually have 20 school days to reply, but just the fact that I received the reply from the head, makes me think that they may already be under the thumb. Why not pp it from the Chair of Gov's?

What do you think?

You may be right, but you did sort of expected a cover-up didn`t you. No reason not to persue this further I feel ie through the LEA.