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Complaint Panel Hearing been set - does anyone have any advice please?

49 replies

Chocol8 · 20/06/2005 21:15

The complaint panel hearing has eventually been set for 27th June.

I'm trying to get IPSEA to support me, but I can't get through!!! If anyone has any hints or advice about this, please can you reply as I am very nervous about it. Thank you

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Davros · 28/06/2005 19:54

LOTS and LOTS of luck Choc xxx

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heartinthecountry · 28/06/2005 20:07

Good luck Chocol8 - you will be great!

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TheRealMrsF · 28/06/2005 21:15

oh1 Great strategie here....imagine the HEAD is naked.....that should a) make you laugh and b)make her suitably insignificant!!!

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Chocol8 · 28/06/2005 21:38

Thanks girls, yet again. I am still surrounded by paperwork, gathering it up, stapling it, making copious notes etc...so much so that I got so engrossed I actually forgot to collect ds from Beavers!!!

I dashed round there and found him sitting forlornly on the table with his head hung. He said he didn't think I was coming to get him - how crap did I feel? He had been on such a high as well, he won a competition to draw and think of powers for a superhero...he was awarded in assembly today and couldn't wait to tell me! He was apparently the only one to say "thank you very much" when he received his prize.

I will do well - and keep my cool - and speak with many silences to unnerve them including imagining them in the nuddy - all for my little man. Thanks for your good wishes. x

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JakB · 28/06/2005 22:46

Ah, bless him. Bless him. That makes me really tearful to think of him saying 'thank you very much' for his prize. That is so lovely. Oh. Anyway, all the best for tomorrow. You will be fantastic

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coppertop · 29/06/2005 11:05

Awwww! Bless him, Choc.

If it's any consolation ds1 says "I thought you weren't coming" when I know he's only just stepped out of the classroom.

I don't know what time it starts but if it's already started I hope it's going well. I hope you're not laughing too much at the image of a naked Head.

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MandM · 29/06/2005 11:22

Chocl8 - Thinking of you today. Hope it is going well and that you manage to get all your points across in the way you have so carefully planned. This is an awful situation to be in (looks like we are heading the same way with dd at the moment), but keep strong and just keep thinking of the extra special little man that you are doing it for.

Lots of love to you. x

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TheRealMrsF · 29/06/2005 16:51

c'mon chocy...i've checked here 3 times today for an update!!!

I'm worried sick that you are upset.

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Chocol8 · 29/06/2005 18:26

Thanks again for your kind thoughts - I imagined you all standing behind me (rather cramped however, as we were in a tiny office!).

MrsF - awww, shucks - thank you! I did get upset when we left, but only for a short while.

Well, just prior to the meeting, I was handed an envelope which turned out to be statements from the PP representative, the TA, and his class teacher. The teachers statement may as well have been written by the head as she used the same jargon, and the TA said that no one was bullied in her opinion.

The meeting itself was a bit of a farce as the head's union rep was there and he was being all up himself about the rules and how the itinery had recently changed, so no one really knew what should be following what. At one time, my sister suggested something and got halted as she "shouldn't be talking"! Idiot.

My other witness, ds's old TA, had been out the night before and had her drink spiked and hadn't got to bed til 6am, so was not on top form, bless her - rabbit and headlights came to mind.

When I asked the governors (one of whom was not a school governor, but an LEA governor - is that ok?) said they had little to no knowledge of Aspergers! I said that it was my understanding that the governors should have an understanding in their official capacity.

The head was a b as per usual, so nothing new there, and kept on repeatedly asking why I had not made a complaint about bullying prior to her coming into post, to which I replied that I could always just pop in to see the old head and she would deal with it there and then. It had taken me from September to February to get in the school to speak to her.

I also said that I would like it known for the record that in the statement she had written, there were 19 occasions where the information was incorrect (meaning she had lied through her teeth), and that her memory had obviously been somewhat confused. She DID NOT take notes at the previous meeting - but swears blind that she did, my sister and myself argued the point but she was right and we were wrong

She did keep harping on about ds's educational ability and saying how bright he was and surely he would have been unhappy if he was being bullied. I had to again re-iterate that his educational ability was not in question, his lack of social interaction was.

Overall, we were in there an hour and a half. When we went in to wait in reception, one of the secretaries said hello to ds's TA and said, "ooh, I think you left something when you went". She followed her into the office and came out laughing, but holding nothing. Later on, she told us the secretary had told her - I just wanted you to tell Mrs Chocol8 to get that b good". I did laugh!

I really don't know what the outcome will be, but when my sister went to the loo and we had a two minute break, I heard the LEA governor say in a whisper - we're on dangerous ground, which was refreshing for me, heh heh!

I think I may have left a blot on her copy book so to speak - I really hope so, but will let you know what the outcome is next week - at the meet-up if I get it on time

Ooh, by the way - excellent timing, I heard from IPSEA who called to tell me I have 6 months from ds leaving the school to make lodge a complain with the Disibility Discrimination Board.

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coppertop · 29/06/2005 18:40

PMSL at the secretary's comment!!!!

I'm glad you got through it okay, Choc - even if the Head tried to worm her way out of it. Fingers crossed that the governors get their act together and make a decision in your favour asap.

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maddiemo · 29/06/2005 18:46

Hopefully some good will come out of it. Glad the meeting went as ok as possible given the situation.

I think (but am happy to be corrected) that only one school governor needs to attend SN courses and have any SEN knowledge.

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jayzmummy · 29/06/2005 18:49

I was thinking about you all day....glad it went well. You certainly have them rattled....good on you and lets hope that another one bites the dust.

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MABS · 29/06/2005 19:20

well done to you , was thinking about this today

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heartinthecountry · 29/06/2005 20:14

Glad it went okay. Sounds like you stood your ground and said what needed to be said. Fingers crossed for the right outcome...

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Davros · 29/06/2005 21:55

Oh, been waiting to read what happened. Sounds quite positive, well done Choc, bet you are relieved!

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JakB · 30/06/2005 08:46

Sounds good, Chocol, well done!!!!!

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Chocol8 · 01/07/2005 18:00

OK, the meeting was on Wednesday and the govs said they may not be able to reply within 5 school days as they had a lot to consider and one of the govs was on annual leave.

Today, I receive a letter which reads:

Dear Choc
I refer to the Complaints Panel Hearing of 29/06/05 and acknowledge your concerns, namely

  • the handling of your original complaint by the Chair of govs
  • you and your son's treatment by the school
  • the issue of bullying

    The panel of govs wishes to apologise that the letter of 23/05/05 did not fully address the issues that you had raised.

    THe panel regrets that you felt the school was unapproachable and unprofessional in dealing with yourself and ds. The govs will look to review the communication channels in school with a view to seeking improvements in the communication procedures.

    In addition, govs will look at the Bullying Policy and its implementation, as a result of the issues that you have raised.

    May I take this opportunity to thank you for the evidence you have prepared and for your time.

    Whilst the panel expresses the hope that, aside from the actions aforementioned, this letter brings to a conclusion your complain, I must advise you have the right to appeal on the issue of process in this matter. If you wish to appeal, please notify XXXXXXXX, Performance Review Manager. You must set out the reasons for your appeal in writing and send them to XXX XXXXXX, within 10 working days of receipt of this letter.

    Yours sincerely

    YOUR THOUGHTS WOULD BE VERY WELCOME...
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Davros · 01/07/2005 18:24

Hmmm, well I suppose that's as far as they're going to go, whatever you do. How do you feel, I mean what's your first reaction?

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Chocol8 · 01/07/2005 18:54

Davros, really my first impression when I pulled out a single piece of 80gsm paper was that it was confirmation that they were considering my case. When I read it, I was incredulous that a single sheet of paper could cover the sheer size of my complaint.

The wording: "The panel regrets that you felt the school was unapproachable and unprofessional..." and "...govs will look at the Bullying Policy..." doesn't say an awful lot to me. It's not like they will actually do these things! I don't "feel" the school was unapproachable and unprofessional - THEY WERE (and still obviously are)! and a whole host of other things too!

I feel they have just acknowledged me because legally they have to, but not taken my concerns seriously. I had to remove my ds from their school and I feel that this point alone should be taken more seriously.

The head has lied through her teeth, and this perhaps is really my problem. I have been made out to be absolutely awful! She has not only done it once, but 19 times!

I do not have grounds to appeal, however I am going to write to the Performance Review Manager and address all the lies in the heads statement one by one. I am going to make my feelings clear about the way the hearing went - as it was a shambles - and will copy it to everyone involved with this pathetic mess. I feel like I almost have to clear my name now!

I want to request from the Clerk of Govs the minutes taken at the hearing, to see what was actually noted. It seems to me that they have just rattled off a bog standard letter and changed the wording slightly.

There are so many reasons I find this unacceptable, and they are buzzing round my head. At the moment, I don't feel I can just let it lie, I have to write in reply. My sister said that beside the lack of "floweriness" about it she doesn't think this is a bad letter.

What I do know is that other people have alot more worries and massively large problems to contend with, so am I making a mountain out of a molehill because I took a stand against my ds's treatment? Perhaps I am so angry that the head has got away with it, scot free and is laughing...I don't know.

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Davros · 01/07/2005 19:22

I think you should write another letter, as you've said, pointing out the lies etc. Then you'll feel like you've taken it as far as you can I suppose.

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coppertop · 01/07/2005 19:46

It would be interesting to find out when the governors actually met to discuss the matter - especially if one of them is still on annual leave. Was the letter sent by first-class post or second-class?

It sounds to me too like a standard letter that has just been added to/moved around. I think I would send the letter that you are planning to write. The complaint was a serious one and it seems to have been brushed under the carpet IMHO.

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JakB · 01/07/2005 21:57

Yeah, I think it reads like a ammended standard letter, too. Don't let them brush you under the carpet now, Chocol.

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Chocol8 · 01/07/2005 23:36

I have taken some positive action so feel a little brighter - I have emailed the clerk and requested a copy of the minutes from the meeting. Then I emailed a copy of the letter to Parent Partnership to see if they have any comments.

Grrrrrr!

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Chocol8 · 02/07/2005 09:48

Sorry Coppertop - the letter was sent first class. I presume they concocted the reply whilst the governor was present directly after the meeting, sent off that evening and arrived Friday morning.

Although I did say to them that I was not holding my breath for an apology, this short and curt reply is certainly not the response I expected.

I will write a letter in response to this and type out and correct each and every lie she wrote in her report.

Thank you for your thoughts.

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