Am I right to be getting worked up about this?

[5inthebed]

DS2, 4 ASD/dispraxia, is in reception at MS school, and has a statement that says he needs full 1:1 there. His LSA has ben off sick since Tuesday and DS2 has had pretty much no 1:1 except off the class teacher and a TA for an hour or so during the day. His teacher says he has had a few wobblers for the past few days, and when I went to collect him yesterday, I was lucky enough to see him letting himself out of the building via the automatic door by his class. This was at the end of the day when the school gates were open and the yard full of parents. Turned out to be the teacher who was watching his class left the room to get someone a drink. Nobody else was in the class at the time. Very little supervision during dinner time as well, which has resulted in him not eating most of his packed lunch.

Now, I might be wrong, but if his LSA is not available, should they be replacing her with someone else while she is off?

I asked his teacher what was happening with 1:1, and he made me feel like I was asking too much of the school.

I'm so close to taking him out of MS school and putting him back into SN school . It jsut makes me feel more and more that I've done the wrong thing putting him in MS school.

It is his review next week, and I want to prepare myself for what to say, and also make sure I'm not expecting too much.

Hi

Your DS needs a LSA 1:1 full-time, because that's what his Statement says he requires in order to access an education - obviously without that support he cannot access education to the extent that his peers without his difficulties can do. That's discrimmination.

While it may be reasonable for this situation to occur for a short period from time to time due to unforseen absence, what you described is not acceptable. The LEA is failing to deliver the statutory support he is legally entitled to - a leter to the Head of SEN Dept at your LEA reminding them of that duty will probably do the trick.

best wishes

Hi
When my son was at mainstream if his LSA was off someone else covered. Also if he has full time LSA support covering lunchtimes and playtimes thats what he should have. It may come from more than 1 LSA. either 1 morning 1 afternoon. Or someone different covers breaks.IMO

Thanks for the responces.

His LSA is full time. She is really ovely, works well with him and ds2 loves her.

I did think that they should have covered her abcense, so shall be raising this at his review next week.

Yes he should have had cover.

Be careful though. When ds1 was in mainstream if cover wasn't available I had to keep him home

Do you have the choice to put him back in special school or will the place have gone now?

I offered to take him home, as wasn't happy about him not being supervised, but the teacher said it would be ok.

He still has a place at the ASD school if needed, but DH wants him to stay in MS. I just don't know what to do for the best really.

I'm thinking of the other kids in MS as well, if the teachers attention is on DS, then they won't be getting that much learning done. Makes me feel awful.

The school has a responsibility to safeguard ALL children SN or NOT.

At the very least if your sons TA is off they should re evaluate things, risk, his safety etc.

So maybe if no direct supervision they should lock the doors?
Could the teacher take him with her when she leaves the room, if no other adult present?
It may be the school just needs a reminder to consider the impact when no TA available, if everything else is working well I would use the review as an opportunity to remind them of his needs.

Sickness cannot always be covered at short notice, it may not be that they can provide 1to1 to ensure his Education is not effected in the short term.
But they MUST be able to keep him safe.

If they were short staffed, they should have said. Next time she is off I really think I'll keep him off with me, as I can't relax.

Thanks for the advice. Will be putting my point across next week.