Requesting to look at your childs school file

[claw3]

I will going into school to look at ds's school file this week with the aim of helping with my SA tribunal.

I get the feeling the school dont know what they are doing when it comes to SN. I have never looked at a school file before and im not sure what should be kept there. (ds has been on action plus since starting school in Jan 09)

What SHOULD be on ds file?

What kind of things SHOULD i expect to see?

Sorry I have no idea but I too am interested to know so bump

Claw

I expect they invited you in?

They do that.

What you really need is a full copy of the school file - which you are entitled to subject to paying a charge for each photocopied sheet up to a max of £40? I seem to remember.

Looking at the file is dangerous - anything you show an interest in could disppear.

Asking for a full set of copies is a better idea

OOps - I didn't answer the question.

What should be inthe file are any documents that soecifically relate toyour child e.g. teachers reports, IEPs, transfers in/out from other schools, correspodence from / to you, copies of any Incident Reports, ed Pysch reports - basically everything.

If you don't find any SEN related documents it may be because the SENCO holds them in a separate file - however as you've asked to see your child's school file they are suposed to make those documents held seperately that relate to your child, available to you as well

Thanks Yanny.

Wetaugust, they did not invite me. I wrote to the SEN Governor requesting a copy and also the usual questions ie what the SEN budget is, how many children on action plus and with statements etc, etc.

The SEN Governor phoned me today, he has spoken to the school and i can go in and take copies of what i want. He will also be finding out the answers to my question tomorrow and getting back to me.

I will email him, requesting that he ask for a full copy including those held by SENCO as i know they are kept separately. They are sitting up and taking notice of his requests.

Thanks

I have had a copy of DS's file. He'd already been through stat assessment by then.

It contained:

End of year reports
Attendance record for previous year (not full history from previous years)
Some letters from paeds (which were sent directly to the school and never copied to me)
IEPs, some of which I'd never seen
Referral to behaviour support
Some data from behaviour support written in some code I couldn't make sense of
A couple of incident reports - not nearly as many as there should have been
Letters of official exclusions
Some forms asking DS for 'his views'

Things I know were missing included:

Letters from me to the school
Correspondence between school and CAMHS - I know they'd liaised but there was no written evidence of this
A private EP report I'd given to the teacher several years ago
Any information about days when I'd been called to collect DS early, i.e. unofficial exclusion
Internal emails and daily reports on behaviour

I agree that you should be asking for written copies. They are only allowed to charge a max £50 for photocopying. It's far easier to make the decision about what is important when you are sitting at home and have time to look over the papers properly.

Thanks Sugar, thats very helpful.

Yes sitting at home, rather than someone looking over your shoulder, huffing and puffing no doubt, would be far better.

School had input from TAMHS (which is a sub of CAMHS) before ds was transferred to CAMHS, will be interesting to see the notes on that (if any)

Thanks again

I asked to see sons records last year - had asked at previous school where deputy head had informed me that there was nothing in the file which I hadn't already seen (backed up by another member of SMT) only to find:

Details of teachers concerns (current school) which SENCO withheld at a meeting 3 months previously (still no answer to question regarding who sanctioned that). Same from previous school.

Reports from CAMH (OT,SLT and community paed, YR3)suggesting that child unsupported by one school (Yr1-2) may not make progress requires NHS diagnosis (we had private) and may need statementing - our reports didn't mention this. School filed and ignored.

IEP's yr 3-6 targets not met/partially completed - had tried to address with school at time without success.

Child seen on a number of times by external agencies, parents not informed of this nor given reports. Parents should be informed of this as a matter of course and receive feedback.

Number of school generated SL tests which confirm Ed Psych diagnosis but again school failed to inform parents.

There were no school reports and very little in the way of curricular information.
I asked current head for past info re attainment/progression, only to be informed that this is the teachers private info. Lie.

I have just checked my emails and Governor has replied stating 'he has spoken to the school and they are unable to provide a copy of ds's file, as they dont have the staff to spare to carry out the task. I will have to go into school'!!

Perhaps i should just go into school and sit there and a request a copy of everything, one by one

I'll get my gloves, shall i, ding ding, round 101!

Claw - If you write a letter to the head requesting a copy of the file they have to get it to you within 15 school days.

I am on day 10 and counting, waiting for the bell for round 299!! I will be amazed if they actually get DD3s to us! Cant wait to see what lies have been written.

I wrote to the Board of Governor requesting that they provide it within 15 days. He must have thought i was asking, not telling

I will have to starting quoting my rights at him. I quote from one thing or another all day long, i wont be able to have a conversation soon without quoting something

Claw, if you have made the request in writing (including email) they have a legal duty to supply the information to you within 15 school days. They can't use lack of staff as an excuse to evade that duty! You don't need to have stated the DPA 1998 but it would help to show them that you're aware of your rights. Tell them that you will refer the case to the Information Commissioner's Office if they do not comply within the required time.

The ICO FAQ page says

"The Data Protection Act 1998 gives you the right to apply for a copy of your personal information. You will need to put your request in writing, by letter or email, and send it to the person or organisation you believe holds this information. Make sure to put your name and address and keep a copy. It is a good idea to make clear you are asking for the information under the Data Protection Act 1998."

I quoted DPA at them and 15 days, in a nice way!

I have just emailed Governor again, stating that after contacting my solicitor (i dont have a solicitor, but what the hell) i understand that i am legally entitled to a FULL copy under the DPA within 15 days.

I apologise for the inconvenience, but i am following legal advice and will have to insist that you provide the information i requested.

Well done Claw.

I hope they sit up and take notice now. Although, they may take the 15 days from today, and forget the fact you have been waiting already.

If they dont get back to you then give IPSEA a call - here's their contact page. I have always found them to be fantastic and will tell you where to go from here.

I miss counted yesterday, I have until next Tuesday for a response from DDs hellhole school.

I shall be following this thread with interest as I intend to request info from my DS infant school. He has suffered trauma from want happened to him there and junior school are having to request counselling for him so it will be very interesting to see what is disclosed. I understand that they have to provide all records held unless disclosure will affect the childs welfare etc and if they do not provide something they have to state what has been excluded from the file and why. I have evidence that they lied on an IEP and have copies of a lot of records already but want to see if anything gets amended/deleted when they give me copies. It will put the wind up them if nothing else and it would be nice to make things 'difficult' for them after all they have put us through! I am now a school governor myself and won't get fobbed off easily.

Thanks Postive, I wrote to Governors on 26th March quoting DPA and 15 days. Then again on the 20th April stating 15 days was up and i needed the info urgently.

He then phoned me and told me to contact the school and request the info, i told him i didnt have to do that, as i had already requested the info from him! He then agreed to contact the school to request the info, as if he is doing me a favour

I have IPSEA's number, they know who i am by the sound of my voice, i have spoken to them so much!

You havent got much longer to wait, good luck.

Pouffe, thats terrible, your poor ds.

The school are saying its a large job and they cant spare the staff to do it. It does seem to turn into a battle very quickly. I have to go into the school office quite often, to give them copies of appointment letters etc, they are really unfriendly towards me and abrupt, i get lots of eye rolling and huffing already. Having to copy ds's file will please them!

Still its water off a ducks back to me. I treat it like a business arrangement now, if i didnt i would burst into tears or thump someone

Pouffe oh a girl after my own heart!! I really dont know what to expect from DDs file, but I will ask for it and get the school to get it to me because of all the hassle they have given us for 2 years!
I will be going through it with a fine toothed comb. I have kept a file of all the correspondence I have sent, for consultants etc. which was all totally ignored by the school, so I will see if it all matches up.

I am preparing my letter for Wednesday morning if I haven't heard!!!

Just one point to be aware of, if your child is 12 or over, they have to request the file or give you permission to request it. I know my DS would give it if I asked, but beware if your child is coming up to 12.

Thanks for that Mummytime, ds has only just turned 6, so not an issue. Interesting though, that still applies to children with special needs. What a nightmare that would be if they didnt give their permission.

I can just imagine ds saying no, because you annoyed me or something else quite silly along those lines. But still he is only 6, by 12 his reasoning might be a bit more rational!

Just received an email from Governor stating that the school are now happy to deal with my request (amazing what a conversation what an imaginary solicitors can do!) and will have the job done by 30th April.

Despite the Governor telling me on 20th April, that he will get back to me tomorrow with

• The SEN budget for the current academic year.
• The number of children it covers.
• The number of children at each stage of the SEN Code of Practise i.e. those at School Action, at School Action Plus and with a Statement of SEN.
• A description of the typical help which is given for children with your child?s difficulties at School Action Plus and whether this is the maximum generally available.

He has not, so just reminded about this and asked when i can expect to receive this info too.

I just imagine the Head Teacher with steam coming out of her ears, as she had previously told me during a meeting that she did not have to disclose this info to me!

Think I will put my request in on Monday and see what develops.
Claw-yes it's been terrible and I really want to make them aware of what damage they've caused. The Head is really devious though and we were naive parents to start with (wish I had discovered MN at that time),trusting the school to do what was best for DS. He recalls being dragged down the corrior by 4 staff and put in a cupboard (tiny chill out room). He is very bright (suspected AS) and had a large vocabulary and couldn't converse with his peers as thought they were babies. Schools solution was to keep him in a small playground with reception children. He didn't tell us about all this at the time until he started juniors and realised that not all schools were like that! My written complaints were all answered verbally by them so I expect they have conveniently lost these letters ( I have copies though).

Pouffe, that is awful, your poor ds.

I would enclose copies of your letters too and make a complaint about the school at the same time and tell him/her you want a reply in writing. Schools do hate putting anything in writing.

I really wonder why some people become teachers. I can understand that there isnt enough funding and training etc, but some teachers are just heartless.

Pouffe - sorry to hear that you have had so many problems. I really think that to get to the point of asking to see the files just shows how much the schools have messed us around.
I spent lots of time and energy giving the school the benefit of the doubt, even when DD was telling me differently. I just did not want to cause a scene and I thought that a teacher may take it out on DD if I started to ask questions. In effect they bullied DD and me by their attitude.

Mummy - thanks for that info. I did get DD to sign, as well as me and DH, just to cover all eventualities. - she's nearly 16 now, but has not been to school for nearly 2 years due to illness.

Claw - nearly a result for you! Well done . I wont congratulate you too much until you have all the info in your hands. My brother is a solicitor and I am thinking I may ask him to type me out a letter to help our cause if I dont get anywhere.

I believe that if you disagree with anyhting that is in the file, or something that is NOT there that should be, you can write a letter with your views on and that HAS to then be added to the file, to cover any discrepencies.

I will keep you posted next week!

Positive Attitude - Yes,I think a lot of schools rely on parents not being too clued up about SN and take advantage accordingly. The school was rated outstanding by Ofsted so the Head obviously pulled the wool over their eyes too. I am debating whether to go to the local press with the story (if anonymity was assured).Headline would be - child traumatised by outstanding infant school. The Head would no doubt still try to deny anything ever happened. One of the staff even told their own child not to play with Ds because he was nasty FFS. The child told me this themself so I know it's true. When I complained-'oh no, that didn't happen/that wasn't said' etc..
I thought that if teachers had to restrain a child then the parents had to be informed - this didn't happen. I could go on but am sure that it would just seem unbelievable.

Pouffe, I could write a book about the schools failings here! I was accused of writing a letter on hospital paper, pretending to be a consultant! When I phoned to pass on to the year head that it was thought DD had a brain tumour (luckily that was ruled out 3 weeks later!) I received an email back saying they would expect me to attend at parents evening in 2 weeks time and I would not be able to discuss medical issues as there would not be time , but DD should still attend until told otherwise, or EWO would be in touch!! Also went into a statement review with a consultants letter saying that DD should not be in school and must have a home tuition package. They refused. Tip of an iceberg!!! I could go on all night. Cant wait to see the file and see what has been documented.

Get that letter in on Monday!