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?

PA - (oo er maybe it's the same school?).Good luck with getting the info you want - update to let me know how you get on.

Funny how schools don't like being held to account.

Out head told me after two meetings and a few intervening letters that the school had spent enough time on my child! I responded that if they told the truth the first time then we wouldn't have to keep on meeting or writing.

I don't know if any of you have local forums, but I've found putting my 'essays' re SEN and schools on our town forum, it gets to some those who are unaware of SEN and a few parents who are ignorant of the SEN system; it's also a more permanent and anonymous medium than the media and it doesn't involve mentioning individual schools. I recently had some generally positive feedback on the info from the head of a local primary school (though I bet that would be v.different if we had attended that school!).

Claw - have you got anything yet?

Pouffe - Did you get that letter in?

Final day of waiting today. Chase up letter ready and waiting to be handed to the secretary in the morning! I have spoken to my brother who is a solicitor, so have been able to write "After taking legal advise....", just like you Claw.
Although, we have gone through the full complaint proceedure and things only got worse, so I dont hold out much hope!

Morning Positive, file and info that i requested will be ready for me to pick up on the 30th, so not long to go.

Have you tried the school Governor? They do tend to 'remind' the school of what their legal obligations are.

Claw been a bit busy (no excuse, I know) but have started on letter today. I am worried that they will say that all the paperwork was given to the junior school and I know this isn't the case. As they have lied about so many other things in the past I expect to be fobbed off although now I'm a governor perhaps they'll be a bit more cautious with what they do. I really want to see their letter of referral to the paed - she told us that it appeared that someone at the school didn't like DS . Let us know how you get on with your info.

Sorry should have said PA & Claw.

Pouffe, a bit busy, no excuse but a very good reason!

I know the feeling all to well, i have a DLA tribunal, SA tribunal, official complaint about OT, appointments, the school to contend with and trying to have a life somewhere in between.

I should imagine 'a bit busy' is an under statement for any parent of a child with special needs. Just not enough hours in the day!

Have you asked the new school for a copy?

Letters have been hand delivered. Two hard copies. One to the head, second to the chair of governors. Also followed up with an email copy sent to clerk to the governors which has just been acknowledged.
(Covering every eventuality as I have had so many letters "lost in the post" or they have denied ever seeing them)
I have given them until 3pm tomorrow to let me know when I can expect the data ......

Claw, meant to say I am totally with you on the hectic life! Sometimes I feel as if I am just going from one arguement to another. Good people who do their job well are worth so much when you have a child that needs extra help. I always praise those who do a good job because I know how rubbish other people are.

Positive, it is just like that isnt it! Some days i feel i have become far too cynical and often wonder if this is just as good as its ever going to get.

The optimist in me (whats left of it) says just one more fight and then things must get easier. If this was a fight that didnt involve ds, i would have given up long ago!

Good luck, i hope your letters get results. Keep us posted

Claw Didn't know whether to put requests to both schools at the same time or not. New school is very good so there won't be a problem getting access to records. Think I might go to old school,wait to hear what their response is, and then request details from new school. Old school will not know what records I have or have seen so it will be interesting to see what they come up with. They state on their website that 'all' educational records are transferred to the new school when the pupil goes but I know new school weren't aware of my complaint letters

Pouffe, cant do any harm to cover all bases. Once you have a copy, you can then ask for it to be amended and include the letters etc.

WOW I have just received a letter and for the first time in 3 years the words "I apologise" are there in black and white!! One huge step. At one point when we went through a complaints proceedure we said that we only wanted those words uttered.

Anyway, letter says that they will be getting the info to us. It doesn't say when, but I will give it a week or so and try again.

Positive, that is progress, a long time coming, but still progress!

I wouldnt wait a week, i would reply thanking them for their letter and asking when you can expect to receive the info. After all they have had 15 days + 3 years in which to reply

I can collect my info from school this afternoon. I hope things continue to move forward for you.

Thanks Claw and well done. Please let us know what you get and what you find in all your "stuff".

the key is to be professional in the face of provocation be it intimidation, manipulation, bad attitudes or misinformation.

@hazel477

The last post on this thread before yours was April 2010