Special Schools - how do you change them?

[donkeyderby]

My DS's SLD special school has an 'excellent' Ofsted score. However, although I am happy with it in some ways, I find it quite institutional and not genuinely open to parents.

Apart from becoming a parent-governor (meetings always clash with teatime and bedtime and I'm on too many committees already), how do you influence your special needs school? We have no PTA, just a fundraising organsation which is run mainly by staff and a few parents who seem very friendly with the staff.

Sometimes I feel like a moaner when I hear other parents who have no issues with the school, but then I meet others who have had exactly the same problems - school not listening, being defensive, anti-parent, refusal to change, dominated by powerful but poorly educated TA's (sorry if that sounds snobby) - and they have all given up trying to win any battles.

have to say I have no problems in that way with dd's school, they are very open, to the point where you have to make excuses.
(by the way dd is now friends with your ds, she likes him cos they eat together and ds is comming home!1)

I agree with Riven, this isn't just a SN school issue. Some schools are just like that and I would say the problem is normally at the top. You won't change it easily.

Had this problem with ds's first special school. Reached the point where I realised they had no intention of being flexible / changing their ways to accomodate ds and I was wasting my breath / energy. Withdrew him first opportunity. Need to save my energy for battles I stand a chance on.

They've just been rated outstanding. Goodness knows how!

I take the point about mainstream schools being the same - maybe it's more about ms schools dealing with sn kids, something I see lots of complaints about on here.

The school certainly isn't bad on most levels - it's just that I feel that they don't welcome parents unless they are going to be really really grateful all the time and pat them on the back.

SN schools need to be especially open to parents as there is no school gate power of parents talking and comparing notes and going to the school as a united front.

2 shoes - glad dd likes my ds, though all he'll talk about is the fecking minibus.

Life at N Towers too much for DS?