Withdrawing DS from school, assessments etc - what do I need to know?

[Fafalafala]

Not sure whether to put this in Education or here but figure you guys have navigated much of what we're about to do, so hoping that you can help me.

DS had a complete and total breakdown over Christmas. He's not coping with school for various reasons, some medical (he has some toiletting issues) and some social and emotional. He's awaiting a private assessment for ASD, which we feel is all but a formality at this point. It's clear, however, that we're going to have to remove him from school. The school is being supportive but there is no scenario that would work for him right now.

We're looking at online schools - I had shortlisted three a while ago, anticipating that this moment might come. We'll talk to him about next steps over the next few days. I know that removing the cloud of him having to return to school will ensure that he actually sleeps well over the next few days and will stop him self harming.

My question is, what should I be thinking of at this point, before I deregister from his current school? I'd like to apply for an ECHP - I want him to return to the school for A levels in two years' time and I know that he will be ok with this. So with that in mind is there anything I should put in place now, while we're still under the school's care, that would benefit him on his eventual return? Anything I could be asking the school to do? Anything I should get started with now that requires the school's input before we withdraw him?

Should I involve them in the ECHP application, even though we don't plan to return in the new year? Can I ask them now about providing exam centre provision even if he is no longer a pupil? Any advice gratefully received.

Don’t deregister and EHE. Parents find it easier to get support when on a school’s roll even if DC don’t attend. Crudely, you are someone’s problem. Whereas it is all too easy for professionals to sweep DC’s difficulties under the carpet if you EHE. If you EHE the LA will say you are making suitable alternative arrangements thereby reliving them of their duties.

Instead if DC can’t attend school the LA have a statutory duty to provide alternative education. This could be home tuition, online, at a centre, hospital school… whatever meets DS’s needs.

In addition apply for an EHCNA now. An EHCP can fund online schooling (if that’s what is suitable and what you want) and so much more, including therapies.

Thank you for this advice. I had read that it might be harder to deregister your DC (if, further down the line it is still needed) if you have an EHCP in place but I don't know what that means in practice. Is that something you have seen?

Deregistering a child with an EHCP from mainstream school is the same as deregistering a child without an EHCP from mainstream.

Deregistering a pupil from special school requires the LA’s consent, but the pupil doesn’t have to continue attending until approval is given and the LA must not unreasonably withhold consent.

My pp should say relieving, not reliving, I don’t know what happened there .

I took DS out in Y8 for much the same reasons you state. We didn't have an EHCP, school insisted he didn't need one, but here we are 6 years later and DS has a Stage II ASC assessment in a few weeks. Had he stayed in School and had I the appetite to keep pushing it, then maybe we could have got to this stage a lot earlier. But there was no guarantee.

Plus, and this is just my personal opinion, EHCPs aren't worth the paper they are written on if the school doesn't have the resources to implement them properly.

Before I removed him permanently, I did get him signed off via the doctor for about 6 weeks. This gave us a bit of breathing space. We were spared the pressure of school but he still had his place there when he was ready to go back. Maybe this might be an option to consider to give yourself a bit more time to investigate.

Another option is that many colleges run courses for 14-16 year olds. DS enrolled at a local one and did a blacksmith course and also maths and english. He was there 3 days a week which was more manageable for him.

Plus, and this is just my personal opinion, EHCPs aren't worth the paper they are written on if the school doesn't have the resources to implement them properly.

EHCPs can be fully funded by the LA. There is absolutely no reason provision in an EHCP can’t be delivered, and parents can enforce provision specified and quantified in F.

As I said, it's just my opinion.

I worked in a special needs unit that worked with a number of local schools. We had copies of EHCPs of the individual children we worked with and many children were accompanied by their INAs when they came to us for their sessions.

There were variations in implementation across the caseload at that point and many of the INAs had concerns.

I have moved on now, but from what I gather, many of those specialist INA roles are now being filled by staff who have no specific SN training and are often responsible for more than one child. The turnover of staff is high, which isn't great for the children concerned.

Things vary from LA to LA and from school to school. I don't know why some of our schools implemented support better than others, I guess it's down to the individual school and how they manage their SN budget.

One the face of it, they fulfil the letter, but not necessarily the spirit.

now being filled by staff who have no specific SN training and are often responsible for more than one child.

If the EHCP is correctly written it will specify and quantify 1:1 and the training/qualifications/experience of staff will be specified. If the provision then isn’t provided as per section F parents can enforce the provision via JR. This is the same regardless of the LA or school.