Severe anxiety, low school attendance

[CompletelyLost1]

My autistic DC has developed severe anxiety which has resulted in low attendance. DC knows how important is it to attend school and loves learning but the anxiety takes over which results in mor being able to go in to school. Dc has been able to attend the last few days but it's emotionally draining for both of us. Dc is already getting help from a mental health worker, which the school is aware off. The school keeps "threatening" me with fines and keeps telling me if DCs attendance keeps being low I'll have to go to court etc.

I have never been in this situation before and I'm finding it hard to find the right support as both me and Dc feel like the school isn't supportive at all, also feel like they don't understand how hard is is for both me and DC to actually make it to school.

I have thought about homeschooling but I also don't want to make the anxiety worse by keeping DC at home and potentially making the anxiety worse later on.

I'm completely lost as to what the right thing is to do.

I don't expect anyone to have the solution, just hoping for some tips as to what to do.

Don’t deregister. Parents often find it easier, although not easy, to get support when DC remains in the system even if they can’t attend full-time. At the moment DC remains the school/LA’s responsibility. If you deregister and EHE, it is easier for professionals to sweep DC’s needs under the carpet and the LA will say you are making suitable alternative arrangements.

Request a meeting with the SENCO.

Write to the school requesting the absences are authorised and marked as I. Remind them the DfE’s attendance guidance states illness (physical and mental health related) must be authorised. Add in that the regulations (Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006) make clear where a pupil is absent because they are unable to attend due to their medical needs the absence must be regarded as authorised. They should have also advised you they were recording it as unauthorised.

Go on to say that as DC is not receiving an alternative education under s.19 of the Education Act 1996 and an EHCNA has only recently been applied for the school and LA could have done and still can do more to support DC with their needs arising from their disability. Finish by giving them a reasonable deadline to reply.

If DC can’t attend school full-time, the LA has a duty to ensure they still receive a suitable full-time education under s.19 of the Education Act 1996. On IPSEA’s website, they have a model letter you can use to request this. Post back here for the next steps if the LA delay, refuses or ignores you.

Alongside this, request an EHCNA. IPSEA also has a model letter for this.

Thank you so much, tomorrow I will go through all the information you provided.

I was planning on going to speak to SENCO anyway as DC got told support would be put in place but it hasn't been explained properly which results in a lot of anger and frustration.

The whole situation has been a mess, we had several meeting with the schools welfare officer who claims to have started an special education plan but had already handed her notice in to school whilst "supporting" us!

Tomorrow's plan of action is to first speak to SENCO and ask them to explain clearly to DC what support DC is entitled to and I will write down all the problems we've had and I will go through all the information you provided aswell and I will write that down aswell and request and another meeting which I will go to with all the notes. DC is very keen to get his questions answered so I will make that my main prority for tomorrow morning once we've made it to school.

Thanks again for your help!

Tomorrow's plan of action is to first speak to SENCO and ask them to explain clearly to DC what support DC is entitled to

Don’t trust the LA or school to provide you with the correct information. They will tell you what they want you to know and their, often unlawful, version of the law.

When they last spoke to us they told DC that DC would be allowed to go to the HUB and ask for a certain person, DC doesn't know this person at all so is unsure who to look for and unfortunately hasn't got the confidence to ask. For now DC "just" wants that question answered as the not knowing is on DCs mind, I'm hoping finding out the answers will be a comfort.