Colin_and_Shelagh Report post Posted July 31, 2004 'Educate my son' A mother has revealed that her teenage son has been kept at home for more than a year because his special educational needs are so severe he cannot go to a mainstream school. Donna Bull says that children like her 14-year-old son Andrew fall through the system and receive no education at all from Barnet Council, acting as the local education authority (LEA). Andrew has a type of Asperger's syndrome which makes him uncomfortable in crowds and unable to attend a mainstream school. Barnet LEA has kept him on the roll of a comprehensive secondary school and has not found him a place at an appropriate special needs school. As a result, he has been at home since March 2003. Despite that, the system trundles on seemingly oblivious to Andrew's predicament, even being sent a letter of congratulation for passing some tests he never even sat. Ms Bull, of Wenlock Road, Edgware, said: "How many children are losing out on their schooling? Andrew has literally fallen through the system, and I suspect there are many more like him. "He was given a place at The Edgware School in Green Lane, but hasn't been since March. And the funny thing is he just received a standard congratulation letter for his SAT results he has never taken them. It is horrendous. I can't fault the school, their special needs provision is good, but Andrew has Pervasive Demand Avoidance, which is a complicated form of Asperger's, and means he has obsessions and compulsions and demand refusal'. He cannot go to big schools, he just refuses. I can't make him go, what am I supposed to do? This is just a catalogue of failures." Ms Bull started trying to get Andrew a proposed statement, outlining the sort of care he needs, from the LEA in February. It was issued on July 13, but the SEN (Special Educational Needs) panel has met three times and still failed to name a school which the LEA would pay for. Ms Bull found a smaller residential special school in Oxfordshire which costs �35,000 a year, but it was too late to secure a place. "Why can't they treat my son's case as urgent?" said Ms Bull. "He just sits at home and is very depressed. The LEA is forcing him to do this, but if I were to keep him off school, I would be in court." Ms Bull said she was prepared to take legal action to force the LEA to educate her son. "They were supposed to give me an answer on July 8," she said. A spokesman for the council said it could not comment on individual cases, and could not confirm how many children were in Andrew's position, although it is Barnet's policy to place SEN children in mainstream schools where possible. He said: "The vast majority of pupils with special educational needs who have statements to attend Barnet's mainstream and special schools do so successfully. In partnership with schools themselves, the local education authority carefully monitors the attendance of pupils at all its schools." 11:23am Thursday 29th July 2004 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jericho Report post Posted July 31, 2004 Not that old chestnut about "Well everyone else manages just fine in a big mainstream school". Why on earth do they think it is called SPECIAL educational needs and not 'The-same-needs-as-everyone-else'? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Helen Report post Posted July 31, 2004 Stories similar to the above, keep cropping up in my local rag on a frequent basis - parents feel they don't have any other option than to bring their story to the attention of the public. The parents who have resorted to posting in my local rag, have deliberately tried to name and shame my LEA in the hope that the LEA will then provide some type of provision for their child. I sincerely hope that Ms. Bull is able to obtain the necessary support for her son. Helen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Helen Report post Posted July 31, 2004 (edited) I'd just like to add, that I can totally understand why any parent would feel the need to go public. In view of the unwanted attention, the LEA could possibly be shamed into taking on a more positive role and thus providing the child with the support that the child deserves, or the LEA could dig its heels in and be awkward to the parent... I have an outstanding isssue with my LEA, but I've decided not to go public as I have enlisted the support of an independent body. However, if my concerns do not get addressed, then going public will be my next course of action. Helen Edited July 31, 2004 by Helen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
desperate Report post Posted July 31, 2004 I had this with my son Neil, he has very specific needs due to his ASD and cannot tolerate being with more than one or two people at a time, he struggles to be with any peer group at all, and becomes so anxious he "explodes". He was at a small residential school in Oxfordshire but they were EBD children and his life was hell. He was treated very badly by the staff as well who did not understand the difference between the two disorders nor did they want to. He has been out of school for the best part of three years, except for the short time he spent at the above mentioned school, but is now at a specialist school where the staff understand his needs and are able to give him the support and education he needs. At last we are hoping to look forward to a brighter future for him. Find a school that you want your son to go to, where he might feel happy and less anxious and push for a placement there. Good luck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pookie170 Report post Posted July 31, 2004 God, that is truly outrageous!! Helen, I wish you and all others in a similar sitution the best of luck.....this is so totally unacceptable!! <'> Esther x Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nellie Report post Posted July 31, 2004 My heart goes out to parents who are forced into situations like this. I was forced to take my child out of school for a year, he would probably have died if I had left him there, he ended up catatonic, and that was a special school!! Thanks to someone who told me of IPSEA, I was able to use their services to get my son back to an appropriate school with provision to meet his needs. IPSEA found that the LEA had failed in their duty and I was able to take my case to the Ombudsman, and win. In lots of cases where the child can?t cope in mainstream, the parents threaten to keep the child off school. Even worse they carry out their threat and take the child out of school. The parents think that this will force the LEA to take action and give provision in an appropriate placement to meet the childs? need. Unfortunately what usually happens is the LEA say ?fine, as parents you can use your legal right to educate your child at home?. It suits the LEA!! Parents have to prove that the mainstream school can?t meet the child?s needs, usually you need the school to back you up on this, but it?s not essential, but you would have to provide evidence. Doing this forces the LEA to meet the child?s needs by providing a suitable placement. In many cases parents have to take the case to tribunal before the LEA are forced to carry out their legal duty. The LEA in some cases are ignoring the tribunal?s decision and the child continues to fail to get the appropriate provision or placement to meet their needs. LEA?s rely on parents not using their legal right to go to Tribunal. LEA?s can sometimes force parents to go Tribunal as a delaying tactic. I would advise any parent having difficulty with the provision or placement on a statement to seek advice from IPSEA or the NAS. In some cases they can even offer the services of a solicitor free. I would also advise any parent to use Disagreement Resolution, even if they are taking their case to tribunal. LEA?s have a duty to provide Disagreement Resolution. As you may have gathered by now, I hate injustice!!!!!! Nellie. Well that's got that off my chest!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lisajb Report post Posted August 1, 2004 slightly off topic but here goes. I had two letters from the ActingSencoPerson at Chris's school - AFTER the holidays had started, with usual c**p about please return signed (nearly typed singed there, probably more appropriate!) within 7 days. Who on earth do they think will be there to receive envelopes and check that I did return them within said time. The builders maybe? Or anyone who decides to break in during the holidays? Maybe, just maybe, the ASP is spending his holidays at school preparing wonderful SEN provision for the students in September Lisa Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oracle Report post Posted August 1, 2004 Sunderland LEA had my eldest son on the roll of his school from year 7 to year 11 and David had not attended school from the November in year 7! This was because Sunderland LEA could not offer us a suitable placement for David. We realised after a couple of years that they had no suitable placements to offer him and that was why we embarked on HE. But they continued to hold his name on roll and were obvisouly receiving funding for him until 'WE' finally had his name removed from the roll in year 11. Needless to say the LEA never once threatend up with legal action and David's attendance. Also maybe this is being picky but PDA is not a complicated form of Aspergers. PDA is a seperate condition which stands alone. So this lad may have Aspergers and PDA but it is not part of AS. Carole Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jester Report post Posted August 9, 2004 Hi Lisa They will smugly check the envelope post mark to see if you are 'co-operative'. If you can afford the time, slight expense and , frankly, are as petty as me...send your reply registered post. You can then 'tut' frequently next term about how your letter was not signed for etc etc etc. I know...it's no substitute for a life, but it makes me feel better! Jester Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pookie170 Report post Posted August 9, 2004 Oooo...that's slightly mucky side tactics, that is, but I liiiiike it!! Esther x Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Helen Report post Posted August 9, 2004 If you can afford the time, slight expense and , frankly, are as petty as me...send your reply registered post. You can then 'tut' frequently next term about how your letter was not signed for etc etc etc. Jester you are so naughty!!! Tut! Tut! Helen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
