Carrera74

That's a great idea, thank you.

My husband is coming with me so I will ask him to take notes but he's not the greatest at doing that I have got all the incident forms from school and I am going to write a list of the questions that I raised that have not been answered. My son did a statement too - I asked him to do this before I went into school so we all had his point of view. At the meeting school agreed with his statement and said it was a very accurate statement. I did take photos but only thought of doing this 3 days later. The bruising is still visible though. DS no longer attends this school as unfortunately his behaviour continued to deteriorate, he was further restrained and he was not participating in any lessons. His case goes to county moderation panel next month and in the meantime someone from school is coming to our house to do english and maths with him once a week. I do wonder if I am doing the right thing taking it this far but I think that if this happened out of school I wouldn't let it go I would go to the police and make an official complaint. I think all I want really is an apology from the HT and the teacher involved but I am dreading coming face to face with him

My son was inappropriately restrained in November. I have followed the school's complaint procedure and the next stage is to the Clerk of Governors at the LA. A meeting has been arranged for a week on Monday and I am not sure what to expect. The papers have come through this morning. I'm complaining as the hold was not a team teach hold; it was done by a teacher who had had no training; my son was bruised; when we first visited this school I knew my DS would possibly need restraining so asked the HT 3x what behavioural strategies were in place - he said behaviour like that didn't happen at his school (it's a BESD school!) and finally at tribunal in March 09 he told the panel that all teachers were team teach trained. My DS's relationship with the teacher who did the restrain was already breaking down. So much in fact that my son was having the particular lesson taught by another teacher 1:1. The day it happened the whole class were going crazy and my son was allowed to join the class as the teacher who did 1:1 was busy elsewhere. The class were allowed to get more and more out of control for about 40 minutes before anything was done. When I met with school after the incident the HT and deputy both agreed that the lesson should have been managed better and that they had also had concerns about how the teacher restrained pupils. I am very unhappy that even with their concern they didn't do anything about it - it has taken me to complain before they looked into it. The responses to my complaint do not answer my questions that I asked. They just seem to have brushed them to one side and have told me the teacher has been dealt with and if I am not happy then to take it further - which is what I have done. I just don't know what to expect at the meeting. Has anyone been through anything similiar? Is the meeting minuted? My DH is coming with me but Parent Partnership don't feel they can support me as he feels out of his depth!

Great news It's nice to read positive things on this part of the forum!

Fantastic news! I'm so glad you don't have the stress of tribunal hanging over your heads. I hope she settles in nicely

The HT said DS is very unhappy in his school and that they do not feel, at this time, that they can meet his needs. I nearly jumped on the table and did a little jig!! The case is going to be sent to county moderating panel and I need to put in writing what I want. LEA asked if school could accommodate him for a few hours a week so that he can still do some work whilst we wait for the outcome of the panel but the HT said they don't think he would cope at all. It's a complete turnaround. I am shell shocked. I didn't expect it at all. School have always said that they can meet his needs. School were very keen to get the ball rolling with getting him out! Maybe all my letters and moaning have finally paid off! HT even said that the last tribunal we lost in March 2009 would have probably had a different outcome if they'd seen his severe behaviours before it. I can't believe they have actually agreed with us that his anxieties are so high that these behaviours have reappeared. So the fight to get the right placement begins but surely it will be a lot easier now school have given up!!! Knowing the LEA though they'll be quite a few more brickwalls to clamber over! It's a strange feeling. I'm glad at long last that they have admitted he is not in the right place but really peeved that I have had to send him to fail. I'm suspicious of them agreeing with me all of a sudden though. 2 weeks ago the HT was adamant he should be in school. I have written to anyone and everyone and I have taken a complaint to the clerk of governors as I wasn't happy that about an inappropriate restraint and I certainly wasn't going to take their rubbish reasoning behind it. Grrr lol HT said he would do relevant paperwork on Tuesday. I am gobsmacked that they won't let him come in school just for a few hours a week. It's fab for our case. I am still going ahead with the appeal. I want his statement watertight and I want the right school. I am paranoid but I fear they will want to send him to another one of the LEA's funded schools even though this placement failed. There is another BESD school close by. I meet with the LEA again in 6 weeks and need to put in writing what I want before then so they can see if it's feasible. If not, roll on October for Tribunal! I really needed this 'boost'. It's hard fighting when the school were adamant that DS was rightly placed. Now I hope we'll get somewhere...

I've contacted SEND and they said I can send it all now but I do have extra time to submit anything I forget/miss out/new information. Thank you so much for this. It helps loads. I have until next Tuesday to get this to them and I can send via email/fax too so that gives me all weekend to get straight

I am appealing against part 2, 3 and 4 of DS statement. I have received a letter from SENDIST asking for more information about part 3. They ask for written confirmation of what I would like adding/amending or deleting from part 3. Parent Partnership helped me fill in the appeal form and he said to just put a few things down so they would accept the appeal and I could go into more detail at a later date. Do I just put everything in writing now so it’s done or should I just list a few thing s that I am concerned about in part 3 and then go for the jugular at a later date? I have 10 days to respond and I want to make sure I get this right. I want to be as detailed as possible but I’m not sure if I can at this stage. Parent Partnership are unavailable and I have been trying to get through to IPSEA all week with no luck. Can anyone help?

Congratulations !!!! I have taken my son out of school as I too do not want him to be further damaged by the school they say meets his needs! We don't have that sort of money though so I hope it doesn't cost that much for us either. I'd hate for my DS not to get the education he should be getting just because we can't afford to pay professionals.

I have lodged my appeal with SEND and have got a final hearing date of October! I am thinking of getting a private EP report and have googled local ones. One of them that has come up is the EP who did DS’s report as part of the statement process. She is now retired and has set up her own business. Now here is my dilemma. Parent Partnership have advised me against a private report as I have had the LEA EP involved recently. The LEA EP saw my son in September and did a report but it is very much one sided – it only described a happy relaxed boy. There’s nothing about the deterioration in his behaviour which is why I requested his input. He has advised that care is taken as the LEA would assume their own EP would carry out any necessary assessment. He said it can be difficult if a pupil is assessed too soon after a previous assessment. Also, if an EP carries out different tests then it may be difficult to gauge what level a person is at or what progress has been made. I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to waste money on a report that may actually do more harm than good at appeal. But then again I don’t want to risk not doing everything I can to ensure I have a good case at Tribunal. Has anyone had a private report done so soon after the LEA’s report? The LEA report that was done as part of the statementing process is dated 2007 and had different assessments than the one done recently. Help!

Thanks for your comments. I'm going to put my thoughts in writing to them. It just maddens me that they are dragging this out. There's things in the statement that are so out of date and I have requested that these be taken out before and they haven't. It's only small things like waiting to go for eye tests/hearing tests but they were done as part of the ADOS and it still looks like he hasn't had an eye test since primary school. It's so annoying. I'm glad for this site though as I can vent off some steam. I'm definately going to appeal. I'm just not sure whether to just let them finalise the statement then throw everything at them at Tribunal or see if they will change the statement. Either way the school isn't appropriate so I'm going for appeal anyway.

I hope you lovely people can help me! (again!) DS's review was held on 11 December and was only brought forward as he was really struggling and I jumped up and down at anyone who would listen. The statement was changed due to a SALT, EP, new behavioural plan, CAMHS advice and OT advice and I asked a the review would all these documents be taken into consideration and the LEA rep told me they would all go into one document - his statement. I have received the amended statement this morning and I can't believe what I read. It's is virtually the same as his original statement from Year 5/6 (he's now in Year 8). His first statement was a BESD statement and this was changed at Easter 08 when he got his diagnosis. They only changed the word BESD to ASD throughout the statement and that's about it. At his review before going to high school I asked for a special school placement as he was at a short stay school due to being permanently excluded from mainstream. The LEA agreed to this but changed nothing else in the statement. I was very niave and as they agreed a special school I thought everything would be okay. He went to a BESD special school and things have gone downhill since. In March 2009 I went to tribunal to appeal against part 2, 3 and 4 of his statement as his statement reads as a BESD statement and I felt (and still do) that the school he is at is not meeting his needs. We lost the appeal as the school we wanted was too expensive but the panel did say that the LEA/school should look at the statement and have EP/SALT input at his next review. On the front page of the statement it lists the advices and they all refer to the documents from when he first went through the assessment process, nearly 3 years ago. There is no mention of the reports that I've listed above which are the reason why the LEA agreed to change the statement. All the objectives are exactly the same as before. There are 3 sentences added that aren't in the previous statements but that is it. I'm so peeved off. I have been asking for help since the tribunal in March 2009. I have been jumping up and down for the EP report. School have only just put a behavioural plan in force after the inappropriate hold and further disruption at school. The SALT have done a report and there is no mention of that and nothing about the OT report that I sent to the LEA. I wanted the statement changing so I can appeal against the named school but I just feel I am back to square one and will have to appeal against part 2, 3 and 4 yet I didn't get anywhere last time. The LEA are dragging their heels - it's taken them 2 months to get this farce of a statement out to me and I now have another 15 days to wait before I can appeal. It'll be the Summer hols before we know it and in the meantime my young man is falling further and further behind and the LEA get away with it. Can anyone advise what I should be doing? Do I say I am happy and just go with the appeal route or do I question why none of the reports are incorporated into the statement?

School sent their comments (the EP, SALT and behavioural plan produced at the review) within 10 days. It's the LEA that are dragging their feet. They said it will be sent 'in due course'. Why don't they understand it's children's lives that are being put on hold whilst they produce this paperwork

My 12 year old son attends a BESD school which I do not think is the right school for him for many reasons. An early review was called in December as he was showing a lot of disruptive behaviour and his behaviour at school was detriorating further and impacting on his learning. It was agreed at the review that his statement would be amended to add the EP, SALT and behavioural plans that were brought to the meeting as everyone agreed that he had gone downhill since his last review (May). There is an admin shortage at the LEA and I am still waiting for his statement. Once I receive the statement I will be appealing against the named school. Since his return to school after Christmas DS has not had one day where he hasn't disrupted a class. School are following his new behavioural plan/personal learning plan to the letter but it is not working. I know this is because he is not in the right environment for him. They are only dealing with the behaviour not the cause behind it. No matter how much I try and tell them something is triggering this behaviour they do not believe me. The HT is adamant my DS is just looking for trouble and is picking and choosing when to misbehave. HT is also happy that his school are meeting his needs. I don't know what to do. I am waiting for the statement to appeal against part 4. The link worker has told me they are trying everything on the behavioural plan and it's not working. DS has assaulted staff twice this week. Today he has been restrained by 3 teachers and taken to the peace room. He has come home bruised and upset. I know staff have to restrain children when they are a danger to themselves/others but this has been happening for a month now with no sign of anything improving. The only thing I am gaining from this is more evidence that the school is not right for him but it's breaking my heart. I've asked school if they will back me up to get the EP back in. He met with my DS but his report was very positive. There was nothing mentioned about his behaviour even though that was why I asked him to see him. The linkworker said she will check with the HT if he will back me up on this. I feel as I got the EP involved last time and school said he wasn't really that bad that he may think I am wasting his time. The HT is also very defensive and thinks DS is just putting it on for a reaction.

Hi I live in South Ribble but my son attends a special school in Skelmersdale. It would be nice to speak to people my neck of the woods.

Hi there I know we'll have to send him back in the New Year but I wanted to be sure in my mind we were doing the right thing. I have regretted sending him to this school since October last year and didn't want to regret this either. It really annoys me that we have to send him back to fail and prove that it isn't the right environment for him and who suffers, my DS and us. Damn the LEA Our EP is a lovely chap but considering I wanted him to see my son because of the behaviour and learning going down hill he was a waste of time as there is no mention of either in his report! According to the EP my DS has high self esteem and is a bright boy. No mention of his meltdowns or the reasons why a report was necessary. We have been to 2 independant schools and are going to see another in the New Year. Both have places available and both have children from my area travelling to these schools. I don't have a date for tribunal yet as the emergency review was last Friday and I am waiting for the new statement but as soon as it comes I will be agreeing to it and putting in my appeal. His current school isn't ASD specific. It's a BESD school although there are other children who are ASD. I'll look into the specialist school assessments. Thank you. DD has just rung me to say there is a package from school. I imagine this is the complaint response. Think I'll get a bottle of vino on the way home from work as I bet I will need it

I have been to see my GP this morning who was very supportive of us. He asked could my DS not go to another suitable school - if only it was that easy!!! He has offered to write a letter for me which will explain why I have kept him off school. School have now confirmed in writing that they have now referred me to the LA as DS has less than 80% attendance and a complaint isn't a good enough reason to keep him out of school. I wish they would listen to me. The complaint is one thing. DS being in the wrong environment is the main concern! The inappropriate handling wouldn't have happened if they could read him/didn't let things get out of hand as they do

I've made an appointment for Friday. I think if I cannot get him signed off I will have no other option but to send him back and watch him fail. We have been to see an independant school this morning which would be perfect for him. It's very ASD focussed and the Headteacher really knew his stuff. My Parent Partnership contact saw the EP yesterday and he has advised that DS should be going back to school to see if the care plan they have in place works. I'm obviously not so sure about that as everything in the care plan should have already been in place (there's nothing in there that school said was in place at the Tribunal). I think I have 2 roads... I either send him back to fail and document everything and hope that the Tribunal will go in our favour for a different school or I keep him off school and jump up and down to everyone who will listen - local MP, local papers etc etc. Whatever I decide to do I know the tribunal may not go in our favour as they didn't do last time so I am really wary about this route as we could still be in the same place 6 months from now. I want him in the right school asap

He isn't at school so I don't think I can get him signed off. Oh why didn't I do this when the incident happened. My FiL is telling me to go to the local press to highlight our case - both with the unsuitable school and the restraint. This is seeming more and more tempting as I'm running out of ideas. Why is everything such a battle. He had come so far and it is all crumbling away and yet the LEA just aren't bothered are they

I remember reading about trying to get him signed out of school. I'm not sure whether our GP would do that for us. At the moment he is very calm - his anxieties have calmed down as he is out of school. Think I need to make an appointment at the doctors and see what they can do ?

Thanks for the hugs, I need them!! The HT was quite snotty in his reply to me and said he had 20 days to respond to my letter and he was within that time scale and would reply before they break up for school on Friday. He also said that keeping him off school because I have complained is not allowed and that is why they have put him on the absent register. He has been out of school since the 5 November now and it seems that because I am not happy with their answer for it not to happen again - they have suggested he does 1:1 Maths with a TA instead of the teacher who hurt him - that that is good enough. They have copied in the LA legal team to their response so I know this isn't going in my favour. I just can't believe they are allowed to get away with hurting my son and for letting the system fail him. It's all my fault apparantly. My FiL thinks I should go to the local press and jump up and down but I think that may make things a whole lot worse, not that I can see how much worse it can get. I keep hoping for those 6 numbers so I can either home educate him or put him in the right type of school for his needs.

Just an update really. I need to sound off so hope you don't mind.... It's was DS review on Friday. We received the EP report, SALT report, Behavioural plan and another care plan when we arrived. The EP report seems a waste of time as there is no mention in it about his behaviour deteriorating. It was agreed that the statement needs to be amended in light of the new paperwork so that's good as I can start the ball rolling with part 4. Not only has his behaviour significantly detiorated but his learning has suffered too and they admitted that. They feel the school is the suitable place for him (!!!) and they blamed me for his deterioation as they said that DS knows I don't think it is the right school for him so that he why he is failing. The Deputy Head really had a go at me. It was awful. The EP and the LEA rep both told him he was taking it too far. It was truely awful The Deputy also admitted that the teacher who restrained my son had had no teamteach training as he was off sick on the training days. The HT told the panel at the tribunal last year that all staff were trained in Teamteach. Another lie I have wrote to school and confirmed that I wanted to make a complaint about how he was restrained and also about the fact it got to the stage it did. On Friday it was agreed that DS would go back to school on Wednesday but I really do not feel that it is in his best interests. I do not feel satisfied that they can say they continue to meet his needs and the teacher will do some training in the new year. I have contacted school this afternoon to say I still haven't had a reply as to what is happening with the complaint and also I haven't had a copy of his school file etc. I also rang to say I would be keeping him out of school until the New YEar. I've just had a reply from the HT saying that the safeguarding team are not calling a strategy meeting and his repsonse is with the legal team at the LEA. They are going to add DS to the out of school register so I guess I am in big trouble now with the LEA. I am so upset that they have not taken my complaint seriously. My son was marked and they have admitted the teacher didn't have the correct training yet that is it. I don't know what to do. I know hand on heart that the school is failing him but I am just expected to send him in and wait for him to hit rock bottom before they do anything. It stinks I'm going to contract IPSEA in the morning once I've calmed down but I just wanted to write my thoughts down because I don't know what else to do.

Carnival games is great. My DS likes the Wii Music too.

Good luck x

Would you mind pointing me in the direction of the thread you mention so I can have a read.