phasmid

Happy birthday to the birthday girl.

That's all fine. Did you make the LEA aware of the change of circumstances, the dx, when it was made? That might help your case slightly. Did you get anything in writing from the SENCo statng this? Would she still state the same now if you were to ask her? Did you tell the panel this? This letter will have been from the Education Legal Services Dept at the LEA, not the clerk. They are not employed by the council they are hired in from outside. If the clerk is found to be empolyed by the council they are not independent and are therefore not able to offer the panel the independent legal advice that they are supposed to be there to do. They are normaly barristers allocated from chambers. I would suggest you check the papers that were issued to you ahead of the appeal and see if the clerk named on them is the same person who was sending you the other correspondence beforehand. If they are 1 and the same let me know. Did you send in the reports anyway? If so were they included or not? Anything you sent in should have been presented to the panel with the papers and it would be for the chair to decide if they were relevant or not , not the clerk (or whoever it was you spoke to). Did you get the chance to offer further evidence on the day? You should have done.

It does sound like a normal admission appeals panel. The thought was if he had a statement then the appeal should have gone to a SENDIST, and not LEA, panel.

s'ok.

Ok, so the HT likes to play games - play them back! I need to know the answers to the following questions: 1. Where did the knife come from? 2. What time of day did this happen? 3. Was it in the dining area? This information will help to form the basis of a letter you can give to the school first thing Monday. She has had the chance to issue a letter which could have sorted this out. You indicate that this is par for the course and another will follow - you're going to get in first!

The NAS website is the first place to have a look. HTH

just to let you know bounty rolls voucher and t bags arrived this morning <'>

Dear all, whilst having the utmost sympathy for PSA and the manner in which she has been questioned on this 'other forum' can we suggest that members here do what we do best when faced with such comments - ignore them. The mods

Downloadable pdf version of DfES Model Policy. Hope that helps.

Have you got a copy of your LAs SEN specific transport policy? It may (ought to ) be on their website. I assume you have a copy of the DfES model policy if not let me know and I'll dig out the link for you.

Ok. It is now nearly two FULL DAYS since this incident occured. What have the school done so far apart from make threatening noises at you? The longer they leave this the weaker their case is getting that he is a danger to himself, staff or pupils. If he was/is they should have taken immediate steps to prevent his return to school yesterday...never mind today! What are they playing at? I'd be inclined to take a letter to the school today asking them what, if anything, they intend to do? As, to date they have had at least 3 opprtunities to act: The acting head could (should) have acted in the heads abscence: strike 1. The head was in school yesterday I assume and still didn't act: strike 2. B, I assume, is in school today and the head had all day yesterday 'to investigate' and did not prevent him being there today: strike 3. The DfES Guidance on exclusions from schools p2 item 1.4 does say 'except in exceptional circumstances' that 'exclusions should not be issued in the heat of the moment'- they could have argued this was an exceptional circumstance (see point a or d). This is the document Mrs P gave details of above. They did not choose to issue an immediate exclusion -fixed or otherwise,therefore it can be argued that they did not see his continued presence as a danger. Furthermore, the head had a whole day to investigate this matter yesterday and should have been in a position to act by the end of the school day. They failed to do so. It could be argued he was seeking advice - this is an urgent matter so advice should have been readily given to him/her from the LEA. The threat of this hanging over you/B is only adding to his stress levels. If the school are going to act they should get on with it! Then you can appeal it! I am trying to find out for you if there is a time limit within which the school must act here.

As Mrs P and I will be phasletless (new word for 'Kids will be elsewhere') I have been trying, without success, to find a local, cheap-but-nice B&B for the night of the meet. If any locals know of one they can recommend I would appreciate a pm with details of any website/contacts. Thanks muchly Phas

First off do the meetings minutes mention the handing over of these letters? If they do (and they ought to) then you have proof that you provided evidence of medical difficulties - if they have 'lost' them they are playing a very stupid game. If the letter(s) you handed over at this meeting were the originals ...don't panic! They will be on record somewhere. First place to go is back to to the pyschologist who made the dx and ask them to supply you with a copy. If they can't/won't them it is onto option 2 your gp. If this is also a no go then you will need to contact your local health authority, but I doubt you'll need to get this far. (My advice for anyone is to scan such letters onto your pc and only ever provide copies - never originals - which you can print off as and when needed.) 1. They have assessments carried out previously I assume - they can refer to them. Exactly what 'assessments' are they stating that they cannot do? 2. Unless the SENCo is medically qualified to make a diagnosis or challenge one then their opinion is that of a lay person, they are not qualified as a SENCo to say he has or has not got AS OR anything else! 3. Unless proper observations are carried out over a period of time they are not likely to. A half hour here or there is simply not enough - especialy if the child knows they are being watched specificaly! 4. Yes, there is. You provided it at least twice and will provide it again. Do you know if pressure was placed on her to discharge by the LEA? If there was and she is prepared to state this in writing it will look particularly bad for the LEAs case regarding her evidence. As far as I am aware she has every right to make a recommendation to go for a statement - she has the qualifications to back her up - something , as I said, that I doubt the senco has! Hope that helps. Now start making those phone calls to get hold of a new copy of that letter!

Have you had a social services assessment carried out of YOUR needs? You are a primary carer here and therefore have every right to respite care for your benifit (I appreciate this may take time for your son to accept). Request one and see what help you can get...has he had the same done for himself? If not smae rules apply as such. I know you say you've had a rough time from them BUT they have certain obligations toward your needs.

Great news...

Also, on re-reading things I do not like this at all. Since when are school punishments issued via an american style 'plea bargin' system? If she broke a rule she broke a rule and any punishment should be issued accordingly and not on the basis of whether or not she could 'dob' anyone else in to get a "lesser sentence." I'd be complaining about this too.

That's fair enough. They have every right to impose rules. I don't know if there are hard and fast rules on confiscation of property - I'd have to check. Wherever I have come across this sort of thing it is normal practice for the property to be returned to a parent at the EARLIEST opportunity (this is certainly the case where I work). This may vary from school to school so the best place to check would be the discipline and behaviour policy and see what it says. Make sure they are following their own rules on this. This needs to be the subject of a formal complaint (IMO). This action hardly equates to being 'in loco parentis'!! I would be wanting answers over this. If this was a further pnishment due to the phone that is a double whammy at least and, as you say below, victimisation at worst! Either way : Unacceptable! I'll bet she did. This is assault! If it happened in the street it would be treated as such - the fact it happened elsewhere does not lessen that. He should have been subjected to a high level of supervision the whole time. Again this needs to be the subject of a formal complaint. The teachers excuse of 'he has anger management problems' simply does not wash. His problems should not be an excuse for what happened. Where was his supervision? Was a 'risk assessment' carried out regarding his attendence. I would be reporting this to the police! She WAS sexually assaulted. I have made my suggestions. I would be getting that letter in PDQ as well. She (imo) will have to swallow the punishment for the phone - although it needs to fit 'the crime' as it were. An exclusion may seem rather harsh. I would want answers regarding the other issues...and NOW! HTH

Speaking as a TA, and an ASD/SEN specialist, this TA wants shooting! Are the teaching staff aware that this approach was used? If not they ought to be and whats more the TA needs to be told, VERY CLEARLY, that this sort of 'encouragement' is totally counter-productive. As you say all it did was give him something else to worry about other than his work...and that was already causing him concern!

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Sorry Perry....I should also have said: Welcome to the forum!

It is unusual for an EP to make the request, but it is not unheard of. Normally it is the school or parent who asks for the assessment to be done. In your cse I would advise you make a written request to the school and/or the lea for an assessment to be carried out on your son. As for proportioning 'blame' in this case...I'm not to sure that the the EP was wrong in making the request it may just be the 'offical' route wasn't followed.

Don't worry too much about that, as curra says: Let us know what happens.

If you are going to home educate whilst this is sorted out DO NOT deregister him from school in the meantime. That, I'm afraid, allows the LEA to back off completely and blame you for the problem of getting observations etc sorted - they will use any excuse. Still go that route, but keep him registered as a pupil. If at all possible get him signed off sick (stress/nerves that sort of thing) that means after 15 (school/working) days he is entitled to some home tution support from the school.

Do not let the school steam-roller you today. Ask for time to take things in/seek advice etc if you need to. At no point admit (or allow your son to admit) he did wrong. Always refer to what happened as an accident/incident and get them to do the same...from your description they cannot refer to this as a stabbing so do not let that go on record without challenge. If they do go down the route of permenant exclusion on the grounds of danger to others etc pull them up usuing the points Mrs P outlined above. Stay strong. Let us know how it goes/if we can help.

i seemto have stumped everyone so i'll tell you it was BILLY FURY 'BECAUSE' Someone else can have a go now