Can i take him out?

[Pets74]

my son is in an asd unit at a special needs school.

nothing but problems. he developed this ear shattering scream a while ago and yes we are having trouble dealing with it. at school he has been removed repeatedly from class for "upsetting other pupils" even though some wind him up to get a reaction, sometimes he is just a nowty sod.

he has been segregated in assembly and has to sit in the back on his own, i saw this when i went in recently, and there were louder kids than him sat with the rest of the school.

he had a part in a school play and we worked on his words at home but they wouldn't let him say them he had to press a button which spoke for him-surely they should be encouraging his speech.

they wouldn't let him do languages for his first 2 years, as it wasn't appropriate for him apparently, now he is doing french. as it fits in better with their plans.

there has been other things too.

i feel like they are not dealing with him, just making their life easier. i have asked for the reasons for time outs through the home/school diary, i have asked for a copy of his timetable and his IEP's and received nothing. i went to a meeting end of last school year and they said all my concerns would be addressed. they haven't been and i am now seeking a meeting with the head.

until it's resolved am i allowed to take him out of school as i feel i could do more work with him at home. he is at the severe end but doesn't fit in their box of an asd pupil.

 

so after all that moaning. am i legally allowed to take him out?

[stressedmumto2]

I think in short yes you can take him out but you would probably be expected to educate him yourself at home and that certainly in our local authority I do not think they would fund education in the home, unless you could state he was sick and not able to attend school or if he was excluded.

 

I'm not completly sure on this though but i'm sure someone who will will be along who will know.

 

Good luck with what you do decide to do. <'>

[baddad]

Hi Pets74 -

 

I'm not certain on any of this, but taking an 'educated guess' I think you would be opening yourself up to all sorts of problems if you just took him out...

I think you really need to seek some independent advice about the poor communication between home and school and the problems you are having as a consequence.

First port of call would probably be 'partnership with parents' - you could get their contact details from the school or LEA - but there are other services that could help (IPSEA etc) and it probably wouldn't hurt to get his SS case worker involved either. From how you've described the school they should be a very good option - a special unit within a special school - so it may be a case of getting them to deliver on that rather than thinking outside of that environment, but obviously I'm saying that on the basis of your post where your local knowledge might suggest otherwise...

 

I'm sure someone else will be able to give you some more specific information on the legalities of pulling him out, but hope that's helpful as a starter...

 

L&P

 

BD

Edited October 19, 2007 by baddad

[Kazzen161]

If you take him out of school without a doctor's note for him or without officially deregistering him, then you will probably get into trouble, especially as he has a Statement.

 

Have you put your requests/concerns in writing to the SENCO/Head of Unit (copy to the Head and to the SEN Governor)? Letters aren't so easily ignored. Make it clear that you have asked previously (give dates/times/names if you have them) and had no response. Might be worth asking for a copy of the Complaints Procedure in the letter too - just to get them worried.

 

If you still get no response - follow the Complaints Procedure.

[Pets74]

thank you. my protectiveness as his mum is sscreaming "get him out". i have got his home school diaries that i am going through this weekend to get dates i have his review forms too from the last two years where agreed practices have been documented. i was thinking of first writing to his main teacher, head of lower school, and his head. all at the same time and see what happens then. i am also going to do what has been suggested further up. it doesn't matter who does what it's always my boy that is being removed. just feel like it's not teaching any of the kids anything, by removing him everytime. and i think that because i have dared to question this teacher in the past that she has took against us. (that could just be paranoia though)

 

he got off the bus tonight and screamed for an hour, got himself so worked up "no school no school" it's awful knowing he has to go back for another week.

i will go on website and find a list of governors too.

just feel so mad.

 

 

big thanks.

[Cat]

Someone here who did take her sons out of a system which was disabling them more than their autism.

 

You can not just remove a child with a statement from a special school BUT that does not mean that it can not be done especially if your instincts are telling you to get him out. You could get your son signed off sick by your GP if they would play ball but many will not, you would have to check your GP out.

 

If you really want to explore the possibility then my advice would be to join this list http://www.he-special.org.uk/ There are many people here who have taken their special needs children out of school and who are successfully home educating. Many of these parents had statemented children in special schools, making them the right people to ask your questions.

 

Cat

Edited October 19, 2007 by Cat

[Pets74]

thanks Cat, just had a quick look.

will check it out properly when i have finished with all these dates.

what annoys me is that parents have enough to do without all this extra cack on top. feels like you never stop fighting.

[oxgirl]

Hi Pets74, were you thinking of taking him out permanently and home edding or just as a temporary measure? I'm not sure how easy it would be to take him out just for a short period, but it is possible to take him out of the system if you intend to home ed from now on. Also, there is no reason why you can't then get him back into the system at a later date if you choose.

 

My lad has a statement and was part-time at mainstream with full-time 1:1 when I took him out to home ed. I did so for two years and then got a place for him at an ASD unit attached to a mainstream secondary school. I know he wasn't in a special school when I took him out, but I certainly had no problems deregistering him. I just wrote to the LEA and the school and that was that, he was out o' there! They send LEA inspectors round to check up on the work you are doing but all was satisfactory and good progress was being made at home, so I had no problems. I also had no problem getting him back into the education system.

 

Good luck with it. Hope it works out for you. Making the decision is sometimes the hardest part, once you've made it it's often a lot easier. It took us nearly two years before we finally decided to take him out of school because I was so fearful of how I'd cope, etc. etc., but once he was out I really wished I'd done it a lot earlier.

 

~ Mel ~ <'>

[Pets74]

Hi mel, i was thinking permanently or until this techer has been moved. or until he has moved. i asked at his last review if he could be integrated into his peer group as the unit he is in doesn't seem to be meeting his needs, he has some language and is in a group of non talkers-so his speech is not being encouraged. i am not being snobby or thinking he is better than anyone else, just his needs are different to what is being catered for in his group. and i have just found out that even though he is year 9, due to the upset children he has been moved into the upper school group. i have read through his reviews again and i am just getting angrier.

i just found the mission statement (is that what it's called?) you know the ethos of the school so am going to use that and point out where they are failing with my child according to their own rules.

 

you would think a unit in a special needs school would be the ideal place.

[JsMum]

Hi, if you feel the school are not meeting his needs and your letters of complaint have not been addressed I am sure if you where discuss this with the local educational welfare and ask for tempary leave because you feel keeping him in school in this situation is leaving your son severley stressed, the screaming could be the sign he is very frustrated as he is unable to communicate, and the lack of expressive opportunity when he is given time outs, I would also have your son assessed for Anxiety levels at the GP and see if there is any possiblity he can be signed off sick if the Welfare officer is not very supportive, also talk to the Top person of the EW department.

 

 

If you feel as a mother it is causes your son more problems attending because the school are ignoring the situation then I would and I have removed my son from a school that was causing stress to my child, the school presant doesnt sound like it is the best place for him and he may need a more specialised and theraputic placement.

 

JsMum

[Pets74]

right i have written my letter, and ready to take it in tomorrow. i cut out all the swear words, but in parts it does sound very confrontational. but i want to look like i mean business and am not going to roll over.

i also have a fab GP who will say he is highly stressed if i explain the situation to him.

the thing is i want to do it properly take all the right steps so they can't say i have done anything illegal. if they ask for a meeting i am going to request all the professionals mentioned above are involved. (thanks everyone for letting me know who i need to be talking to)

got a feeling i will get a phone call but want any response in writing, so i have come back else it will turn into a he said/she said kind of argument.

at the end of it all my concern is for my child only. his dad is concerned that home schooling will kill me with the lack of sleep and everything else, but if it comes to it, he knows we have to do something.

 

thanks everyone. <'>

[Kazzen161]

got a feeling i will get a phone call but want any response in writing,

 

If they do call you, keep a note of everything they say + date and time of call, then write a letter to them saying "as per our telephone conversation of.... you said/agreed to...... If you feel any of the above is inaccurate , please let me know in writing by return post".

[Pets74]

If they do call you, keep a note of everything they say + date and time of call, then write a letter to them saying "as per our telephone conversation of.... you said/agreed to...... If you feel any of the above is inaccurate , please let me know in writing by return post".

oh yeah, *hunts around for a pen*

thanks.

should have thought of that. this rage stops me thinking.

[oxgirl]

his dad is concerned that home schooling will kill me with the lack of sleep and everything else, but if it comes to it, he knows we have to do something.

 

You might be surprised. I found home schooling my son myself a heck of a lot less stressful than dealing with all the worry of school and picking up the pieces of my wreck of a child after each day. At least we had the whole day to ourselves, we went on lots of relaxing walks, did lots of painting and cooking together and at least I knew what was happening to him each day and could have some control over what happened. Now he's back in school, I'm totally exhausted with all the worry and stress and frustration of it.

 

Good luck with your letter. <'>

 

~ Mel ~

[Pets74]

in response they are now saying that he is being violent at school. i have asked loads of times in his diary if he lashes out and it's always been no.

now i have dared to challenge them they are saying he is violent. i am so angry i am in tears. don't know what to do now apart from rip her face off.

[JsMum]

in response they are now saying that he is being violent at school. i have asked loads of times in his diary if he lashes out and it's always been no.

now i have dared to challenge them they are saying he is violent. i am so angry i am in tears. don't know what to do now apart from rip her face off.

 

 

OK from them first saying " upsetting the other children " to now been Violent, I would ask them to be more spercific and when and what was the Violent behaviour mean?

 

You need to write another letter requesting this as it needs to be all in writing.

 

I think you need them to realise that this act of him been Violent may be an indecation that he just isnt coping and its his way of communicating and expressing his feelings.

 

JsMum

[Pets74]

calmed down a bit now. sending home/school diary direct to the head, and explaining what has gone on and what the lying cow is saying now. he is only violent to himself. she is soooo lying.

can't accuse one thing and then change the story, how old is she 5?

anyway, thanks for the advice and support. i am not going to back down on this.

 

<'>

[pumpkinpie]

Have you taken a copy before you send it in ? Things can go missing!

[Kazzen161]

That was my first thought too, pumpkinpie - aren't we cynical - lol!

 

If he has been violent, there will be a record of these "incidents", so ask to see them.

[Pets74]

i was thinking of scanning the diary as his last years diary went "missing" then i felt like i was over reacting. going to scan it now though.

they are going to close ranks aren't they?

*prepares for battle*

[pumpkinpie]

I think you are right to take copies - isnt it sad that we have to be so defensive all the time? But experience shows you have to wqtch your back as no one else will!