Zemanski Report post Posted March 8, 2006 I got a call from school at 6:30pm tonight - Com is excluded tomorrow for hitting his LSA yesterday. This was the first I knew of the incident, no note, no nothing - and I've been in school 3 times since it happened I haven't had a letter and it's more than a day now so it's illegal again Zemanski Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jen Report post Posted March 8, 2006 you need a letter and this should of been given to you yesterday not over 24 hours later as this is confusing your child. IPSEA have a good site for exclusion follow there advice. You need to ask what was happening before your child hit the LSA. How it was handled etc. Could the situation of been handled differently Jen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
annie Report post Posted March 8, 2006 Z and N <'> When will they ever learn . Go get 'em guys Annie xx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tez Report post Posted March 8, 2006 Hope you sort it out. Did that asocial learning and flexischooling ever materialise? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zemanski Report post Posted March 8, 2006 The deputy head had no information about the triggers or what state he was in or why it happened - the note of the incident she read me over the phone just said he was being 'defiant' and refused to go to a lesson then hit the LSA with a ruler or similar; not very helpful. Just thinking about how to start my letter - a few expletives ahould do the trick followed by lots of quotes direct from the DRC COP and that nice handbook on behaviour and attendance I waded through just a couple of weeks ago. No, the asocial learning isn't set up yet - they haven't sorted out the laptop he needs for it, the LEA don't seem to have much sense of urgency but that's not really a surprise! Zemanski Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smiley Report post Posted March 8, 2006 Oh for f.......... !! Ever feel like your going around and around in circles with school?? <'> Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JenRose Report post Posted March 8, 2006 Go for em!!!!, perhaps they should have a read of your handbook! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UltraMum Report post Posted March 8, 2006 To be read in a Victor Meldrew voice: I don't believe it! Go get 'em! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Suze Report post Posted March 8, 2006 I,m so sorry, it,s just one constant battle, getting schools to understand ASD and then a battle to get school to provide appropriate help.Even then you still battle ,it,s a merry go round of cr*p.......... <'> hugs to Z and LN, and com. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zemanski Report post Posted March 8, 2006 (edited) written a stonking letter - 4 sides - to the head quoting the DRC code of practive and the behaviour and attendance guidance. Phas said to deliver it tonight so they can't give me the - unlawfully late - letter of exclusion before they get it But, Phas, WHERE's THE LETTER BOX? Edited March 8, 2006 by Zemanski Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
littlenemo Report post Posted March 8, 2006 WHERE's THE LETTER BOX? On the other side of the spiked steel fence that keeps the kids from egging the place at night Tomorrow will be fun - letter to head massively hinting at legal threats, Com in meltdown and it's Z's birthday Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phasmid Report post Posted March 8, 2006 "SChanzz an frazzen Dick Dastardly....." (Best Mutley type voice!) Bums!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zemanski Report post Posted March 8, 2006 And, just to complicate the issue still further, the LEA ASD specialist is in school to observe and work with Com tomorrow morning Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
annie Report post Posted March 8, 2006 But, Phas, WHERE's THE LETTER BOX? If Nemo can manage to get over the spiked steel fence, I'm sure he'd be able to make one Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UltraMum Report post Posted March 8, 2006 ROFL! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zemanski Report post Posted March 8, 2006 (edited) Nemo says we could fold it into a dart with a lead weighted nose-job and fire it through the lovely new double glazing with a huge catapult - trouble is we've signed it Z Edited March 8, 2006 by Zemanski Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bid Report post Posted March 8, 2006 Hi Z and N I know you've posted that there is no suitable specialist placement for Com within your LEA (although apologies if I've got that wrong! )... I'm sure you have done, but have you looked at any out of county special schools, in particular any independent special schools for AS? Bid Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zemanski Report post Posted March 8, 2006 Thanks, Bid, we're in the process already. Found a lovely school with a unit just out of the LEA, only about ?5000 a term for a mainstream place, God knows what they charge for a unit placement Zemaski Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bid Report post Posted March 8, 2006 Hi Zem That is extremely cheap! You should see the annual fees at my son's independent residential special school. We're talking multiples of 10s... Really hope you find the best place for Com <'> Bid Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kathryn Report post Posted March 8, 2006 Zemanski and Little Nemo, Sorry to hear about this - if anyone can fight them, you can. K Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zemanski Report post Posted March 8, 2006 (edited) ?15000 a year is not cheap for a mainstream day place and the unit has 1-1 staffing so you can multiply it up a fair bit I would think The grandparents have said if we can get Com in they will pay for Dot as it has a dyslexia support package too Edited March 8, 2006 by Zemanski Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zemanski Report post Posted March 8, 2006 Night, night, folks, I've got a big day tomorrow and need to be on the phone before 7:30am Thanks for all the support Zemanski Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LKS Report post Posted March 9, 2006 (edited) H <'> hope it goes well today Z Edited March 9, 2006 by LKS Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
justamom Report post Posted March 9, 2006 Ditto to what LKS said Best of luck justamom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phasmid Report post Posted March 9, 2006 March in, stick that letter on the desk and walk straight out! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CarerQuie Report post Posted March 9, 2006 When will they ever learn that exclusion does not tackle the underlying difficulties with our children.Also,they don't some of them aren't bothered about loss of contact with their peers!xx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
littlenemo Report post Posted March 9, 2006 Well, something I said last night to the DH must have had an impact. At 8:15 I spoke to the DH on the phone to find out what to do about today - the advisor was due to see Com and the school didn't want to put it off - and she told me they are not excluding him until tomorrow and that she is making further enquiries to see if the exclusion is appropriate so Com has gone to school (oblivious to everything) and the letter was handed into the office and I managed to get out without speaking to anyone but Com's main LSA who didn't even know an incident had occurred!!!!! Zemanski Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kathryn Report post Posted March 9, 2006 It sounds like a complete shambles! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CarerQuie Report post Posted March 9, 2006 It sounds ridiculous.Surely if something was serious enough to warrant exclusion,it should have stood.(Not that I'm saying it's right). What sort of confused message will your child get if the exclusion goes ahead tomorrow?They are just changing the rules to suit themselves.xx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zemanski Report post Posted March 9, 2006 Com is going to the doctors tomorrow, I think, he can't be expected to cope with any more of this so I'll get the GP to sign him off again and see what they do next. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nellie Report post Posted March 9, 2006 Z & L'nemo, It's a pile of poo! ?15000 a year is not cheap for a mainstream day place and the unit has 1-1 staffing so you can multiply it up a fair bit I would think The grandparents have said if we can get Com in they will pay for Dot as it has a dyslexia support package too The very very best with this. Nellie xx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tez Report post Posted March 9, 2006 Zemanski, A is due to start his virtual schooling within the next 2 weeks, (believe it when I see it), if it seems ok I'll pm you with the details, might help as a temporary measure if Com is signed off sick. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
asereht Report post Posted March 9, 2006 My son has had this kind of s**t in the past, I really hope things improve for you soon.It's so not fair on com I HATE SCHOOLS!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
polkadotty Report post Posted March 9, 2006 Hi Zemanski my son has been excluded so many times in his short career in mainstream - he's 8 next week - for various aggressive incidents that I have been told he ' decided' to do, or 'chose' to do rather than sit nicely and quietly and do as he was told, that i can't even remember how many there have been. I didn't realise for months that not getting a letter, or being asked to take him / keep him at home rather than risk exclusion was illegal, and i have another friend who has had exactly the same experience with her adhd 7yr old too. My nearly-8yr old AS son has now been permanently excluded without any warning at all last November following an incident when he cut the sleeve of another child's jumper with a pair of paper scissors, leaving a red mark on the child's arm. I would never say that this kind of incident is acceptable or ok, but i was so utterly devastated that the head decided to PERMANENTLY exclude C for this. the lea were also gobsmacked, and when we went to make our parental representations to the governing body, the governors (well one of them anyway) cried. C had only been in that school for 7 months, working in the year above his age because he is so able (i know, stupid idea and it didn't work, but we didn't know that then) and had previously been excluded from another mainstream primary & had been out of a classroom for 10 months. The school didn't seem to recognise that simply getting through the playground into a room full of kids every day was a huge achievement for my school-phobic son. And now I hear from the LEA that the last incident at school was a 'blip'. I could blip them. He should not have been permanently excluded, but the school were not coping, and not meeting his needs, but telling him off and telling him he was naughty and expecting one hour a week 'social skills' would sort it all out. i'm not cross or anything... sorry to rant. C has 8 hrs a week tuition at home which is the same as house arrest, but with extra fighting. And they want to send him straight back into mainstream, which we are FIGHTING like crazy. If anyone has read my last post, i've been offered a place for C at an independant special school in Tadley, and the cost there is astronomical. i don't think we have a hope in hell of getting funding for C there, but i don't know where else to turn, actually. there, rant over. Zemanski, i am so with you in your struggle. good luck polkadotty Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Canopus Report post Posted March 9, 2006 ?15000 a year is not cheap for a mainstream day place and the unit has 1-1 staffing so you can multiply it up a fair bit I would think. Even a degree only costs ?9000 for a 3 year course. Unless the LEA is willing to come up with ?15000 a year until the end of Y11 I would be very wary at spending that amount of money unless you have deep pockets or are willing to remortgage your house. The crucial question is what do you (and Com) want to get out of school? Spending money is one thing but you must also take into account what you get in return for your hard earned cash. If it's 5 or 6 GCSEs then ?15000 a year is one hell of a lot of money compared to private tutors at home. If it's educational services then you must determine whether real useful long term education is being provided that can't easily be provided anywhere else, or whether it's just a system tailored to individual needs of the kids whilst they are at school but of little use after they finish. I have known several parents of NT kids who have paid 1000s for fee paying schools but regretted it even though their kids emerged with impressive GCSE grades. Some parents say they should have put the money aside for university and one said they should have saved it for a deposit for a house. I know this all sounds very harsh and I am probably not in a good position to make such a critical analysis of the situation, but I don't like to see people end up in financial ruin. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bid Report post Posted March 9, 2006 Hi Zemanski, What I meant was that ?15,000 a year is cheap compared to what the LEA normally spends on specialist placements...so you might find it easier to get them to agree to fund a place at that level, than ?60,000 + a year for a residential place. It could work in your favour, IYSWIM... Good luck! Bid Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flora Report post Posted March 9, 2006 I went to look at a residential school for children with AS. It would on average, depending on the child and how much intervention they require, cost 100k a year. The HT quoted around 26k a term for the average AS child. Others more, some less. So 5k a term is certainly very cheap in comparison to that. Lauren Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
polkadotty Report post Posted March 9, 2006 (edited) The school that has offered C a full-time day place - with additional one to one support, (he's AS & bright) is quoting ?25k per term. not sure how likely it is i'll be able to persuade our LEA to fund that... if the school is the right placement for your child, then i truly believe that fighting to get the LEA to fund it is the right thing to do, even if a family can afford the private fees. It is, afterall, the responsibility of the state to ensure that every child is educated appropriately - if every child matters, then that's every child in my book. xx chin up polkadotty just to add - it's an independent special school for children with ASD only Edited March 9, 2006 by polkadotty Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites