I just had to share this...

Hi - first of all, I think the school are letting you and your son down!

As for the farce that is SATs - schools can choose not to put a child though the SATs exams - these are usually the children that are not expected to pass ie: those with a learning difficulty, dyslexia etc. This is because the low marks will bring down the schools average mark and make the school look bad in the league tables!

If this is the case, the school should make alternative arrangements for your son IN school during the week of the exams. Is he the only child not sitting them? If he is happy to be on the computer then what is the harm of letting him do that within school. What a cop out - and what about his reaction to the disruption of not being in school as he expects to be?

Lots of luck in getting a result in your favour. x

Also was he already diagnosed when he enrolled in this school? If they accepted him with a diagnosis they have legal obligations.

The problem is, if they are now putting up barriers ond obstacles in the way of his education you are presented with:

The cost and inconvenience of making good the shortfall

The cost and inconvenience of finding another school.

You may have missed a better education opportunity when you enrolled him at this school, on assurances they could provide the right environment.

Therefore whether or not you feel inclined to pursue a civil action against the school, the school is liable if you choose to do so. 

A concise tactful letter styled without prejudice (Citizens Advice Bureau could help phrase this) to the School Governors pointing out they accepted your son and are now not fulfilling the expectations given, may be sufficient action. 

I would be tempted to mention the Equalities Act. ASD is a disability. As a disabled person, your son can't be treated less favourably than his peers and adjustments must be put in place for his education.

Hi Lou

Isn't there a bit of the law in England that says "meet the needs of the child" regardless of a statement?  I know the statement can provide consistent support but they are still required to meet his needs in the meantime as best they possibly can.

It all still seems to come down to attitude and a lack of respect wherever you are in the country....

Only thing I can suggest is emailing the Head and stating that he will be in and in order for his needs to be met he requires a computer to work at whilst the SATS are going on and support when completing them in order to be able to meet his potential in the assessments.

I have found over the years I had to email and copy the world in to get any kind of action.  Very sad I know, this seems to be the level of professionalism you are dealing with at times.

I am sure there are good mainstream schools out there with open minds, but sadly they are in the minority.

Good luck, hope it goes ok

Mhairi

Hiya stranger, 

Thats the feeling i got, they just couldnt be bothered! He has been passed from pillar to post and still not got anywhere :( He MOST definatly needs the extra help and i have been trying so hard for the past 4 years with no joy. The best i can get is an I.E.P which they dont even stick to!

On the staying at home issue...I had to give up my day job a few years ago because i was always getting calls to go calm jake down as he was upset or silly things like he had shouted at someone even though they had hit him etc! As we couldnt afford for me not to work i now work nightshift. I usually sleep while he is at school, while he is off i guess i will grab an hour when my husband comes home but to honest this isnt unsual either. 

I think its very disapointing that the poor lad is such an annoyance to them! and they wonder why he is unsettled in school! 

Thank you for your reply

Lou x

loulabell said:

ago...at the time the budget cuts and such like the education board were not handing them out to often and very rarely for kids with ADHD. I was told that beacuse he wasnt really a distraction or violent he wasnt entitled to one. 

In other words, they can't be bothered to support him and know that SEN statements are documents which must be followed. Just because he isn't a discraction or violent, doesn't mean he doesn't need one. Some children need them because whilst they have no behaviour problems, they do need extra support with education.

What exactly are you expected to do with your son if you keep him off school for the SATs? Not every parent is lucky enough to either have a stay at home partner or other people who can look after their child.

Hiya Hun, 

Unfortunatly he hasnt got a statment yet so he is not 'entitled' to extra 1-1. He gets 1-1 on a thursday morning. Thats it.

The school have even said that on a thursday he is happier, more settled and is more willing to do his writing when the help is there. my response was...doesnt that tell you something!!

We tried to get him statmented a year ago...at the time the budget cuts and such like the education board were not handing them out to often and very rarely for kids with ADHD. I was told that beacuse he wasnt really a distraction or violent he wasnt entitled to one. 

More annoying is if they had taken the time to look at all the reports, his work (or lack of it) they would see that there is a problem. I go in all the time to check on his progress and the teacher shows me Jakes books...its page after page of dates, all he manages to do is the date at the top. Maths is no problem he loves maths, but he also has a helper in when they do maths. Its literacy he has no evidence of.

Jake actually doing his SATS is not a problem to me if he doenst do them, i know they would really unsettle him. I just HATE the fact that they dont even want him in the school. He is not a distraction, he sits quietly on a computer for hours!!

Thank you for listening to my rant :D 

Take Care Lou x

Hi

I am sure you could make a complaint and state that you want him to be given the opportunity to take his SATS as surely there is an element of discrimination - "less favourable treatment" there.  They should have made arrangements for his SATS in advance whether that meant he had access to a room on his own with a 1-1 or whatever he needs to be able to complete them in as calm a way as possible, keeping his anxiety to  minimum.  I would also have thought he would be allowed a scribe or be able to do some of the work of the computer if writing is an obstacle to his learning.

If you feel it is beneficial for him to do the SATS maybe you should consider going higher.  Parent Partnership may be able to advise or the NAS Education team are great.

I hate that whole attitude of keep them out of the way as we are too busy to deal/support them as we have the other kids to think of.  We get it in a different form - makes me sick in this day and age that human beings are still being treated like this in a developed country.  Unbelievable. 

Hope that helps and I feel better for having a good rant too!

Take care and good luck