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Complaints to Primary School and Transition to Secondary School help

jo_456

Hello, 

Last week, my daugther was diagnosed as Autistic. 

We are yet to have our meeting with CAMHS to discuss the report, and I am feeling very overwhelmed by it all. My daugther was initially referrred for an ADHD assessment, following my diagnosis of ADHD and similar traits my daughter had to me. This was a self referral. 

For context, we went to daugher's school two years ago, with our concerns. The school senco brushed us off, and told us her behaviour was normal for a child her age. The school refuse to refer my daughter, and flat out refused to help. 

Fast forward two years later, we have some really lovely third party people at CAMHS behind us, urging the school to put things into place for the transition to secondary school, however the school do not engage, they do not put anything in place, other than a break during SATS. 

CAMHS have provided the school with workbooks, help guides, and other helpful information but it is not being used. 

The school kept me out of all contact with CAMHS, despite me asking to be included, invited us to meetings with CAMHS with 24 hours notice, and even lied to the assessor whilst they were conducting their assessment that my daugther didn't take to school the things we bought out of our own pocket to help in school. We asked the school to clarify with CAMHS that what they told the assessor was incorrect and they said they would. 

I asked for a copy of this communication, and whilst CAMHS said it wouldnt matter, they would take on board what we had said and what they had seen, the school sent a piece of paper with the dates that they had communication with CAMHS. 

I am extremely worried about the transition to secondary school, as my child is already anxious, I am worried that the school are very good at telling CAMHS what they will do, but do not actually do it. 

I have prepared a Subject Access Request to the school, so I can see if they have prepared the new school of neurodiversity concerns, and what they have discussed with CAMHS, and i know this will not turn back the clock as to how we have been treated, but i am hoping that a complaint will stop another parent going through a battle with the school to get them to listen. 

Has anyone sent a subject access request to their child's school before? 

Is a subject access report the way to go, will it help me see what needs to be done in secondary school?

Has anyone got any advice on how i can prepare my child for the transition as i have no confidence in that the school are going to prepare her for the move. 

I am also still angry that her teacher lied to camhs or "Misinformed" as the school put it, and also told CAMHS they had put several things in place, when in fact, we as parents did. 

Thanks in advance, and if this is in the wrong section, i apologise, i just do not know which way to turn, and I just want to be sure that the move to big school is smooth for my daugther. 

Parents

  • Hi. We also had a Primary school which dismissed evidence. This meant getting a diagnosis took longer.

    As you mentioned SATS, I presume your daughter is going to Secondary school this year. You could contact the school she is going to and ask to arrange a meeting with their SENCO. The meeting would then give you an opportunity to discuss anything you feel it would be helpful to put in place. They may also be able to arrange extra visits to see the school. It is not ideal to not have support from the Primary School, but hopefully the Secondary School will be able to offer some help.

  • in reply to Homebird

    Thankyou, I will contact the secondary school. We do have an advisor from CAMHS that is willing to attend meetings with us for as long as we need. My worry is what the primary school have said to the secondary school considering the “mid-informed” CAMHS during the assessment. 

Reply
  • in reply to Homebird

    Thankyou, I will contact the secondary school. We do have an advisor from CAMHS that is willing to attend meetings with us for as long as we need. My worry is what the primary school have said to the secondary school considering the “mid-informed” CAMHS during the assessment. 

Children
  • in reply to jo_456

    In my experience parents are better at identifying issues and suggesting ways to support than staff, as they know the child better. When my child was at Primary we could occasionally go into open classroom situations. I identified my child's anxiety when given a task, which staff denied having noticed. 

    Having support from CAMHS at a meeting would be good and they may also be able to suggest strategies for the school to follow. From our experience it was important to have a 'passport' with the most important things to help our child in classes, so all the staff teaching him could see this and we could refer them to it if necessary.

    Based on the fact that secondary schools don't take much notice of SATS because they do their own assessments early on, I would presume they wouldn't take a lot of notice of what the last school said, especially if you have spoken to the new SENCO. However if you want more information then a SAR may give you that information you want to know. 

    I hope you are able to get some reassurance and your daughter has a good transition.