Today is a new day!

InaPickle

Apart from the problems with school, things sound as though they are going well!

As for the school, the fact that DD is has only missed one day really stands in your favour. moo2moo's idea about different codes is pretty good as well. I wonder if you could ask about a Young Carer's policy...x

Verbatim

moo2moo wrote: »

Have you considered approaching the problem with school differently and asking to see their Young Carers Policy? Thats educational lingo covering a multitude of things. It does not mean that the child is a carer but more that the childs routine is more likely to result in lateness because of unpredictable events in a morning. It should make reasonable allowances for just about everything including lateness. It also allows the school to enter DDs attendance as a different coding on SIMS (the computer programme which calculates their precious attendance figures) and so their figures won't be affected. If DD is only 10 minutes late shes unlikely to miss anything more than registration anyway. Sounds like your Head is a real jobsworth who is going out of their way to make your life miserable for no reason whatsoever. You could always suggest that the Head is welcome to collect DD from your doorstep if that would appease her number crunchers.

That is a brilliant idea!

beanielou

Great idea from moo

taxi73

Great idea Moo

POSITIVE_AND_FOCUSED

Yes, thank you to you all for your suggestions. My plan of atack with the school is to wait for the Welfare Officers response and then take it from there at which point I could ask for the young Carers policy couldn't I? Ive since realised that dd has virtually 100% attendance and then the day of lates at worst. One of the sessions she was down for as absent was for an educational visit! Anyway, I have since contacted Care for Carers who had tried to speak to the Head with no success. She suggested to the Care for Carers that my parents call me in the mornings to make sure Im ok and getting up promptly and all is well so we are on time. But now I know its 1 day a week, late before reg closed, not late after reg closed, I feel more relaxed about things. Care for Carers have asked for me to send them a copy of the attendance report and they were staggered by the amount of hassle Ive had for such a fantastic attendance record given our situation! I will use it I can tell you to argue the point of bullying by the school given the way other families have been treated whose children have been absent for loads more days. Even if I was late every day by 10 mins, that equates to a week off for dd a year. I know families who have had 2 weeks hols in term time with no hassle. Will keep you posted of progress!!!

Other news, the school fete. I didn't speak to the HHead, but every other person of authority in the school who would have read the copy of my letter to the Welfare officer were as nice as pie to me. Really nice! They asked dd aswell as other talent show entrants to sing her talent show song again, which she performed in front of the whole fete. Oh, I cried, the words of that song, Believe by Leon Jackson are just so fantastic. If you believe, anything is possible. Such powertful, amazing, positive words. To think dd wanted to sing that song. She sang it with no nerves showing. Amazing I think at 7 yrs!

Otherwise, its work, work, work, getting the orders in, paying the bills, starting to enjoy, yes enjoy the challenge of keeping on top of it all. I will not fail simple as that.

InaPickle

Wow, is that a bird, is it a plane? No, it's SuperPaF!

Cor, I feel sorry for that Head now: you are on the warpath and then some!

I will be interested to see what goes on, and yet again, I think the fact that DD has such a strong attendance record (and takes part in extra-curricular activities like the fete) with such gusto will certainly help your case.

Best of luck! x

POSITIVE_AND_FOCUSED

Thanks Pickle, yes it sounds like Im at war doesn't it. Don't particularly want to be but then I want to get the matter sorted. Its a huge thing to me to have been reported to Soc Services without any consultation with the school beforehand for what equates at worst to a day off the entire school year and at best, a half day. Its wrong, and I want them to know that I mean business so it stops now. I dont want to fight these battles for another 10 years! Nip it in the bud now. Disability is not a crime, I think I do very well achieving the attendance dd has had, 99.5% and lateness will always occur from time to time due to our situation. Thats it. End of.

Anyway, have agreed to do the food for a birthday buffet one of my team is wanting to do for her dd who will be 50! Weve agreed she will pay me £75, and she will give me the money for all the food of course. am very excited about it and v touched she wants me to do it.

Must get dd's supper and have a load of brochures to sort out and a couple of team members to call. A busy day tom. Target sales to collect £750 but if I pick up £600 I will be happy.

Verbatim

Go you PAF.
It will really be worth it to get the school sorted out. i think an apology is definitely warranted.

POSITIVE_AND_FOCUSED

Well, just wanting to report progress with the Welfare Office. Dd has broken up from school now, and last week having heard nothing from the Welfare Officer after I had written to her the week before, I telephoned to see what was happening. She was unavailable and I was told she would call me back. I did get a call back but not from her, from the Assistant Principal of the Welfare Office! She said it was the school's responsibility to deal with my concerns. I said the school told me it was the Welfare Office who were responsible and thats why I wrote to the Welfare Office and not the school!. She then told me the Welfare Officer concerned claims that she did not report that dd was "tearful". I said Im sorry but she did. Mum spoke to her, not me and the word she used was "tearful", not emotional or slightly emotional, but "tearful". We both believe that was the wording used by the Social Worker too in the report she read to us. She also suggested I use the driveway to drive dd up to the entrance of the school to save time. I explained that was not allowed due to Health and Safety and anyway the new Head has cemented over the one disabled parking bay that had been in existence. She then said she had access to dd's attendance figures and over the last month she has been late just once, so what has changed. I said I had a fall on 15th June which I attribute largely to the stress of this whole situation and thats whats changed. Neighbours and friends who dont usually travel in the direction of the school have stepped in to help take dd to school when it is clear Im still struggling with my "wounds". Oh she said. Also, we have been late more so in the winter. I said we did have 3 months of snow here, its a miracle I was able to function at all and get dd in and yes a neighbour helped too then. And yes, it is tougher in colder weather. Everything does take longer. I said its lovely having help, but I also want tobe independant and take my own child to school. She was a nice lady, but everything we discussed Ive put to her in writing again. I still want the school to answer to why we were considered Social Services material without having the consideration to speak with us first under the Data Protection act. When we have been late it has been before reg has closed so I would expect dd's teacher to be aware of any tears as a result of lateness and she knows nothing. I told this lady I do not believe dd has ever been tearful or emotional there out of character and I want them to answer to that under the Data Protection. Also, further to moos suggestions, I asked to be informed of the Young Carers Policy. She said she would see if one existed at the school! I said to her at the end of the dayI had calculated that with lates included dd at worst had 98.8% attendance and at best 99.1% attendance. I said I know of other familes with far worst attendance figures due to hols or sickness, who have not been put through this ordeal, whose situation is tolerated and understood. Why I asked can we not experience the same tolerance and understanding? What is it about disability that is so shameful?

They allow 40 days to obtain info under the data protection. Shes going to put my request through so I will wait to see what that says. Ive noticed that to date all my communication with Welfare has not been in writing from them which is why Im putting everything in writing. Leaving nothing to chance. I want the school and the Welfare Office to answer to it all. I will not let it go as I never want it repeated. The fact thattheWelfare Officer is trying to change what she said to mum is to me showing an attempt to back track, and the fact the Assistant Principal is now involved is quite something. Time will tell... On that note better get on. Will update other bits later!

Chocforever

I just wanted to come out of lurkdom to say good for you in persisting with the Welfare Office. They of all people should understand the consequences of the actions they take and language used in reports. I hope you make some progress and can resolve the fiasco once and for all.

CF