School not playing ball, please offer suggestions

Tomtom07

Hi all,

Having a few problems with DD, I won't go into details of the ins and outs of what has happened, but the basic problem is as follows

DD was suspended from school for a week a while back for fighting, the school & CSS had a meeting on the last day of her suspension and aggreed that she would not be expelled but put on a positive referral (meaning she will go back to school at a later date with the support of the CSS)

This was all 3 Months ago and still nothing has happened, the school & CSS story keeps changing to who is to do what. Upon several phone calls to various people, we are still no step closer to sorting this out, every time a meeting is arranged with either the school or CSS they end up cancelling on us.

Any ideas who we could contact to get this moving now, as I am sure the school has a legal right to teach her (haven't even been set work home for her) I'm sure if it was us keeping her out of school for 3 months we would have people knocking on the door (esp with exams starting in the next couple of weeks)

If anyone can make any suggestions I would be thankful

MX5huggy

Write to the school and the LEA saying that DS will be attending full time from 6th February with or without a CSS (I don't know what one of these is).

Tomtom07

That was what I was thinking, would the school have to accept this legally?

CSS = Children's support service

thegirlintheattic

Is your daughter currently attending school or a PRU? This is not clear from your post.

If your DD is excluded the school should provide work for her for the first 5 days, after that they should arrange alternative provision if they will not accept her back normally - be this in isolation, in a PRU, at another school etc.

There is no point arguing over the work for the first 5 days now, but your daughter should not have been without education for 3 months. You need to get in touch with the LEA and explain what has happened. You also need to go down to the school and not leave until you have calmly spoken to a member of SMT about this, preferably take your DD in uniform and be very clear that you want her back in class ASAP - even that morning.

Tomtom07

The result of the positive referral was that, she would be given work to do at home until she was aloud to return to the school with the assistance of the CSS (who deal with troubled kids). Yet this hasn't happened we have been asking and going to the school to get work but there is never any, I have been doing my best at home tuition in the mean time.

We have been in touch with the LEA and felt we had got fobbed off, being told to wait on the CSS and the school to resolve the situation. We have looked at other schools but with DD record no school will now touch her.

meritaten

Then inform the school that DD will be attending (without CSS involvement) from soandso date. You are concerned that the lack of homework which was supposed to be provided, has severely disrupted her studies and that this long break has been to her detriment.
The school has a duty of care to your DD and despite her behaviour are actually supposed to educate her.
This is a priority and your dd WILL be returning to school.

Then see what happens!
if nothing, then DD turns up at school and expects to be TAUGHT!

CH27

If it was me i'd write to my MP & the Director of Education.

thegirlintheattic

Tomtom07 wrote: »

The result of the positive referral was that, she would be given work to do at home until she was aloud to return to the school with the assistance of the CSS (who deal with troubled kids). Yet this hasn't happened we have been asking and going to the school to get work but there is never any, I have been doing my best at home tuition in the mean time.

We have been in touch with the LEA and felt we had got fobbed off, being told to wait on the CSS and the school to resolve the situation. We have looked at other schools but with DD record no school will now touch her.

This is highly irregular - that is not a proper alternative to school and whilst I'm not sure about the legalities in this instance, I do know that one of our pupils excluded for 8 days had to be sent to another school for days 6-8 to meet the rules.

Write a letter to CSS, the school and the LEA, point out your concerns that they are denying your DD an education due to their lack of organisation. Say that your daughter will be attending from xxxx (after half-term might be good or next week) and that you look forward to receiving an appointment with them to discuss her support needs. Then take her in on that date (make sure she has all her stuff) and see what happens.