CAF meeting for primary school child

alwaysonthego_2

I did my first CAF as a student SW and I informed the family informing them why it could help them and made it clear that it was voluntary and she could back out at anytime. I went through the assessment with mum involving her fully throughout the process, but at no point did we put mum down instead come up with solutions how she could manage better with the involvement with Sure Start and home start and getting referred to ed psyh. It's all about working together with families and professionals.

bigmomma051204

Well, that all sounds blo*dy awful!!!!!!! Have to say, i am not surprised given how the process began for your family - ie, CAF not done WITH you

I think you need some support - i really recommend referring yourself for Early Intervention Family Support from the over-5's team ... dont have the number with me but if u look on the county council website for the above, you should find a number...if in doubt, just call the main switchboard for county hall and ask to be transferred ....i really feel you NEED someone on your side, if not fighting your corner as such, at least being there to help you in a professional capacity air your views etc... Its so unfair that a process specifically set up to give families and children a voice has been misused in this way and therefore knocked your confidence in the process Please PM me if you want to talk about the meeting anymore etc xxxx

puddy

out of interest, why have you appointed a solicitor for your son?

Kandyfloss_2

Hi,
I've found this thread of some use, and I have got a question for Bigmomma I hope she will read this and maybe advise me too.

I discovered sometime ago that the Headteacher from my childs school contacted CAF in my area to request information.
I'd never heard of CAF at the time, She told me that they had provided her with a report, (This turned out to be untrue, a misunderstanding by the teacher).

A friend advised me what a CAF report was and that I would have known about it had one have been completed. This thread has explained what and why.

I contacted the CAF department and I got to speak with the same contact that the school had conversed with. She informed me that there was no CAF report on anybody in my family, and advised that she had not advise the school any differently. She copied me in on the same email that she had sent to the school. It contained the names and dates of birth of my children, It stated that an investigation by Social Services had been closed years before, and it also stated that a Police CAVA had been carried out and the date on which this was done.
I'd like to know under what curcumstances would CAF end up with this information, when there is no report and has never been a request to carry out a report. And also What government department CAF comes under.

Hope you can help

.

Frith

Well, it has gone from bad to worse and it seems there is another CAF meeting tomorrow. Absolutely dreading it, have felt very down since the last meeting.

Son's mornings only lasted 6 weeks, until last Monday. At that point, he got wound up (he says the staff were "tormenting him") and ran outside and found a football to bounce.

I was phoned immediately and he was excluded for 6 days.

He is mid-exclusion now and due back in school Weds am. I had a phone call from school late Friday evening and told not to bring him back until 1pm on Wednesday then pick him up at 3 before morning starts again. I asked why and its because Ofsted will be in school.

Have no clue what I should say tomorrow. I don't really want to face the CAF woman again. She will be there, the head teacher and a lady from Behaviour Support. No child psych, no paediatrician, no school nurse, no SALT, no occupational therapist and no Ed Psych.

Just despairing, really.

kj*daisy

I'd ring Ofsted and tell them you have been told not to bring your son into school because they are inspecting. I assume you are looking for another school? This school is letting your son down and there will be schools who are prepared to work with him and get him he support he needs.

Frith

I have filled in the parent questionairre (at some length!!) for Ofsted. Hadn't thought of ringing...

Swampmonster

How did the CAF meeting go?
I have a feeling you are in the same county as me. My personal CAF experience was they are very good at having big showy meetings and 'being seen' to consult but never follow anything from the meetings through.

All the best
SM

daska

I'm also interested to know how it went today.

Having also experienced a nightmare CAF when our lovely co-ordinator was moved to a different area I can sympathise with how you're feeling. We no longer have one, there was no benefit in having professionals who had never met our son ignore the medical reports we provided and tell us that all the problems stem from not having locks on our kitchen cupboards and that we should give DS2 smarties to reward him for sleeping through the night (the mind boggles as to why anyone would think it a good idea to give a non-verbal, hyperactive child smarties for breakfast :eek:)

I would suggest that you call Parent Partnership and ask them to accompany you to any future meetings, also to work with you on getting the appropriate support for your son in future.

You can also get specific legal advice from IPSEA. It can be a bit of a wait to get through but usually worth it.

I'm going to PM you a letter written by SS friend of ours - please use it as inspiration.

Frith

Another terrible meeting!

Got there and the former MrFrith had decided that my OH was not to be allowed in the meeting at all. The CAF coordinator had told ex MrF she couldn't send OH away, but could stop him from speaking. :-( So he just sat there! I was very nervous so sniggered at the absurdity of my OH not being allowed to talk and the CAF coordinator had a massive go at me saying "What on earth can you find funny about this situation?"

CAF Coordinator as vile as ever. I actually ended up losing my temper (which happens - ooo, once every 5 years) and shouting a bit. She is absolutely obsessed with why I won't go into meetings with the ex so I had to point out why not, at great (and loud) length.

Nothing has happened. None of the experts mentioned or present in the last meeting has been to see son.

Still talking about the school with the nurture unit (was in special measures....) still talking about permanent exclusion.

Said the exclusion (now in its 7th week) was not helping.

FINALLY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They've put him in to see if he will get a statement. Son's solicitors are doing that anyway. :-)

All in all, another bloody shambles and have just been speaking with my sister (a teacher) about how to complain about CAF coordinators....