SCN0645

Written evidence from Parental Submission 157

 

 

Executive Summary

 

  1. I am the parent of a recently diagnosed autistic child who has been failed by the current system. The consequences of which has had a detrimental effect to my child’s mental health resulting in them being too anxious to attend school.

 

1.1.                      Children meeting age related expectations but having SEMH difficulties not supported.

 

1.2.                      Failure by schools to review assessment reports with parents.

 

1.3.                      Assessment for ASD too long.

 

1.4.                      EHC assessments being denied despite meeting class test.

 

1.5.                      LA EHC assessments not detailed enough.

 

1.6.                      No alternative education when Health won’t issue a sick note because it’s against their policy.

 

 

Main Submission

 

  1. The assessment of and support for children and young people with SEND

 

  1. My child’s school identified their SEMH difficulties but failed to assess what they were. When I asked the SENCO what provisions were in place to support my child they removed my child from the SEN register.

 

  1. When my child’s behaviour became more challenging the school assessed them using the Boxall profile. Even when the results showed they were at risk the results were not shared with us and no external professionals were consulted.

 

  1. For children who are at age related targets schools are failing to meet the SEMH needs. My child was emotionally abused by the teaching staff because they didn’t understand my child’s needs. Any attempts to ensure the school engaged with me were futile and I was fighting on my own to ensure they supported my child.

 

  1. My child was refused an EHC assessment despite them meeting the legal class test.

 

  1. When the LA agreed to assess they didn’t instruct all the agencies needed to fully understand my child’s needs. This meant I had to privately commission reports to ensure my child’s needs were understood and supported.

 

  1. No education is available when a child is too mentally unwell to attend school. GP’s & CAMHS are not allowed to issue a sick note. The LA inclusion team will only offer alternative education if a child has a sick note and has been off for 15 days.

 

 

Recommendations

 

  1. School teachers and SLT need training in identifying and supporting SEMH and sensory needs.

 

  1. If health suspects a condition like ASD then schools should support the children as if they already have a diagnosis.

 

  1. Schools and LA’s need to ensure they are meeting their legal obligations according to the SEND code of practice. If funding is an issue then the shortfall needs to come from central Government rather than ignoring the needs of the child.

 

  1. Parent partnership needs to be respected and schools need to listen and engage with parents rather than fighting them when they are trying to ensure their child is supported.

 

  1. LA’s need clearer regulation of following the SEND code of practice, especially when it comes to EHC needs assessments. Money is being wasted fighting parents in mediation and tribunals for cases where children meet the class test for assessment.

 

  1. There needs to be a statutory assessment criterion once a LA has agreed to perform a statutory assessment. This will lead to transparency for parents and ensure all the child’s needs have been assessed so all the child’s needs can be supported.

 

  1. Funding for schools needs to change, it isn’t fair that schools with higher EHCP’s have to fund the first £6k of provision to meet the requirements of the EHCP. The result is children who may need an EHCP are managed out of the school to prevent extra pressure on the school’s budget.

 

  1. Schools SEND policies and provisions need regulation. OFSTED currently won’t investigate any complaints.

 

 

December 2018