|
To contact us: |
|
This child was diagnosed
with ADHD and Tourette Syndrome in 1996. Parent was successful in
getting a statement giving the child 5 hours classroom support on entry to
primary school. Against the advice and
wishes of the parent the child was placed in a mainstream school. Problems began almost
immediately, with severe behavior in the classroom resulting in some cases to
injuries to other pupils. Academically
the child was not progressing. On the advice of the
class teacher, who was by this time pulling her hair out, the parent
requested a reassessment of the childs needs, this request was declined. When the child was 6
years old they began talking of self harm and suicide as they were being
bullied and could not cope with the school environment. This was despite the child now receiving an
extra 5 hours support and having an extremely supportive LSA, who fought the
pupils corner. The parent raised these concerns at review meetings, but her
concerns were not heeded. When the child was 8 they
tried to commit suicide. The GP signed the child off school sick, suffering
from severe depression. The LEAS solution to this
was to formally warn the parent that she was failing in her duty to ensure
her child received an adequate education! The parent formally
requested that the named school on the statement be amended to a residential
specialist school. This request was
refused, as the LEA felt the child could be managed in a mainstream school. Knowing this was not the
case the parent continued to refuse to send the child to school. After a
period of 9 months the child was offered a place at an area Support centre
attached to a primary school. During the time away from school the child
received no education whatsoever. The child settled
reasonably well into the ASC, with 25 hours one to one support where the
staff were very nurturing and understanding of the problems, though they
continued to regress academically. The child remained in the ASC until July
of 2003. They were happy there which was the parents main concern given the
past. During the transition
year a review was held and all of the professionals involved with this child
wrote reports recommending residential 24 hour specialist curriculum if the
child is to have a chance of success. |
ONE
FAMILIES FIGHT FOR
JUSTICE
|
bravenet.com