Bounty

Your questions answered by Bill Goodyear of Greatvine.com.

The brief answer to this is to refuse to accept second best for your child. If you feel the teachers do not have a grasp on how to manage your child and are not meeting his needs in some way, talk to them, make notes of that talk and the promises they make and if they fail to change their ways go to the SENCO and Head Teacher. If there is any doubt about your child’s special needs insist on them and get them to make a Statement of Educational needs, make sure your point of view is included and make sure they meet all the needs.

Build a file

Build a file of letters, notes and meeting notes and make sure the other parties each have a copy of every document.
If this does not work within a term, go to the Local Education Authority and start to seek a school, which you feel, will meet his or her needs.

Fight in writing to seek funding for a place at the school of your choice and gradually include more and more senior people in the fight. Class teachers, SENCO, Head teacher, LEA special needs managers, Director of Education, Chair of the Education committee, your local councilor, your MP, the minister for education. Do not rest till you have a hand signed letter from the minister. Include organisations that offer help (IPSEA, CAB, NAS, etc) and never take no for an answer, and if you need to go to tribunal to overturn an unsatisfactory decision, do so, using legal aid and the most experienced lawyer you can find. Don’t give up!

Greatvine.com offers individual advice, by phone, direct from the country’s best parenting experts.