Help. College trying to move my son to special SEN course after first week

DITZ

so my son has learning difficulties, doesn’t have an ECHP but has been in mainstream school all his life with support provided by the school, extra time in exams etc. He has just started college doing catering at level 1 (no exams results necessary). The class has 14 pupils and some TA’s (pretty sure I was told 4-5 but this does seem high so don’t quote me). After a week the tutor contacted me concerned and suggested he be better off on the SEN course as it’s only got 7 in it and runs 9-2 x 3 days per week (this also has to include redoing maths and English) and it’s at least an hours drive from us. He would not be able to make his own way there. We are encouraging him to be independent. We declined but left it open that he would try it for a week to see if he prefers it but haven’t heard anything back - we are now week 6.

Today he saw an email open on his teachers laptop from the head of curriculum saying that he needs “go now” and that they “need to tell them that (in a polite way)”.

My son had partial hearing and facial palsy too which makes communication harder but they’ve given him a Chinese maths teacher who has a strong accent and so he’s struggling to understand her and vice verca.

We have a meeting with them in the morning and I’m wondering where we stand legally. Can they make him change courses?
He is registered disabled having a heart condition.

DITZ

Edited to add his current course is made up of children with additional needs and the college were informed of his needs when we applied back in March

Katie213

Hi, Legally I don't think they can make your son change course, but I am not an expert. My advice is to rearrange or cancel the meeting tomorrow, you need time to do your research. The college will likely try and pressure you into agreeing to what they want and you need to be prepared. Ask the college to put in writing their reasons for wanting your son to change course - always get what they say in writing! Contact SOS!SEN, they are the experts. Colleges care about results not about their pupils. However this will all take time and energy, you need to decide if this is worth the fight. Good luck.

Rachel_Scope

Hi @DITZ and welcome to the community.

I'm so sorry that your son saw that email. I'm shocked they'd be so blunt and unprofessional. I see that your meeting was this morning. How did it go?