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Exclusion because of autism

Firefly123
Firefly123 Community member Posts: 530 Pioneering
edited October 2018 in Education
My daughter has autism anxiety ocb pica among other things went to what should have been a translation meeting as it should have been done a while ago. Any way to my shock it went from that to she was excluded for 5 days was an autism advisory teacher at the meeting it was agreed they send us a questionare and we fill it in and so does the school then we meet half way. Well now I got a call from the head teacher who I said she maybe permanently excluded when I said but she can't help how she is even the autism specialist teacher told them her actions are to do with her autism. The head teacher informed me no its she's a teenager who made bad choices and will now have to deal with the consequences. Can they actually just do that 
Any advice please 

Comments

  • Pippa_Alumni
    Pippa_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,793 Disability Gamechanger
    I'm truly sorry to hear this, @Firefly123. It sounds like a really difficult situation. I wonder if there's anything @Jack_W can suggest?
  • Jack_W
    Jack_W Scope Member Posts: 19 Courageous
    Hi @Firefly123

    It's terrible yourself and your daughter are having to deal with this. Exclusions of autistic children have increased significantly in recent years, making you far from alone as a parent that is having to challenge these decisions. 

    One of the charities I work with is Ambitious about Autism, who in the last few years have produced campaigns (most recently 'We Need An Education') to amplify some of the issues like your own. They have produced a number of resources and guidance on what steps you can take. It may be now that you want to take this to the governing body of the school, amongst other channels if you are unsatisfied with the outcome from there.

    Take a look here on where to get started: https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/understanding-autism/education/exclusions

    Take care,
    Jack
  • Firefly123
    Firefly123 Community member Posts: 530 Pioneering
    Thank you for your replies. I've got in touch with the autism specialist advisor who was also at the meeting and she put me in touch with the parent partnership advocate and she finds that the school acted inappropriatelly and they should not permanently exclude her as the school has not been following the EP or the autism teachers recommendations and the fact my daughter does not have a statement of special needs when she's clearly having problems well them chasing her around all day trying to get her to remove her hoody after both the specialists have said she should wear it which then leads to her punching a wall. I will write and get copies of her school records and we will write to the governors if they still don't listen at this meeting on Monday. I know a few times they have acted illegally by sending my daughter home no phone call no letter nothing after reading the link I'm making a list like when they told me to keep her off a few days to. Let things settle down. At least I will have someone with us now who knows the law. 
  • Firefly123
    Firefly123 Community member Posts: 530 Pioneering
    Well we managed to stop the permanent exclusion and she has to attend evening school for a month to start with and now they will apply for a statement for her so she starts this evening fingers crossed it goes well 
  • Pippa_Alumni
    Pippa_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,793 Disability Gamechanger
    Really hope this is the start of something more positive for you all, @Firefly123!
  • Firefly123
    Firefly123 Community member Posts: 530 Pioneering
  • Sam_Alumni
    Sam_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,671 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @Firefly123
    That is a positive step, do let us know if there is anything else we can help with :)
    Scope
    Senior online community officer
  • Naturalparent8
    Naturalparent8 Community member Posts: 6 Listener
    Unless she has taken a weapon or drugs into school they can't perm ex unless she has had 30days temp exclusion in any one term and the count starts again with each term. You can fight a perm ex put in a sar this is asking for her school record. Sometimes school backs down when you request this they then realise they are dealing with a parent that knows their rights
  • Firefly123
    Firefly123 Community member Posts: 530 Pioneering
    I have requested her school records sen records and any other file they have on her as they have failed her and are punishing her they said she's not been coping with their rules and school policies they don't have the staff to be following her around even after I've told them that's what causing her to lose it having as many as 5 teachers following her shouting at her then they wonder why she loses it and punches a wall and the fact she actually burst her hand open and they didn't even call me or tell me about it.
    They know she doesn't feel pain so yes she may have seemed OK but the fact is I had to take her to hospital many hours later to be lecturered on how she needed stitches but now they will have to glue it and add strips to keep it closed. 

    The fact she had lost so much lessons due to her sensory issues  and them just sending her home no phone call no letter nothing. Yes they got lots of experts in then ignored all their reports like she should wear her hoody as its against school policy. The fact she doesn't even have a statement of special needs when she clearly has many and lots of diagnosis. 

    They have put her in evening school at the moment only 2/3 hours but it's actully going well as it's quiet and only 3 pupils so she is actually getting some work done but she misses normal school her friends ect.

    I'm gathering all the evidence as they have a duty of care and have failed time and time again. 

Brightness