The difference in 7 when he doesn't have to go to school is astounding.
Twice I asked for clear details on where he would be. Once I was condescended to because he wasn't go on the trip, and the second time someone promised me an email with details (on behalf of another teacher) and that email never came. How can a kid with severe anxiety who can't speak at school and won't attend a trip be expected to turn up and not know what is happening to him? They'll mark it as unauthorised absences for today, of course, and it'll be a black mark against us - and it could be avoided with communication and understanding of mental health and autism.
Mainstream schools are NOT built for our SEND kids, and despite them getting close to £500,000 in funding (based on numbers given to me by the SENCo herself) - just for those on the SEND register - the school consistently lets them down, with no understanding beyond the medical model they spend a couple of hours a year being 'trained' in. Where's the support? Where's the person-centred care and attention? Where is taking a moment to remember what each particular child's needs and struggles are?
It doesn't exist. They read the long email myself and another SEND mum sent to the governors in the summer - we know this because they asked for things that we mentioned in it. So they know of the complaints of a decent handful of parents of SEND children and their failings. ... so why are they still willfully letting them down?
