SHOCKED by what my Colleague has told........ Campaign by School to get boy with ADHD expelled!

[Toothache]

I have got to post this. Its upset me so much I'm just about in tears!!

Here's the jist of it.....

Guy I know has a 13yr old son. He is constantly getting into trouble at school, but for pretty trivial things, for example: talking in class and fidgeting. He has been seeing a phsycologist for a few months now and has been diagnosed with ADHD. The school have started suspending him every time he is disruptive.

They had his parents up at the school saying that one more incident would result in his expulsion!!!!! INCIDENT???? Talking in class..... fidgeting...... restless..... ADHD!

They sent him home yesterday after him and 2 friends were caught throwing water at each other in the toilets at lunchtime. The other boys were not sent home.

THe headmaster has told his parents and HIM that he will be expelled because this is the last straw. The Psychologist has told his parents that this is bullying.

They have not offered him any remedial teaching..... or any special help whatsoever!!!! Is this normal??????????

He has never been abusive to a teacher or a pupil.... never swore at them or hit or threw anything... he is literally just really fidgety and restless and finds it very hard to concentrate!

He cried himself to sleep last night because of this. He doesn't understand why the Headmaster has got the witch hunt out after him/

How sad and wrong is this???

His Dad has written to the local MSP and also to the education board. I am so saddened by this.

If anyone lives in the area its a school in East Renfrewshire.

[Bozza]

It sounds awful. Trouble is though now even if they get the school to withdraw the expulsion it sounds as though the relationship with the school has broken down to such an extent that he's not really going to get anywhere there. Good though that the psychologist is with them on this.

[anorak]

Can they do this? Surely they need more reason to expel a student?

[baka]

Happens all the time.

Friend of mine's son was very preemie, had lots of health (health) problems and asociated developmental problems. At 9 was diagnosed with Asperger's, head received report said "I don't believe it" and promptly expelled him. He spent 2 years out of school. Was then sent to an EBD school (which are generally unsuitable for children on the autistic spectrum). Has now been more or less excluded from there (after lashing out at aa teacher who put his hand on the left side of his chest- which he can't cope with having had lots of heart ops- he;s ok if approached from the right). The head tried to arrnage for specialist teaching for him, so individual classes in life skills etc - but the LEA won;t fund. So he;s out of school at 14 with no suitable education available for him.

Welcome to the world of SN.

If you want to help write to the govt and express concern about the closure of special schools and lack of suitable provision for those who sturggle to cope with the school environment. Also lack of awareness in ms schools about ADHD and ASD. The trouble with mainstream is that you are always going to run up against clueless teachers who just aren't interested.

God I'm plkeased my son is in special.

[Toothache]

Exactly Bozza, apparently is very 'well thought of' school and they can't deal with his behaviour!!!

My GOD they should teach in the school where my friend is a Geography teacher.... a 15yr old girl waited for her after school and threatened to slash her face after she got a punishment exercise!

This boy has a condition and the school don't want him there.

[Toothache]

His Dad just told me there was a law passed THIS WEEK making it nigh impossible for schools to expel pupils with ADHD and other related conditions.

Does anyone know anything about this?

[homemama]

What does the Ed Psych's report say? Does it suggest any support programme that the school should be offering? Sounds like they want rid of him before they have do do anything (support wise) officially.

[Toothache]

Homemama - From what I can gather there hasn't been an ED Psych report!! They are totally exaggerating everything he has done..... making him out to be evil and beyond help! They have said he is beyond help IN FRONT OF HIM!

[baka]

If there's no report then presumably he has no official diagnosis. Who has seen for a diagnosis? His only chance of being able to access appropriate support is with a dx really. (preferbaly from a pead or clinical psych- an ed psych's report isn't wrth much).

[Bozza]

But from what toothache says - it sounds like he should be able to cope in a mainstream school with the right support.

[Toothache]

Baka - He has been diagnosed (don't know by who). The Headmaster doesn't believe the diagnosis and just wants him removed from the school.

[baka]

I'm taling about the situation in general. There are plenty of children who should be able to cope in mainstream schools with the right support, but you don;t get the right support when you pay LSA's at the minimum wage and don't train teachers. Whenever anyone comes up against somehting like this I always suggest that people write to their MP becuase inclusion as it is at the moment is not working. And often the biggest casualties are the high functioning children.

[homemama]

Sorry Toothache, don't know anything about the new law. Is it a law passed by the SP just relating to Scottish schools? I'm a bit out of it just teaching one day a week at the moment.

His parents need to make it clear that they will not accept the excusion. Register their feelings with the LEA and governors. And yes, contact their local MSP and/or MP.

[Toothache]

Baka - He has written to the MSP and the Education Board. We'll just have to wait and see what happens.

I find it UNBELIEEEEEEEVABLE that he is being put in the same bracket as a child who assaults teachers and pupils.

He really doesn't understand what all the fuss is about. I feel SO deeply sad for this little boy.

[homemama]

So you get excluded for this but not for stabbing another pupil with scissors. (school in Camberley say they haven't made any desicions yet )

[baka]

yes but I'm saying if you want to do something to help then you write and complain about the situation in general (lack of support/suitable provision) as well. Until parents who have nt children start complaining as well nothing will hapen

[Toothache]

Baka - I don't understand..... he has written to the MSP and Education Board. Who else should he be writing to???

Homemama - EXACTLY!

[homemama]

I think Baka is trying to say we should all write. Not just parents of SN children. ie our voice is bigger than theirs (we have more votes).

[baka]

no - I'm saying you should be writing. yes he should write, great that he has but frankly he's just another parent with a weird kid complaining. When I wrote because my son wasn't receiving SALT (which was outrageous because it was in part 2 of his statement so should have been legally protected) my mp wasn't that bothered- I was just a moaning mother of a SN child. We're not a big group so no worries if we all decide to vote for david cameron because he knows what it';s like.

The point is if parents of children without SN start complaining about injustices that they see then they may start to worry that their policy may affect their chances of being re-elected.

another situation i say that parents should always complain is if the behaviour of a child with S~N affects their (NT) child's learning and well being. Deal with the school etc but also complain to the powers that be so that they know that inclusion as it stands underfunded etc is not working and causing real damage.

Yes this boys situation is difficult, but it is not uncommon- it is a situation that is being repeated in schools throughout the country. If everyone who came across the situation and thought it was bad complained in general about the implementation of thew current inclusion policy (nothing wrong with properly funded inclusion but it's nowhere near that) then something may happen about it.

[SantasGotToothache]

DOH! I seeeeeeee now Baka. Having a dim moment!!

I have got a write bee in my bonnet about this, so I might just do that! I'll need to let him know I'm doing it though..... as I'll need to get my facts completely accurate.

[SantasGotToothache]

AHAHAHAAAAAA A write bee in my bonnet????

See what I mean about the dim moment!? Obviously I mean a right bee in my bonnet.

[SackAche]

Bump... for the afternoon MN'ers.

[Blandmum]

Sadly this is not uncommon and depends on the school attitude to sn provision. THis is a crap situation to be in, the schools have a stutory duty to include, but some schools go out of their way to exclude children who need, or are going to need special provision....even tho that breakes the DDA. The nearest state school to me does just this thing. They do not give places to children who apply who have SEN, and they exclude others who do get in. Stinks.

I have seen cases where children with SEN have ended up excluded in spite of real efforts to support them in school. There are some children with SEN who cannot fit in to a mainstream school. The sad thing is these children end up, as Baka said in EBD schools....a nightmare situation for many. And as we all know special schools are being closed.

If the level of disruption is at such a low level , thi shouldn't be happening. The school should be able to put isprocedures to help. But all too common, I'm afraid.

[Stargazer]

Hi Toothache

This is so sad, but it's actually remarkably common. I have a son with ADHD - he was expelled from his school at 7!!! Yes, he's a difficult child and was at that time quite disruptive, but fortunately for me, we've had a diagnosis, finally managed to get the LEA to give him a statement and got him into a school that was geared up to help him (ie a special school). Now my DS is back in mainstream and settling down, but there's always the worry that at somepoint he'll be in "trouble again".

As for the young man you describe - perhaps his parents should insist that the other boys have exactly the same treatment/punishment. Also they should write to ask for the LEA to do a statement - he might just need a bit of help, someone to sit with him and guide him. Also they should try to contact CAMHS and get some additional help for their son. I too am very sad to see that this kind of treatment continues.

Children with ADHD can be extremely challenging (read difficult) but they are usually very anxious, often have low self-esteem and are often not very confident. They can drive you nuts with the figetting, lack of attention, forgetfullness - but they (often more then the other kids) need all the help and support they can get. Toothache, I hope the family gets it sorted out.

[beckybrastraps]

Is this the right school for this boy? Is there another one nearby that has better provision for children with his SN? If there is, could a managed transfer be arranged, with no exclusion, so he could have a fresh start with more support? I'm not condoning the school by the way, just thinking of possible solutions.