Opinions please - awful school situation

[howsyourluck]

Firstly, I will confess I have changed some details as the real situation will identify me completely. If my story doesn't add up, it's because I am crap at sticking to the story and the changes, not because I am lying totally!

DC started school at school A. Was lovely to start with but a child there was a complete nightmare, causing injuries to lots of children, huge disruptions etc. DC got hurt on a number of occasions, as did lots of others. School refused to deal with situation and actively lied. After a severe head injury, we moved schools, to school B.

DC settled wonderfully. Less than a year later, the child also moved to the new school . They left before being excluded from school A.

We were devastated, as were a number of other parents - this child is well known throughout the local area. We decided to move schools, but school insisted they could cope, so we stayed.

Initially all was fine. However, on moving up to next class the situation has deteriorated massively. I have struggled to get DC to school. Some DC have already left the school because of them. Many children have been hurt. The school, whilst initially on the ball are floundering and now becoming defensive. There are fights everyday, which are ignored.

It is a small village school and the ethos has changed completely. The school and governors are not dealing with this, the children do not seem to be being punished - not kept in, not excluded - for extreme violent behaviour.

The incidents are so extreme we, and others, are concerned about safety. Some parents have contacted the LEA and are awaiting response.

We have contacted some local schools and have identified places.

But, should we move again? What if child leaves again and comes to new school -we didn't believe it would happen the first time so now anything seems possible. If we wait too long, spaces could fill up, school A is now in special measures so children could be leaving both school A and B. We don't want to move and then they exclude anyway, but we have lost a lot of faith in the school and can see DC personality changing.

We are going in to see the head again, but just don't know what to do

Any advice anyone?

[XBenedict]

Was going to suggest a face to face meeting with the head but you have already done this, will the chair of governors also be present?

Wow what an awful situation for you. I think if it was me I would be asking the head for an action plan and being very open about getting the LEA involved if they don't seem to be sorting this out to your satisfaction.

[howsyourluck]

The situation is actually worse than in my post. Another parent has met face to face with governors and had promises but its getting worse instead of better.

I am worried about the effect of moving again but genuinely concerned for dc safety and mental health.

[howsyourluck]

Does anyone have any experience of complaints to the LEA? We believe the school are not recording many of the incidents, yet the children are all saying they happened. If the LEA investigate, will it just look like 'on paper' this isn't happening?

The teacher who they have had this year and will have them again next year has now resigned. Many siblings will not be attending next year due to concerns over safety.

[freetrait]

How about you rally parents and all agree to keep DCs at home until proper measures are put in place? Hmmmm- I can see this won't really work on a real world basis (due to working parents etc etc) but I think something dramatic is needed to get the school to sort it out.

[ajandjjmum]

It is horrific that one child can have such a detrimental effect. Would the parents of any of the children that have been hurt involve the police, so that the school will have to take action? What is the problem with the child? Are they ill, or is it bad parenting?

Feel for you - although we went through the 'naughty' child following DS to three schools. Now they're older, it's fine, but there were some dodgy moments!

[howsyourluck]

Actually due to the lack of childcare available many of the families have one parent at home. That's a really good idea. Everyone is being very careful to make the complaints about the school, rather than the child as at the end of the day this is a young child, but feelings are starting to run very high!

[howsyourluck]

3 schools ! this is our fear!

The child is under the age of criminal responsibility. The police have already been called and cannot become involved.

They have diagnosed behavior problems but parenting also seems to be a factor - they just do not seem to see how serious it is. They are over the moon with the school as they are doing much better academically than at school A

[freetrait]

I think the school need to sort out their behaviour policy. We had a new head and the behaviour policy is on the school website, clear for all parents to read should they wish. Do you have this? It shows the processes that are followed if incidents occur.

[howsyourluck]

The one on the website is 4 years old and out of date - I will request a copy tomorrow.

The main problems are at break and lunch times, although lessons are constantly disrupted. The incidents are often just ignored, or there are words had by the teacher after. But the published behavior policy talks about red and yellow cards (which I know they use) and that red cards mean a missed break time etc. They are always out at break and lunch times.

Other children are still punished as they should be, but this one is not. Other children are starting to exhibit low level naughty behavior. The whole school is changing

[lunar1]

I think the idea of keeping all the children away is a good one. It sounds like the only way they will listen. What a horrible situation for everyone.

[CalicoRose]

I'd move school.

Even if child follows you'd have some peace until that happens.....

[howsyourluck]

What we're thinking of doing is securing a place for September elsewhere, but seeing how it pans out at current school up to July.

I feel like a mad school hopper but it is genuinely affecting DC

[Willsmum79]

Go back to school A. There isn't anything stopping you from doing that and also the main reason was to remove your child from the company of the aggressive child was it not?
Chances are, the aggressive child will not go back to the very school who was about to exclude him otherwise the school will record, deal extensively with all situations the child is involved in, in order to have him permanantly removed.
This sounds so familiar to me (not saying I know you as the situation that this reminds me of, involves twins in your situation!)

[Pyrrah]

Sounds horrific - could you get all the worried parents together and organize so those without childcare could leave their child with a school friend and just boycott till you can all arrange a face-to-face meeting with the HT, the Chair of Governors and the LEA?

[RandomMess]

Just wanted to sympathise, awful situation for you to be in

[howsyourluck]

School A is an option, but DC associates it with such a horrible time, I am not sure we could over come that.

I thought we could not possibly be the only ones dealing with this, but already 2 people have had, or know of, similar situations!

[howsyourluck]

willsmum and ajandjjmum - can I ask what you / other family have done in this situation?

[howsyourluck]

Sorry, scrap that. I was assuming the situation continued at the new school but you didn't say that!

I also have to consider younger DC who starts school in 1 1/2 years so need to get this right

[tethersend]

This school is meeting none of the children's needs.

They are not meeting the perpetrator's needs if they are allowing him to hurt other children; they are clearly not meeting the victims' needs by not keeping them safe.

I would be asking how they planned to keep all children safe.

Have the staff had appropriate training to physically intervene and restrain if necessary?

Are the school using support effectively?

Has statementing been considered and an SA1 raised?

Has the council's behaviour support team become involved?

Has the EP become involved?

The school do not have to answer questions directly relating to the child, as there are issues of confidentiality, but it may prompt them to look at their options.

[CatPinoy]

What will put the fear of God into the school ?

A group of parents going to the local or county newspaper.

A letter from a solicitor reminding them of their duties under the Education Act xxx etc etc

[mummytime]

I would complain to Ofsted if you you are in England, this kind of thing could trigger an inspection. They keyword you want to include is "safeguarding" as in "I do not believe because of x y z the school is safeguarding my child, and my child is worried about their safety".
The real issue is that this is a SN issue which is not being dealt with, with possible home factors.

I would tend to think that neither of these schools are truly "good" if they cannot cope, by ensuring outside resources are brought in.

[insanityscratching]

It sounds like the school aren' accessing the support that they could access if they were documenting incidents properly. There will be a behaviour support team that school can access to work with the child and advise on strategies. Likewise school could request funding for TA support for the child whilst an assessment of his needs were made. To access this there needs to be proper documented evidence though so sweeping things under the carpet or turning a blind eye is helping no one.