Anyone in Scotland? Could use some help!

[expatinscotland]

DD1 has multiple delays, largely gross and fine motor skills.

She will be 5 tomorrow and was thus due to start P1.

Pre-SCAT meeting on Monday.

Support person, SALT, ed psych, HV and head nursery teacher all felt she was ready, with the proper help.

Head and teacher (small school, composite class P1-P3) basically threw up their hands and said they were not willing or capable of taking her. Teacher very negative, inflexible, didn't want to hear about how to work with DD1's positive qualities.

Was suggested that she spend an additional year at a nursery with an SEN unit so she can receive SALT and OT in house.

Was initially biased towards this as I am from a country where children don't begin formal education until they are 6.

BUT, ed pysch had to put forward an argument to the educational authorities to fund this additional year for DD1.

IF they say no, my parents have agreed to pay for this for her.

What are our rights as parents?

I will not send my child to this school no matter what, because my child doesn't need narrow-minded, intolerant people in control of her education. No matter how much the extra year helps her, she will always need extra assistance at school, her needs will not just go away.

This teacher stated explicitly that she needs P1's to 'just get on with it' as she has many duties with the P2s and in particular the P3s.

Well, that's not my lookout that she doesn't care to do her damn job and if she's not happy with it she should go elsewhere.

But I need to know where we stand as parents.

There is no private school in this area and we are house-sitting for another year.

The other option is possibly as RC school.

In 2009, we will be moving to another village in a different catchment.

[expatinscotland]

Yikes, am emailing the ed psych right now.

[cyberseraphim]

Hi Although I have a legal background (in Scotland), I am on a learning curve with this one at the moment.

This site is a good starting point for law/codes of practice in Scotland

www.ltscotland.org.uk/inclusiveeducation/

[gaia]

I'm from a country where children start later too! I'm not in Scotland but did hold my child back. You're absolutely right not to send your daughter to that school, and although law in Scotland is different some laws eg childrens act are relevant throughout the UK. Is your ed psych supportive? Ours wrote in a report that he agreed with us about holding our child back because he was supportive of our feelings but didn't have to write any reasons just he concurred if you see what I mean. I can't see that keeping her in nursery is more expensive than her going to school, and in my experience so long as it doesn't cost they really aren't fussed. Have you contacted parent partnership? I just looked on their web page and they have a link for Scotland which takes you to an advice service in Scotland for sen.

[expatinscotland]

thank you all so much! just didn't know where to begin with all this.

the ed psych is very supportive.

i think the team was shocked at the reaction of the head and the teacher, tbh.

i know DD1's nursery teacher was. they were both so negative and when it came to highlighting DD1's positive qualities, of which there are many, they just didn't want to know.

team support network lady was speechless, and SALT was spitting bullets afterwards.

my landlord started as a secondary science teacher when he was just 21, in his 30+ years in education he was an Ofsted inspector, a senior inspector and later a headmaster for a state sector school in the London area for emotionally disturbed boys. he's now in Africa with VSO at a college training primary teachers and headmasters. he's worked a lot with DD1.

he was appalled at the situation and has messaged a few contacts he has in education as well, to also help explore options.

the ed psych is seeking approval for her year to be in a private nursery attached to an RC school that has an SEN unit, so there may lie the rub.

what a mess!

but i'm glad to know of their poor attitude now rather than later.

[MrsMuddle]

This is a great site.Govan Law Centre

[cyberseraphim]

There is also

www.enquire.org.uk/

The Scottish Advice Service for Support for Additional Needs for Learning. It is a government funded national agency which co ordinates the provision of information. It looks a bit like a quango but I could be wrong. They do fun things like

'Focusing on a project in the Italian city of Verona to reconnect nursery school children with nature' Now that's what I should be doing.

But there could be useful information too as it is a well stocked site with a lot of current and up to date links

[Miaou]

No advice expat but very and at the attitude of the teacher and the head. In fact I am pretty about it. Tbh it may be a blessing in disguise - at least they showed their colours now, rather than accepting her into school then not assisting her in any way. Sounds like she would be better off in nursery with a more open-minded teacher.

[seb1]

Expat you may get some info here Parent zone

[seb1]

Also here Additional support