Posted By Crim
Here's one for the LEA bods out there?

What are the minimum standards for caring for a physically disabled child in a mainstream primary school?

Is there a set level of funding?

Is there a requirement for personal carers?

What is the aim of the LEA for inclusion in a typical primary school?

Is there a standard UK wide approach or it it left to each individual authority?

I know there are lots of questions there but would really appreciate some good quality input as I am having problems getting the present school staff to fully understand that a disabled child is different to able children and that they all have individual needs that are sometimes difficult to understand.

Many thanks

Posted By Sally
Kirsty - Thank you for your contribution

Crim

I'll try and answer your queries best I can. I'm in Scotland so don't know if it applies in England.

I'm not aware of there being minimum standards for caring for a child - these will depend on the needs of the child as advised to the school by the professionals eg NHS etc. There is legislation about inclusion if that would help.

funding is split into 2. 1) each school has an amount in their budget for 'predicted needs' this is based on the assumption that a school of x pupils will have y pupils with additional support needs. 2) Schools can apply for 'exceptional needs' funding if they need money over and above this either because of an out of the ordinary number of pupils needing support or a pupil needing expensive support.

requirement for personal carers will be determined by the needs of the child.

Aim is to include where possible.

As far as I'm aware the above is scotland-wide.

To summarise a care plan is drawn up by all the professionals involved in the childs care and education for each individual detailing needs and everything else falls out from that.

hope this helps

Posted By Della Pearlman
Part 4 of the Disability Discrimination Act (1995) was amended by the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (SENDA) in 2002 to include education and associated services (e.g. after-school clubs, school trips, etc) under the DDA legislation. Schools now have a duty not to discriminate against children with disabilities, without justification, in all aspects of school life by treating them less favourably or by failing to make reasonable adjustments for the pupil.

However, as with most legislation,there is a proviso:
SENDA says that the education provider must make reasonable adjustments, to ensure that disabled people in education do not suffer a substantial disadvantage in comparison to people who are not disabled including: changes to practices or procedures , changes to physical features and providing extra support (such as specialist teachers or equipment).

Here comes the get out clause: For schools, the duty under SENDA to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ does not extend to providing extra support or changing physical features. This is because extra support is already available for school pupils with statements of Special Educational Need (SEN), and schools are expected to make longer term plans for improving access to their buildings.

Getting a Statement is a lengthy and difficult process, but funding does come with it ….which is probably why it is so difficult to get one - what happens if a carer is ill, I am afraid I do not know - perhaps some one else will, (although there are SEN Teaching Assistant Supply posts advertised, so perhaps schools use the normal supply agencies...) - I'm not in a LEA/education area, so I am not sure on this.

Posted By Crim
Thanks everyone,

Regarding the Statement, my local authority will not Statement a child unless there are learning difficulties therefore my physically disabled daughter will not be Statemented.

There is a health care plan put into place by the school but this is somewhat being ignored.

We do not think that the school realise that disabled kids have "special" needs and do not understand our daughter's needs.

Posted By Kirsty Davies2
It's not only the Aberdeen City, this trend is UK wide and must be stopped. They will have to find alternatives to cut down costs, not on the fate of most vulnerable.