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EA 1996 s19 & what is suitable
Autistic, demand-avoidant Child with EBSNA and autistic burnout not able to attend school for mental health reasons. After 7 weeks of asking the Council for alternative education, school offered a tutor to visit at home. Refused by us (parents) as not suitable (child very protective of ‘safe space’ at home & needed to be offered something they could engage with). A PAP letter was sent from our solicitor to the Council and the response was that an allocated place was available (at the school he was unable to attend) and therefore the Council were not in breach of s19. EHCP was issued the day after this, naming the same school (who say can’t meet his needs) in Section I, and we are appealing.
Was it unreasonable of us to refuse the home tutor, and has the Council discharged its duty with any offer of education? -
In Y8, my son has a diagnosis of ASD but has not yet been assessed for an EHCP. We took him out of school last week due to us feeling they can't meet his needs, anxiety around school and bullying. Struggling to decide what would be the best thing to do: he has found the secondary school environment so difficult that he doesn't want to attend a school, but I feel unable to educate him myself. School are scaring me with talk of me keeping him out on unauthorised absence. What would be the best course of action to make him comfortable in school, and keep him in the education system?
Helen Hall
23 Jan 2024