04/09/2022
As the school holidays end and another year commences, many children will be excited to get back to class and see their friends again. Some will be starting new adventures in a higher year group, some may be transitioning into secondary phase, further education, or even their first year of compulsory education. Others may be about to commence a placement in a suitable educational setting after years struggling in the wrong environment.
Many parents will be relieved that the holidays are over, that they can get back to the routine of school. Some are desperate for the break, looking forward to catching up with the familiar faces of the playground or excited to see their child take the next big step.
Some families will have been struggling without the help from free school meals, or with finding childcare during the holidays.
The return to school is a positive and exciting time for many. But it is important not to forget that for others, this is a time of dread, fear and despair. Children will be returning to unsuitable settings where their needs can't be met. There will be meltdowns, shutdowns, panic attacks, sleepless nights, uneaten breakfasts, dinners and lunches. There will be nausea, tears, anger, or resigned acceptance.
Parents will be taking a deep breath as they prepare to fight for the Needs Assessment, for the reasonable adjustments, for the correct placement, for the inevitable conversations.
Some children may not have a placement. They may have been excluded due to the way their distress manifests in school. They may be too anxious to set foot through the gate. Their mental or physical health may have become so affected that they can barely leave the house, let alone access a school environment. Some may have been offered the minimal provisions for children without a suitable placement. Others' caregivers may be facing prosecution by Local Authorities who fail to acknowledge the validity of their illnesses. Many families are merely left to fend for themselves.
Some families will have been led to believe that their only option is to choose Elective Home Education, and are now solely responsible for their child's education with minimal resources. Others would do anything to be able to Home Educate their children but it is simply not a feasible option for them. Some families have had to choose Elective Home Education in order to save their child's life.
So yes, the return to school can be an exciting and positive time, but it can also be the complete opposite. Despite popular belief, school is not the best place for all children to be - especially mainstream education, which, with the best will in the world, often remains inaccessible to students with SEND. There are only so many adjustments that can be made to a mainstream classroom, and for children with, for example, sensory processing differences or anxiety, a small room with 29 other children sat shoulder to shoulder is never going to be accessible. Even with movement breaks. Even with ear defenders. Even with fidget toys.
Good luck to all this coming week, regardless of which category you fall into. I hope that this academic year brings positive changes to those who need them, and I will continue to do all I can to support the quest for these changes!
