Parents on the Warpath…and other stories

It's been a difficult week for many parents at our school, who have discovered that our LA doesn't want to pay our statemented sons' school fees, because there has been a lower-than-inflation fee rise after several years of a freeze.

I do wonder what the council would think if we all declined to pay our council tax because of an increase. Nope, county council, I think you've asked for too much this year, so please re-invoice me for a lower amount and I'll consider it.

This is despite them paying the full (increased) fee for new statemented boys. Bonkers, eh?

Methinks someone a) hasn't quite understood the existing legislation and/or b) is such an difficult character (this is polite speak)  that no one else in the department has had the courage to whisper that it's sshh *actually illegal* and s/he's bringing the authority into disrepute in the eyes of more right-thinking colleagues, parents, headteachers and.. oo, probably the Department for Education. Especially if they read it here. Who knows?

To say we're all angry and distressed is a very large understatement. I did write to the LA earlier in the week, and am still awaiting a response. I'm not a very patient person, but more patient than some parents who've already written to their MPs to voice their complaints. Quite right too.

I'll be doing the same next week (and maybe even speaking to my excellent contacts in the local press and regional TV), unless our esteemed headmaster finishes half-term on Thursday afternoon holding a nice cheque for the right amount and not a penny less. The press love stories like this, though - I should know, having been a journalist for quite a long time.

Really, don't mess with special needs parents and most certainly DON'T mess with their children's education that they've fought hard to secure. They've been through statementing and come out the other side still standing (just about). Do you think they're going to let this slide? I think not. You only have to read our Facebook Group to know that.

If you've been in a similar situation, do let me know.

On to some great stories from the week:

Tania Tirraoro
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