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The right to a clear complaints procedure (30/06/06)
Question: My son (age 8) has a speech and language disorder. As parents we battled and were successful in facilitating SALT regularly in school. He has made amazing progress as it has been measured and monitored by SALT. In other subjects particularly writing / numeracy measurement/targets have been vague. The SENCO admitted this. We asked that he not do French for the remainder of the term only in order to boost these skills in a measured way. The EP agreed with us as did the regional SEN officer. After all he has problems grasping his primary language! The headmaster has refused with no reason at all. He was aware we disagreed and in no time pointed us to the complaints or SEN policy. We are now at stage 4 and still no-one has actually spoken to with regard to the procedures we should follow. We had to find out from the LEA. Should we have been made aware of the procedures? Is it the role of an SEN governor to become involved in individual cases? We did not think so but he is listed as going to attend the annual review. Thank you for your advice.

Joan Sallis replies: Every parent should be aware of the school policies, they are not secret, and that includes above all the complaints procedure. You should not have to resort to the LEA for information. Normally the whole governing body would examine a complaint or set up a panel to do so – it would not be up to the head to decide. I cannot comment on the merits of the individual case but your suggestion does sound reasonable. The SEN governor has no individual role to adjudicate but would take part as a governor especially in any examination of a complaint involving SEN. It is important that the school involves parents in its strategies and intentions.

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