My Child Is Struggling At School. What Are My Legal Rights To Get Help?

Is your child struggling at school, being labelled as difficult, anxious, disruptive or badly behaved, when there may be something deeper going on? Do you believe your child needs extra support from school, but you are unsure what to ask for, what your child is entitled to, or where to start? Many parents are left feeling worried, exhausted and unheard when their child is falling behind, refusing school, masking their difficulties, becoming anxious, avoiding school, or being treated as if their behaviour is simply the problem.   But here is what every parent needs to know: behaviour is often communication, and a child’s difficulties should not be dismissed without asking why they are struggling and what support they may need. In this important episode of Get Legally Speaking, Hatti Suvari is joined by senior education barrister Emma Calvert as they explain what parents can do when their child is struggling at school, what legal duties schools and local Council's have to your child, and how knowing your child’s legal rights can empower you to get them the support and help they deserve.   Together they explain Special Educational Needs Support, which is the additional help a school can put in place for a child who needs more than ordinary classroom teaching, and Education, Health and Care Plans, which are legally binding documents setting out the education, health and care support a child needs. They also explore what parents can do if school is not listening, why attendance problems may be linked to unmet needs, and why masking, anxiety, school refusal or difficult behaviour should not simply be dismissed as “bad behaviour”. Every school should want to understand why a child is struggling, so the right support can be put in place.   This episode is for every parent who feels dismissed, overwhelmed or unsure where to turn, as always in plain and simple English.   Your child does not need to reach breaking point before you ask for help. If you or someone you know can benefit from this episode, then please do not wait, to download, listen or share!   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.