INDEPENDENT PARENTAL SUPPORTER

Although Parent Partnership Officers can offer you a variety of support, many parents will want independent advice when their child’s needs are being assessed and discussed.  To help them get this advice they can seek to contact an Independent Parental Supporter.

An Independent Parental Supporter is someone who will help parents to express their views and offers them support when they need it.  An Independent Parental Supporter may come from a voluntary organisation or a parents’ support group, be a professional, friend or relative.  In North Yorkshire there are trained volunteers who would be happy to share their knowledge of education legislation with parents or offer other support such as advice and information.
 

OTHER SOURCES OF HELP

ACE provides an advice service for parents when dealing with schools and education authorities.

 
LOCAL SPECIAL SCHOOLS

A full list of special schools and specialist provision can be obtained from the Children and Young People’s Services Directorate at County Hall, Northallerton Tel: 01609 780780.
 

SPECIAL SCHOOL TRANSPORT

If your child is to attend a special school the Children and Young People’s Services Directorate will make arrangements for transport to and from school.  These arrangements will include pick-up points and times, special harnesses or seatbelts as required for your child to travel in safety, and cover any particular medical or other requirements for your child.  Your experience and views on these matters should be sought.  It is best to ensure that you are satisfied with these arrangements before your child starts to use the transport.

If problems arise at anytime in your child’s school transport, contact the Headteacher of the school or the Passenger Transport Group at County Hall           Tel (01609) 780780

There is a code of conduct for drivers and escorts of school transport, copies of which are available from The Passenger Transport Group.

 
FREE SCHOOL MEALS

If parents receive Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance, they are entitled to free school meals for their children up to age 18.  To claim these you need to fill in form FMB1 which is available either from your child’s school or from County Hall, Tel (01609) 780780.  Further help may be available after age 18 if you apply to the college or school you are attending.
 

If you have a child aged between 5 and 16 who is has such severe and complex needs that s/he cannot attend a school, you can get tokens to exchange for seven pints (or eight half litres) of liquid milk each week for him or her.  You do not have to be in receipt of any social security benefits.  You will need to fill in form FW20.  For a copy of this form write to:

Family Credit Helpline
Room A106D
Government Buildings
Cop Lane
Penwortham,
Preston PR1 0SA
 

PUPIL AND PARENT SERVICES

Extra help may be obtained through special needs assessments to support children with learning, behavioural or emotional difficulties.  The service can be contacted directly or through your child’s Headteacher. Pupil and Parent Services also deal with Statements of Special Educational Need.  For more information contact:

Children’s and Young People’s Services
Pupil and Parent Services
County Hall
Northallerton
DL7 8AE.                                                                   Tel: (01609) 780780
 

RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS

A special case may be made for residential schooling, in a local authority school or in a private establishment in or out of the county, if it is agreed to be in the child’s and families best interest.  This would be done through the special needs assessment process. Funding for out of county provision would only be granted if the child’s and family’s needs could not be met within the county’s provision.

North Yorkshire has some residential special schools including Welburn Hall, Kirkbymoorside and The Woodlands School, Scarborough.  Details of all North Yorkshire Special Schools are available from:

County Hall, Northallerton                                      Tel (01609) 780780

There are several guides available on educational establishments. These can be obtained through a library reference section.  One of these is “The Education Yearbook” (published by Longman Communications).  This lists all local authority schools in the country, plus independent and non-maintained special schools.

Under the 1993 Education Act, with effect from September 1994, the Local Authority has a duty to make the information on all special schools available to parents.  There is a free booklet available from County Hall Tel: (01609) 780780.
 

EDUCATION FROM AGE 16 – 19

Compulsory schooling ends in the educational year in which a pupil attains the age of 16, but under the 1944 Education Act all young people have a right to education until their 19th birthday.  If your child has a Statement and stays at school until age 19, or to the end of the school year in which they are 19, their Statement remains in force.