Stopped from attending next PEP meeting

[charmed1]

We have just returned from our daughter's PEP meeting. As usual the behaviours and difficulties are relabelled as they can no longer call it "abuse". Anyhow at the end of the meeting I asked our daughter's teacher when her SEN statement review would take place (due in May) and what involvement we would have at this stage. The teacher said she would have to ask the social worker. What came next is concerning. Our daughter has very limited speech and a learning disability. It was clear that her progress was slow and inconsistent. We will not be allowed to attend the next PEP meeting in September as the social worker wants our daughter to be involved in her PEP??? She'll be nearly seven but would not understand and would likely to be very confused. She also said it was because of the way things are moving. Meaning their search for adopters which may or may not succeed.

I can understand to a point that they'd rather not invite us if by September they have been adopted. Though the teacher and foster carer have made a note of the date and time (just in case). We had a battle to be told where our son's school was as the carer changed it. That battle won and two PEP meeting's for him later we face this uncertainty now. If they fail to find adopters will we still have the right to attend PEP meetings as we have since May last year irrespective of whether they choose to involve our children in these meetings? What she is thinking we have no idea. More an excuse to exclude us by looks of it.

Does long term foster care still mean six monthly PEP and LAC reviews with birth parent involvement as we have been fully cooperative.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Charmed1

If your child is in long term foster care Children's Services should make every effort to involve you in your daughter's PEP meetings so you can take part in key decisions with regards to her educational provision.

Depending on your daughter's circumstances the Local Authority and if say for instance the are the Local Authority have rasied concerns that your presence would not be in her best interests they should be informing you of these reasons.

In your situation it seems there has been a delay in finding a suitable adoptive family for her. Once she has been adopted and dependent on whether it is a closed adoption or open adoption it would be up to her new carers about how much information you received (or what role if any you played in the process) after this point. The court judgement will help with this.

If you continue to attend the Looked After Review meetings at this time the Independent Reviewing Officer can provide you with further inforrmation on these issues.

Best Wishes

Suzie

[charmed1]

Thank you Suzie for your reply. Both our son's and daughter's next PEP will be in September as every 6 months. I will make sure that if they fail to find adopters that I mention this at the court hearing so as not to be bamboozled by the social worker into thinking they can do what they want and exclude us. Knowledge is power and I really appreciate your advise as always.