What is 'School Action Plus' ?

[smarterthantheaveragebear]

Hi. Fairly new on here and very new to SEN of sorts. Ds2 is 7 and has just started new junior school. He had attention issues in his infants school and had an IEP to help with extending his concentration. By the time he left yr2 he was doing very well, although easily distracted in class and distracting others. Because of these problems he's fallen behind a bit with his writing and numeracy. He also suffers from low self-esteem and lacks the confidence to 'have a go'. Fast forward to the new school and they have informed me he is on their school action plus and is doing extra maths and writing support classes (of which we are delighted). The class teacher wasn't really very clear as to exactly what it was and was quite brief in her explanation. I was informed by infant school he was not SEN and was never on any registers relating to it, just an IEP. I suppose what I'm asking is ... was the last school rubbish and didn't pick anything up or has the new school put him on it as a matter of course based on information passed over? She skirted around the question when I asked .... I have been invited to chat to SENCO if I need further info. Just wondered if any of the wiser and more experienced out there could shed any light. Many thanks !!

[Hassled]

It means School Action PLUS the involvement of some sort of outside agency - speech therapists, educational psychologists, that sort of thing. It means that the school feel that additional services/help, beyond that which the school itself can provide, is necessary.

That doesn't really match what you've said though - extra maths and writing support would normally just be School Action.

Your DS would have been on the SEN register at school if he had an IEP, though. Lots of kids go on the register and come off again as and when - it's not a big deal. But IEP does equal SEN register.

Talk to the SENCo and ask her to explain WTF is going on - both schools seem to have been a bit vague.

[Hassled]

It could be that the teacher meant School Action rather than SA+. It could just have been a slip of the tongue - certainly what you've described isn't SA+ and if they're bringing someone else in they would/should have told you about it.

[smarterthantheaveragebear]

Thanks for quick answers. If they get someone in from outside, should they be telling me ?? They said nothing at the meeting, unless they put him on it in case they need someone in the future, is that likely? Will talk to SENCO next week.

[smarterthantheaveragebear]

Sorry Hassled, cross posts. It was def SA+ and I have letter today confirming it ......

[Hassled]

Section 2.8 of the SEN Code of Practice says
"LEAs and schools should always seek parental permission before referring them to others
for support (for example the local parent partnership service). Where parents do not wish
to have their details passed on to third parties their wishes should be respected."

Link to the Code is here.

Yes, they should have told you!