SENCO - what happens?

[tryingmybest13]

Hello

I am new here and sorry if this is too long?!!My DS is 7 (today!), is in year 2, and has just returned to school. He has been at this since September. When I got into the classroom his teacher asked me if I could meet with SENCO next week as she and two other staff members have concerns about his behaviour, which they had discussed at a school meeting. She wasn?t specific. At parents evening she said he was fine (this was November) and doing great academically ? he has been assessed at levels 3a and 4b for reading, writing and maths. I have two incidents last term where the teacher said DS was mucking about during carpet time and she was a bit worried he was in ?a dream world? and not paying enough attention to the lessons. He is also a bit slow and dressing/undressing ? though this is improving. In another incident, DS had fallen out with another kid (who is always losing Golden Time) and had shouted at him in the toilets. So I spoke to DS and agreed with the teacher if it happened again she would remove DS?s golden time. However, after speaking with her again last term, she said that was resolved and things were fine.

When DS was two, we tried to put him into nursery but he wouldn?t settle: the key worker said he might be suffering anxiety problems and told us to go to Sure Start. We saw a psychologist, through CAHMS who said she didn't see any major issues but to go on a parenting course. I did, and there was nothing said to me that I wasn?t already doing. When he started school nursery about half through the trainee teacher said she was concerned DS didn?t have a regular friendship group and concerned that he spent too much time reading, rather than playing. The teacher assessed him and said reading ect good, but to go to CAHMS in case anything going on. We were referred back to CAHMS. We saw another psychologist twice who reported that she saw nothing at all. So the matter was dropped. At his old school (which was and still is in special measures ? so they have enough problems!) nothing was said to me about DS in year 1, apart from one or two minor incidents with carpet time and one incident where DS was pinched (and he had lost his temper and wouldn?t stop screaming at the other child).

DS is socially fine, has a friendship group and his behaviour is usually ok. The only things I have noticed are sensitivity to some clothes/labels and some noises (e.g. fireworks), and, on occasion, he gets in a tiss/loop and it takes him time to get out of it.
I guess my question is (sorry) what are your experiences with SENCO and any advice you have for me? I have had great general advice from the parents educational advice charity about what to ask, but any personal advice about what might be the issue and/or what happnes next would be so helpful.

Thanks for reading

[tryingmybest13]

Thnaks for answering! Yes, the referrals (weel suggestions of referrals) suggest this - but in each case the pychs. were mystified as to why he had been referred and said so in their reports.

His new school - happy for SENCO to tell me what is going on, but just a bit suprised that first day back I am told, yet last term not a thing said to me; in fact school records for both schools have nothing recorded about behaviour or anything, really. So I guess I am going in a bit clueless as to what they have noticed.

Concerns: hmmn well only what I've described. He has great playdates with friends, no major behaviour issues (odd occassion gets into a temper about something and has to take himself off to calm down - but these are not frequent). He plays imaginatively...not really sure what I am looking for. Thanks!

[MadameSin]

trying try posting this over on the Special Needs children's board. someone there may recognise some of the traits you describe and be able to advice

[tryingmybest13]

Thanks! Will do!