My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

SEN

Ds1. Dcd. Meeting with senco tomorrow. Help please!

12 replies

Madcatgirl · 21/07/2014 23:18

We have a diagnosis, and report now from the paediatrician, for ds1. School senco refused to even communicate with me until I had this piece of paper.

Ds1 has been diagnosed with dcd/dyspraxia, mild attention and communication difficulties and mild social communication difficulties. Paediatrician suggested high functioning asd and mild adhd.

The paediatrician has referred us to occupational therapy team and as I say we are meeting with the senco tomorrow afternoon. School have already arranged for ds to have typing lessons because his handwriting is dreadful, but what else should I be asking for? The report mentions ds being passionate about science, but face to face I was advised ds1 had genius levels of intelligence in this and maths.

I feel I missed mentioning everything I should have at the referral such as how exhausted ds gets towards the end of term and by exhausted I mean physically sick. I also didn't mention his hearing is not wonderful, but that's since been than up via our GP. The paediatrician also identified mild hypermobility. School already help I'm some ways with this, but it's taken a while to have it acknowledged.

Anyway, rambling aside, what should I be asking school for? Statementing? Educational psych? I need to make notes or I'll forget what to ask for for ds1.

OP posts:
Report
Madcatgirl · 22/07/2014 09:20

Anyone?

OP posts:
Report
ArabellaRockerfella · 22/07/2014 10:02

Yes ask for an Ed Psych report first as this can give strategies for supporting your DS and may help him to get extra time or use of a laptop for exams etc.. From this you and the school can decide whether a statement is necessary. Ask the school if they can provide visual timetables to support his organisation/communication difficulties. The OT will also be able to give you and the school activities and accommodations to support him; e.g.. pencil grips, sensory cushion, knee or wrist supports etc.
Good luck, just be very open with the school and be clear that you are willing to work with them and support them in helping your son.

Report
Madcatgirl · 22/07/2014 12:40

Thank you. I'll let you know how it went later on.

As you can tell it's all new and more than a bit daunting, but I just want the best for him.

OP posts:
Report
bsmirched · 22/07/2014 12:47

There is no such thing as a statement now, due to the government's SEND reforms and many LA's are in something of a state of flux over it all, so do be prepared for everything to take a while!

Report
Madcatgirl · 22/07/2014 12:58

Thank you. So I'm asking for an ed. psych report and then what has replaced statements?

OP posts:
Report
bsmirched · 22/07/2014 14:40

Personal health and care plans. I know I'm sounding very negative but my understanding is that these are going to be even harder to get than statements and as everything you've described is mild or high functioning I'm guessing the school would be expected to cater for your son's needs without a PHCP.

Report
Tambaboy · 23/07/2014 12:05

Madcatgirl you could try and contact your local Parent Partnership and explain your concerns. They can advise you what sort of help a child with your DS' difficulties should expect at school.
IPSEA is a very good special educational needs charity, you might want to contact them and explain the situation.
What are your main concerns? Is he progressing academically? How is his behaviour? Does the school have any concerns?

Schools are very reluctant to get the Educational psychologist involved unless THEY think there is a problem as it they have to pay for their services out of their budget.

Private EP is another option but you might find that the school refuses to implement the recommendations if that means they have to spend money.
We spent a small fortune on a private assessment for DS when he was in reception and the school hardly took any notice. We were devastated. However, two years down the line, the school SENCO admitted they should have applied for Statutory Assessment when they first got that report. Anyway the LA has now agreed to assess but I feel we should have pushed for it earlier.

Report
Madcatgirl · 23/07/2014 20:46

Well they said no to ed. psych because ds1 is performing too far ahead to be of concern, I raised the point of what happens when you reach the end of the curriculum? He's currently working two years ahead in most areas. School have agreed they'll reassess his educational needs in October at parents evening. They said because he's high functioning we are on our own with sorting any help out. Ds is able to hold it together at school, but has regular explosions, I suppose they're meltdowns, after school and I'm all out of ideas how to deal with them. I'll give parent partnership a call this holidays.

Ds as well as explosions of temper/meltdowns also has massive defiant moods, I'm assuming this is some form of meltdown too and they happen most days. It's exhausting.

He's such a wonderful boy though in many ways, he's very kind and considerate most of the time, like tonight he and ds2 were sat playing and chatting about when ds2 starts school year after next and what house team he'd be in. He also made me a paper origami frog because I was headachy last night, but then he can turn and become like a horrible person and be really mean and upsetting to us all for no reason at all, but later on he always feels very upset about it. He often feels very hard done by, even when it's just how things are and can't be changed. He has a sort of fear of things not being how they should or not interesting him. He also has a great fear of the unknown, such as last weekend he was away on camp, but it was pioneering which he has only practised at the scout hut and every day it was questions, questions, questions, questions about it.

I feel a bit cast adrift tonight.

OP posts:
Report
ArabellaRockerfella · 23/07/2014 21:29

These books might be useful:
How to Live with Autism & Asperger Syndrome - Practical strategies for parents and professionals - Chris Williams & Barry White

Parenting a Child with Asperger Syndroe - 200 tips and strategies - Brenda Boyd

Report
Tambaboy · 24/07/2014 12:25

Madcatgirl you might want to post on Special Needs: Children board. There are many posters there with dc that behave very different at school and at home. And many with academically gifted dc.

has your ds' school got a gifted & talented policy? check their website.

My understanding is that children in state schools have the right to an "adequate" education and in many cases that doesn't mean they will reach their full potential if they are gifted. SENs make accessing the curriculum much harder so the school must put in place reasonable adjustments to help them.
Are you happy with the school in general? are there any other local schools that could support your ds better? independent schools maybe?

Do you mind me asking why the paed didn't dx ASD?

Report
Madcatgirl · 24/07/2014 17:31

The pead did diagnose asd, but didn't actually write it in clear language on her report! She said to me he is high functioning asd and adhd, but then the report doesn't tally with her words! Can I go back to her?

I'll look out those books, there are some independents nearby, which we will look into I think.

The school doesn't have it's g&t policy online. I'll have to get it on return in September.

I'll look into the books.

OP posts:
Report
Icimoi · 27/07/2014 17:35

Bsmirch, there is such a thing as a statement until the end of August, and after that there will be Education Health and Care Plans which will be at least the equivalent.

I agree that it would be difficult to get a statement, but a lot depends on other issues - e.g. how is ds socially, does he have sensory difficulties, how is his confidence, does he get anxious and stressed, etc etc. If there is a danger in particular that his behavioural problems will cause him to get into difficulty at school it may well be appropriate to have a full statutory assessment even if it doesn't result in an EHC Plan - it will at least help everyone to know exactly what they are dealing with an what support ds needs.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.