New school for SEN daughter from sept how can I ensure they deliver?

[mummytwobears]

Hello, ( apologies for posting this on two boards ) after much thought I've decided to move my daughter from large mainstream primary to much smaller one. My daughter will start with new school in September in yr 2. So far new school have been fab, my daughter has been attending getting to know you days and they seem happy to support her SEN.
She is deaf, has mild sight problems and mild mobility issues. She is very bright but has been badly let down by her 'outstanding ' primary where she has slipped from top set to third set in the two yrs she's been there, her speech has also declined by 15 months since she started school.

We were promised all kinds of support by current school but they just couldn't deliver. Got to the point where they weren't even helping her change her hearing aid batteries or using her equipment so she'd come home upset and exhausted each day having relied on lip reading all day

New school seem much more inclusive, but how can I ensure they deliver on what they've promised? Current school set up a EHC plan but it's never been completed and doesn't detail how the school will support her or what will happen if she stops meeting targets.

I am tired of hearing "she does well for a deaf child" I want her to do well for any child as she has no cognitive or behavioural issues and is naturally a bright and eager to learn child but she hasn't had the support to reach her potential so far.

Any ideas welcome, worth asking parent partnership for advice?

[beautifulgirls]

I would suggest that you ask the school for regular meetings to specifically discuss her needs, the support in place, how that is working for them and her and to review further support that could help if the provision is deemed inadequate. A decent school would be happy to share this sort of information with you and listen to your concerns and ideas. Perhaps after say initial 3-4 weeks of school and then decide how you feel about things really, but maybe every 6-8 weeks might be good.

[itsnothingoriginal]

How frustrating for you and her! Hope things go better in the new school. Definitely recommend parent partnership and also to familiarise yourself with new SEND guidelines for schools.

My DD (7) has mild mobility difficulties too and school have been mostly great but I have at times needed to remind them about the IEP and what was agreed to ensure we get everything she needs.

[mummytwobears]

Thank you both. I guess it's just a matter of keep battling on and on!! My daughter has a full day at new school later this week, which she's really looking forward to. Tomorrow we have a deaf inclusion day where she meets up with other deaf children from other schools across the county, I'm going to try and talk to as many parents there as I can to see if they've faced similar situations . I'll also give parent partnership a ring.
Thanks againxxx

[MeirEyaNewAlibi]

NCDS have balls. They're not (as far as I know) one of the charities that encourage you to just accept the system failing your child. Parent partnership are a bit variable; sometimes they're trained and operated by a poorly performing LA. So their usefulness depends on the area.

Does she have a statement? EHP don't (yet) exist properly, even if a pathfinder LA tells you she has one, it's only an advisory document. So if she hasn't got a statement, you might want to get an application for one in now. IPSEA website and/or NDCS shows you how to ask. Takes about 20minutes. You can send in any extra evidence at a later stage.

New rules are coming in in September, so if you wait you'll get tangled up in the teething troubles of a new system.

[mummytwobears]

Yes our LA is a pathfinder, so far the EHC is worth nothing, it's just a lengthy IEP which was useless as well. I will get on to the NDCS ASAP, they've been very helpful in the past.
When she started school we didn't consider a statement would be needed as she coped so well but as time goes on and school have neglected her needs I'm thinking maybe we should. The thing is she meets all her academic targets, even though she is capable of more, I can see she's starting to slip behind and is much less enthusiastic about school now. Her behaviour and confidence and overall happiness have definitely changed.

I just want the school to do the basic things she needs like help her change her batteries, use her radio aid, check she can hear, help her when she can't, help her with her ankle supports, can those things warrant a statement?

[mummytwobears]

Ps thanks for your reply xxx