Individual Education Plan - anyone else?

[Flowertop]

Have been to parents evening today and told that my DS1 is behind in his chronological age for spelling and reading - 7.1 and 6.11 respectively - he is 8 in November. As such they have given him an IEP. Can someone explain to me what this is as I am a little confused. We only had 10 mins and it was a little too much to take in. We read with DS1 every night and in the year before he was assessed and told that he was 4 months ahead in his reading. I asked his teacher about this and she said it was probably because he did not read much in the summer. He is now a year behind with his reading. Any help would be appreciated - as always!!
XX

[7up]

its a record of yours sons attainment levels and targets for him to reach to basically bring him up his age. theyre meant to be for teachers to read and follow, dont know about primary school but in secondary theyre not adhered to really cause no one bothers reading them.

he'll catch up,bless him. my son was behind on reading and now hes above his age.it just clicked with him in his own time

[schnapps]

An IEP basically states simple, achievable targets for your child, that will be reviewed twice a year, and what support your child will be given in order for him to achieve those targets. HTH

[BATtymumma]

its an INdividual education plan.

there will basicly be a chart, the first will be a target then there will be ways in which they can help your DS acheive that target and then when they would like for him to have achieved thattarget.

there really isnt anything to worry about as long as he is making improvment.

it is all dealt with in school and i doubt even your DS will have anything to do with the actual targets on a day to day basis. yu may be invited to the meetuings twice yearly to discuss the targets that are being set amnd give your opinion.

do what you can to encourage his reading at home in the meantime.

its a good thing honest.

[Flowertop]

Thanks for your responses. Does this mean that he will always be seen as needing extra help. Does anyone know of anyone who has had an IEP and then gone on to become avg/above average. The problem is he did ok in his SATS in July and his reading age then was ahead of his chronological age. I really don't understand what has happened. We read with him every night and seriously thought he was good!

[Mell2tingPotofGooooooo]

I would be confused as well seeing he did ok with his ks1 sats. I would definitely have a proper chat with the teacher. I would expect to be told separately, not at the parents eve.

Try not to worry - easier said than done, i know. He seems to be doing fine.

[Mell2tingPotofGooooooo]

Just remembered, ds's friend had an IEP because he hadn't progressed from ks1 sats to a year later. He is now in year 6 and in top set for maths and english

[lazybones]

You should have a copy of the IEP. If not ask for one, ask to talk to the teacher again when it's less rushed. Try not to worry - learning happens in spits and spurts for many, and it usually evens out in the end.

[lazybones]

It doesn't mean he will always be seen to need help: rather he got help when he needed it. Better that than being ignored. See the teacher, ask for more information, like if they are giving any extra help or if it is just to have targets for the teacher to work towards.

[Blandmum]

It doesn't mean that he will always need extra help. I teach in a secondary school 20% (or there abouts) of our kids have SEN. Most of them will need help for a short period of time, get the help, and them come off the SEN regester.

The sooner he gets the help the better IMHO.

Think of it as a way of flagging up that he needs a bit more help. His IEP should make sure that het gets the help and makes the progress he should.

[InTheseShoes]

I'm a SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-Ordinator) in a primary, and can assure you that lots of children who go on IEPs come off them - I've just done the IEP reviews at our school and we have taken five children off the list. Some have been on a short time and some have been on longer.

It would definitely be a good thing to have a chat with your child's teacher about this separately from Parents' Night, and really, I have to say that I wouldn't expect it to be presented as a fait accompli without warning at Parents' Night, but maybe be initially discussed there, with a follow up meeting later on. You should have a copy of the IEP for yourself also.

Hope that helps

[Flowertop]

Thanks all! Have a copy of the IEP and feeling much better about it. Will arrange a follow up with his teacher. I must admit I was a bit surprised to have this given to me in our 10 minute parents evening slot as there were other parents waiting to come in and you really feel like you don't want to take up too much time. Keep you posted.
XX

[Glassofslime]

Flowertop - I had a similar experience at parents eve last night. Wasn't given an IEP, but told that dd also year 3 might need one. It's a bit of a shocker isn't it? I'm feeling very tearfull today and have all the same concerns as you ie. will this be forever, will she never suceed in life etc. DD was in top groups for all subjects in her previous school and in the bottom for all in this school, which she moved to last year. I think I'm reeling a bit having thought for years that I had a bright child to getting used to the idea that she's behind. Just wanted you to know that someone out there's in teh same boat.