Does this count as a SEN?

[PassTheTwiglets]

DD (7) has separation issues and gets very upset at being away from me and always cries when she gets dropped off at school. She has no other special needs and her school work is fine. I've spoken to the SENCO and the teacher, both of whom came up with some ideas but none of it has been followed through and DD just gets left to muddle through. I'm wondering if they don't consider DD to have a real need and I don't even know myself! She seems stressed all the time - she has nightmares a lot and is very highly strung and wound up a lot of the time.

Would you say that this is something that a SENCO can and should help with, or should I see my GP, or is it just a phase? (she's never been happy to be away from me but has coped with it until the last year or so).

[shongololo]

my DD had seperation anxiety issues, they escalated very time and eventually we got CAMHS involved. Schools not equipped to deal with anxiety, as its not a SEN as such - doesn't prevent a had accessing curriculum. Ask GP to refer you.

[tethersend]

It is potentially an SEN- it would depend on whether it is preventing her from reaching her academic potential, which it sounds like it could be.

This would come under the umbrella of ESBD- Emotional, Social & Behavioural Difficulties.

You need to follow up the measures suggested by the SENCO and class teacher, and ask them what further support they suggest.

A child who had CAMHS involvement should certainly be known to the SENCO and on the CoP, even if they needed no support.

[PassTheTwiglets]

What is CAMHS amd CoP? Sorry, I am new to this!

The measures suggested by teacher/SENCO weren't things for me to do, it was things they would do at school - but they haven't done it. I did ask again and they promised again but it's still not being done. Am fairly convinced that teacher doesn't like either DD or me, so I'm reluctant to ask again. I'm not sure why the SENCO hasn't followed it up as our school has a great reputation for SEN.

[mrz]

Child Adolescent Mental Health Service
Code of Practice

[PassTheTwiglets]

Thank you!

I did wonder about seeing the GP, as she is lovely and very understanding. Perhaps that should be my next route then.

How is your DD now, shongololo?

[shongololo]

passthetwiglets, she is fine now - had separation anxiety + generalised anxiety disorder, (caused by post traumatic stress) and we had a year or two of unpicking the problem and then Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and EMDR.

The EMDR was the ticket - anxiety just dissappeared over a series of weeks.