Hi
My DS has ASD and is 13 and in year 8 main stream secondary school, he had a late diagnosis at 10 but has never been statemented as he is "coping". School have been really good up until now and he has had support in the areas he has needed it up until now. This has meant
he has coped with school far better than we had ever hoped, however since December I have had concerns about his grades only slightly improving and in one area they have declined dramatically.
The decline has been recognised as its an area where the school is struggling across the board to keep hold of teachers and the SEN co-ordinator has apologised that he has become a victim of this and his IEP hasnt been followed and they want me to give them until the next assessment (6wks time) to make sure he is given extra support and the chance to catch up with his peers.
I have agreed to this but it really concerns me that his one huge area of problem is assessments, they really stress him out and then he effectively shuts down remembering nothing. The SENCO says that all children even those in the school's ASD unit has to sit these and he has to learn to "deal" with them especially as they do so many to assess their levels. Is this right? What can I do other than what I am already doing to help him get through these? School allow him to sit in a quiet room to take them but he has no adult support.
I just feel that although he is not a "A*" pupil and more middle of the road he is being left to cruise mainly because he is so well behaved and not disruptive (SENCO's Words!) and with more support his grades could get better but school feel he doesnt need more support.
His head of year has just agreed to meet me to discuss his grades etc, even though the SENCO said she didnt want a meeting yet. I want to ask if they can offer him more support within the 20 hours they have to offer before starting to the statementing process but am at a loss really to make suggestions of my own that I havent already made to SENCO which have been rejected!
Sorry this is so long but I hope it makes sense lol.
TIA
JCM
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Getting Extra Support In Main Stream Secondary School - Advice Please!
joencaitlinsmum · 02/05/2013 14:02
Sadly, I find that when the pressures of assessments are put on the schools, they are "forced" to let the pupils whose needs are not screaming in their faces flounder.
You see - I know that my DS (14, Y9) is capable of FAR more than he is producing, but because he is producing passing grades, he gets no assistance. He could have As across the board, but he doesn't 1) because he is very bright and REFUSES to apply himself; and 2) there is no reason in his eyes to do any more than he must to pass. Some dimwitted SENCO told him that his Y9 grades mean nothing in the big scheme of things, as they do not count towards university acceptance, and he took that as license to do as little as he possibly can. 
Unless your DS is either failing or very disruptive, you may well struggle getting additional support for him. This does not mean working for it isn't worth the hassle, it just means that it will be an uphill battle. They don't want our DCs to rise to their potential, they just want them to quietly go about their business - pass their classes and not cause trouble.
Alas, the same thing they want all students to do...
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