All these issues with schools!

@Hoppinggreen first post about it didn’t give any further detail other than 50% of reception had SEN and the HT was saying the majority was down to parenting issues. Having seen first hand how damaging parental blame can be when there are genuine SEN needs I felt further clarification was needed, which had been given and hopefully it’s not as it originally sounded .

Well, LAs certainly find themselves suddenly able to seek said advice and information when faced with the prospect of JR. They know it isn’t a lawful excuse and they know JR proceedings will not go in their favour.

And fully trained people too

Indeed, it seems it creates time.

Not irrelevant. It is amazing what enforcement action can do.

All of which is irrelevant if there are no appointments available with educational psychologists in the next 6/12 months, no capacity with SALT etc.

It's often almost impossible to reconcile teaching SEN students' needs with mainstream curriculum classes. I did some supply at a school where ND children were in the same classroom as their NT friends. The school was set by ability for mainstream subjects. One lunch hour, after a morning of patiently dealing with incredibly intransigent and disruptive behaviour from a particular SEN lad, I found myself sitting next to his TA ."Wasn't Stephen good today?"she said, smiling mistily. "He did sit down when you asked him to (eventually!), he didn't swear, and he didn't pick a fight with anyone! He's making such progress! And he finds sitting down to do the work so hard..." Well, yes. But 29 other pupils had their lesson interrupted by his antics. That seems unfair.

The EHCP process is governed by statutory timescales. LAs often think these timescales don’t apply to them and a long waiting list is a lawful excuse. It isn’t. Parents can force the LA to act, via judicial review if necessary.

It isn’t lawful for LAs to require schools to fund the assessment undertaken during an EHCNA. And once issued EHCPs can be fully funded. Although LAs won’t do so unless forced.

A HT discussing resourcing needs with governors isn’t gossiping. Nor is it unprofessional.

As for book an Ed Psychologist and SALT, OT etc. There are significant waiting lists and no money. An EHCP will cost several thousand pounds worth of support and time etc that schools don’t have.

@Absolutefrustration reports will have come from childcare settings if children have been in one before school. If SEND needs have been observed this information will have been passed on.

For some children it will be obvious if they are coming from a family of need. It is right that HT is explaining to school governor level of need and what support is required (if not identifying specific children)

If a child is recognised to have a level of need that requires them to be on SEN register then there should be a plan in place which should include a meeting with the parents, so as a governor I would be expecting to know that all these plans are in place by now. My understanding is that the HT isn’t saying they are all feckless parents and nothing school can do, they are looking into what support can be provided and whether there is any funding available. And that support will be for parents too

I give up

Fair enough but as the only one of us who was there I can tell you that her tone was anything but and it was a discussion on resources etc rather than gossiping

Even if that is the case from what you’ve described the HT’s tone sounds unsupportive and accusatory rather than supportive and concerned. It comes across as if the HT is irritated by the situation rather than being proactive about positive steps to get good outcomes for these families . She would be better off focusing herself on getting it addressed rather than gossiping about families

Perhaps the HT was exaggerating but I imagine local pre schools and other childcare may have provided some information along with SS or similar agencies.

How on Earth could that HT know that ‘the majority’ of the SEN issues in reception (apparently 50%) are due to parenting issues as these children will only have been at the school since September.

I find it fascinating that the response to Hoppinggreen's experience with the school she governs and its unbelievably high intake of kids who can't manage the basics is to criticise the headteacher.

Even if this head teacher is a monster and regardless of what the current protocols are in terms of diagnosis, there is no education system on Earth that can accommodate individualised treatment for fifty percent of the student population. Clearly something is going seriously wrong here and this focus on knocking teachers isn't helping.

This HT is doing both, or trying to with limited resources and time

Far easier to blame parents than it is to provide funding and consistent support to children who need the extra hand.

That may be correct in some areas. The bigger issue though with what @Hoppinggreen described seems to be the attitude of the HT.

@Absolutefrustration I think in many areas these days, the barriers to access OT, SLT, Ed psych never mind an EHCP are MUCH higher than that makes it sound.

Children who need additional help/support for a variety of reasons will be put on SEN register. More and more children are starting school in nappies, some may have developmental delay but for some it is purely because parents have not persevered and hope school will deal with it. All children in nappies will be likely be on SEN register, some will remain on there and others once toilet trained (assuming no other issues) will be removed. I assume that is what HT means by situational SEN. I assume if that HT had children coming in not toilet trained she will be getting staff to work with parents and get to the bottom of the issue (excuse the pun)

Huge waiting list apparently
And whatever the reasons The Head feels these kids have SEN she is not ignoring their needs she IS trying to access help for them. So while her assessment of the reasons for the SEN may not be something people agree with be assured that this Head is very committed to trying to help the children and if not then of course The Governors will hold her to account.
I think that her concern is that in SOME cases what may be seen as SEN is not and is as a result of spending a lot of time on screens or not being given any consequences at home.

In most areas speech and occupational therapy will do school visits and the SENCO will have access to a booking system for Educational psychology. Any children who need additional support can be placed on the SEN register they don’t need an EHCP if there are additional needs for intervention so support can begin immediately while any EHCP applications are pending if that is indicated. My concern would be that the HT with this sort of attitude will be creating an environment of parental blame and therefore not looking at what can be done in school to assess and support - I’m sure as a governor you will have been part of the school policy making process please make sure these are actually being implemented.

You are probably right, now we just need to get all those professionals involved which I am pretty sure is easier said than done

@Hoppinggreen as a governor at the school you are really well placed to do something about this HT and their awful stance on SEN. ‘Situational SEN’ is something they’ve clearly made up to fit in with a personal opinion. The children who are displaying these additional needs need support and interventions based on the recommendations of professionals after assessments. SALT, OT, EP etc and certainly NOT this HT who is going to do more harm than good.