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Original poster

DD not able to stay in all her classes due to health issues - what should the school be providing re teaching time?

65 replies

SirChenjin · 19/02/2015 12:26

Quick background - DD (15) has severe anxiety-related IBS. Currently under a Paed Consultant and waiting for an appointment for guided self help and CBT with CAMHS (4-8 months waiting list). Has also had 10 sessions with a private counsellor.

The main problem is that she finds 'quiet' classes very stressful as her stomach and bowels make terrible noises, and the anxiety this produces is so severe and sudden that she experiences terrible pain and has to run to the toilet before she soils herself. As a result, she now sits out of these classes and works in the library by herself. Although she gets work from those teachers, she is missing out on teaching time - and as a result her grades are suffering. She has very important exams coming up this year and the next 2.

Is there anything that the school or LA should be doing to ensure that she is getting this teaching time? We're in Scotland, if that makes a difference.

OP posts:
shinysparklythings · 19/02/2015 13:46

At our school students are issued with a white card if they have a medical reason for needing to leave the classroom.

The students just show the card and we let them out without questions. As a safeguarding issue we record who has left the class, whether on a white pass or for any other reason. Is that something that could be implemented?

I hope a solution is found soon.

Original poster
SirChenjin · 19/02/2015 13:40

I think that was updated last year - will look at the Govt guidelines in more detail and see if there's anything that might cover her situation.

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 19/02/2015 13:28

If she was so ill that she was at home all the time, the amount of suggested teaching time is 3-7 hours so I don't think missing a few lessons will generate any funding for extra tuition.

www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc/158331/0042883.pdf

Original poster
SirChenjin · 19/02/2015 13:28

Thanks for the heads up re the eLearning. We're in Scotland, so the SAM Learning isn't appropriate for our curriculum but I'll check to see if there are others out there which are relevant to Scotland.

We've played about with different seating arrangements in class, but it's the silence that upsets her and causes the sky-high anxiety/immediate physical symptoms. The classes aren't really taught as a teaching block followed by a point at which she could leave - and when she does leave she has to put up with the inevitable questions. Hypnosis is a good idea - I will definitely look into that, thanks.

Re a disability - do we need to get a GP or someone to confirm that it is a disability? It would be fantastic if we could get help towards the cost of tutoring.

OP posts:
prh47bridge · 19/02/2015 13:20

How would I check to see if this counts as a disability

It is a disability under the Equality Act if it has a substantial and long term effect on her ability to do her normal daily activities. There is no hard and fast list of conditions that qualify.

Substantial means the effect is more than minor or trivial. Long term means 12 months or more.

That's probably as clear as mud. Sorry.

Fortysix · 19/02/2015 13:07

Oops there

Fortysix · 19/02/2015 13:06

Just some random suggestions:

Has she/you explored her sitting at the end of a row next to a sympathetic friend or two and not bang in the middle of the class?

When is she at her most anxious? Is it when the teacher is talking/ teaching and interacting with the class? Or is it when they are working quietly on their own? Could their be instances when she exits the room after the teaching part?

Is hypnosis a possibility?

OddBoots · 19/02/2015 13:01

I am sure there are others out there but my DC's school has a SAM Learning account for each student, it seems to work on a 'test yourself then get feedback' system.

It is possible to buy a single user GCSE package for £49 - something the school might do as part of their access arrangements if that's out of your reach.

link

HubertCumberdale · 19/02/2015 12:54

Can't she Skype into some lessons? There she'd get the participation and teacher experience as well.
The only accommodation the teacher would have to think about if for group work.

Original poster
SirChenjin · 19/02/2015 12:48

No, they won't have background music on - it would disturb the teaching I think. She listens to her headphones in the library and that seems to help.

How would I check to see if this counts as a disability? Sorry, this is all very new to us and we've no idea what we're doing.

What are online learning packages? That sounds interesting...

OP posts:
OddBoots · 19/02/2015 12:43

Is the school or the local authority signed up to any online learning packages like SAM Learning that she can access?

lunar1 · 19/02/2015 12:42

I have absolutely no idea but couldn't read and not post. Does this count as a disability? I'm wondering if there is any way your dd would be eligible for any funding so you could use it to pay a tutor.

CunfuddledAlways · 19/02/2015 12:42

Would the school consider some sort of.background music or something so she could attend class?

Original poster
SirChenjin · 19/02/2015 12:39

A home tutor for that number of hours across the week is out of our financial reach, unfortunately.

OP posts:
BrianButterfield · 19/02/2015 12:28

If she's getting the work provided I'm not sure that there's anything else that could be done. Certainly in my school there's no spare time for a teacher to give 1-1 unless they give up lunchtimes etc of their own goodwill - but quite often lunches are already taken up by marking or other catch up or revision classes.

Could she have home tutoring? Is there any possibility of a part-time timetable - so in school for some lessons and home tutoring for others?