Why is there a separate section for special needs in Education?

Two threads which show MNSN posters telling other posters that they were welcome with their 'teen issues' and in fact, getting quite upset that we weren't seen as an appropriate support network:

May 2012

November 2012

It's not just about 2 posters on this thread, me or those who felt they had to go,it's about the way people feel they have been treat, the way they see things, the way they interpret things. No evidence is gonna prove that. Now I'm beginning to feel like I'm on trial. I may be able to link where I feel I have been hounded off, accused, bullied as well as times where others have been in a similar position. However these will be historic and may take ages to find. I don't recall every thread title. As for my memory I don't even know what was for breakfast, never mind what I had yesterday. As for arguing other peoples battles I've learned my lesson. However when people feel similar through my own experiences I will bring it up. After all I feel it was massively unfair the group that ganged up on me for retaliating to something that was said to me.

To many pages for an iPhone and bad eyes lol but going back to sen education and sn? Some parents may only be on the first steps with their children. ie just having issues brought up in school that could well point (and quite often does) that their child has a deeper SN?

these parents may not be ready to step into the sn world let alone admit there are issues and a lot of the time "it's the school not their child" scenario kicks in.

sometimes it is a gradual acceptance and as a lot of things come to light upon starting education a separate sen section is a gentle way to get used to the idea before entering the signposted an children.

none of that I suspect makes sense! :)

That's who you are talking about dev? The two posters on this thread who haven't yet demonstrated or linked to examples of what they accuse and no others?

I think it starts on page 2 of this thread all you need to do is re read.

It feels massively unfair to have you come on and tell us how other posters who you do not name 'feel the same', then recount past events inaccurately (to say the least), simply saying 'oh my memory is hazy' when challenged. Why bring other posters up? It's not fair.

I'm sorry Facebook became my new mn, I used to have fun there, told many jokes, had quizzes and stuff, must seriously start the fun again I just now have to work out who you are as you have obv nc! And your right I did feel it was a personal attack until you clarified it wasn't but it just goes to show how wording, tone etc can be picked up wrongly and how it now makes me uncomfortable, maybe some of the others are just like me.

I don't think it is very fair to say that any defence of the SN section (especially when it is essentially correcting misinformation) shows how cliquey the boards can be, or that it would make anyone feel left out or worried about posting.

Imo, it would be far more damaging to leave the incorrect version (that people were hounded off because their children are too old, old to stop posting).

I'm sorry dev, because this looks as though I am having a go at you personally. I am not, and have always posted on your threads if I have seen them, have you as a friend on FB and have tried to offer support there too when I can.

We've all posted threads that get little support, or been told the opposite of what we want to hear at times. It doesn't mean people don't care.

I would have thought that the main reason for keeping the separate SN section in education is that the main SN section doesn't show up in Active convos, so many posters may not realise it's there when they need advice. The Education/SN topic can act as a 'doorway' where more experienced posters can signpost the SN section if it's appropriate.

That's good, just didn't want anyone to jump on the band wagon and think I had. As for the people I refer to, yes some left and as I have already clarified, might be getting mixed up on the ins and outs of that arguement but I see there's others on this thread not happy or uncomfortable with sn section for whatever reason.

I never post in SN legal. That has nothing to do with who might post there. If you had posted on SN children (and IMO they are children provided they have a mother) I most likely woukd have responded as that is where I tend to go.

I'm not saying you have. I'm saying other posters you refer to did.

Yes, I think there should be just one board for SN support, and one board for SN issues/chat that disappear after 90 days for those who don't like their posts to hang around.

So are you saying there should be one board? If so, I agree. I have never said though that people of younger children can't post on threads involving older children/adults.

Oh, and as an aside, there would be no issue of traffic if we didn't have separate boards because posters feel that people with younger children cannot contribute meaningfully. I'm on a select committee for children and young people.They don't only let me contribute to matters concerning under 8's because my DD1 is 8! Similarly, the local authority phoned me and asked me to be a governor at a special secondary school. They didn't bar me because my children are primary age. I still don't understand why we aren't able to give support to posters with older children.

We all post threads that get very few replies. It doesn't mean anything. There are lots of new posters who won't even know who you are because you haven't posted since they joined.

Perhaps posters who feel on the fringe need to try and give support to other posters who are struggling. Then they'll feel more involved? The SN board is for getting and giving support.

Lol Lougle, is that the 4 replies. It shows who is interested especially when you see names you know posting above or below your thread. All that says to me is they are avoiding you, I don't believe for one minute they didn't see it. Call me paranoid, cynical etc but like I said maybe the board and what happened has coloured me.

I know you did, I just feel uncomfortable, don't want to do or say anything wrong, I walk on eggshells enough at home, without doing it here too and I think because of the way I feel due to what happened to make me feel like this I lost what used to be a lifeline if that makes sense. Now if others feel like me and have post in their own defence which has been on this thread, whether we all now coloured and reading a wrong tone the responses and usual posters who defend the board can make it feel like you are being accused or that the board is cliquey. I don't mind posting this as I felt I lost this place over a year ago and like I said I do feel uncomfortable so won't post many if any of my issues but if I can help others feel they want to start posting again and find support I can try. It's horrible when you lose a lifeline and would hate for anyone else to feel the way I have.

I am sure beyond sure that this was not what happened. What happened was a small group of posters (2 or 3) consistently telling the posters with younger children that they couldn't possibly post about their older child/young adult in SN because

a) we couldn't possibly help because we hadn't been there.

b) They wanted their own section to discuss teenage/post 16 issues with other parents of post 16s.

c) their teen's issues were private.

several of us started clearly that we were sure we could help, Google, research, etc., only to be told it was not good enough.

The teens board was set up, then there were complaints that there was not enough traffic and it was isolating.

devientenigma, you posted on a thread and I welcomed you back right there. You posted an update and got replies. Why did you feel you don't fit?

Yeah I've just post in legal, I know it doesn't get as much traffic but I'll see if anyone posts. Just didn't want to post back here as it looks as though zzzzz and I have x post.

afaik, the SN: legal section is still there. along with a couple of others. The majority of traffic remains in SN: children and SN: chat though, so the other boards are pretty quiet iirc.

Wasn't there not a sn law section, is that still there? < goes to have a look>

Tbh I have too much to deal with in rl to remember other peoples arguments here but maybe it was the other way round and lack of traffic making them want to post here.

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