How do I find out why I went to SEN school.

[Youagain2025]

When i was a child 8 or maybe nine. I'm quite sure it was year 3? I jointed a school for children with moderate learning difficulties. I was not told why and I never questioned it. I feel like there's a big chunk that i don't know about myself. I'm not sure if things were done differently on the mid 80s like what would have been done to decide i needed to ho to a special needs school. I guess there were not ehcps back then ? I have read GP would have had records. Why would a GP have records about my schooling ? I read that i can ask for a SARS? But it said something about knowing the dates and what it is im looking for . I'm not even 100% on the dates. And I'm not sure how to word what I'm looking for.

In those days it was referred to as a statement of special needs. Can you ask your parents? If not your gp would have it noted.

Can't ask parents. How would a GP have something noted from the 80s ?

Can you contact the school?

No , I do t see how they would have anything from all then years ago.

How long were you in the school for? Until secondary?

How long were you there? When did you leave school? Do you see yourself as having special needs?

The criteria for special needs school was much lower in those days. It was common for children with medical needs to go to special needs school as well.

School 1 i went to from age 8 or 9. School 2 i went fron approx age 13 to 16. I'm now mid 40s.

They might, though. Or they might have a better idea of how you could find something concrete to help you.

I don't have medical needs. For all I know it could have been a low criteria , that would not happen today. But I still want to know either way

I would feel silly contacting them and saying hey I went to your school 29 ish years ago can you tell me why I was there. It seems odd to me to do that.

You can ask all of the people and places that have been suggested without needing to know why they would keep records. Just start emailing and see what, if anything, they come back with. You're over thinking it.

Well if you're not prepared to ask, how can you get any answers?

What was the name of the school, and in what town? Maybe someone here remembers it and knows what the eligibility criteria were in the 80s.

If you went to a school specifically for those with moderate learning difficulties, I presume that you presented at that time with moderate learning difficulties.

I don't necessarily know that you would have had (or needed to have) a diagnosis of anything specific back then, but presumably you were struggling in mainstream school so it was felt you'd be better supported in a special school.

Does your life experience suggest that you don't have some special education needs - i.e did you leave school with top GCSEs/A Levels gone on to study at degree level etc, or do your educational achievements bear out difficulties with learning (e.g minimal/low grade qualifications)?

"Well if you're not prepared to ask, how can you get any answers?"

This

You could try speaking to your Gp and asking for your medical records. They would have diagnoses of global development delay/moderate learning difficulties etc on possibly?

I got my records recently for a pip application and they have my childhood illnesses and treatments.

Do you know the name of the school?

I was there around 7 years but 2 different schools as we moved house.

I do see myself as having learning difficulties. I mean thats what I was told as a child. And then I went to school for kids with learning difficulties. I know there's lots of basic stuff I don't know/understand that most adults do. And there's general niggling bits.

You could try starting over and seeking a new, more up to date diagnosis. A chat with your gp might be a good place to start.

I listened to a program about someone who was sent to a special needs school in the 80s on Radio 4 a few months ago, and how it had held back his education (even though he didn’t actually have medical/educational needs) and he basically hadn’t learnt anything at the school but years later had been able to access adult education and been to university and made a success of his life. I’m trying to remember the name of the program, but it sounded like this had been a more common thing that you’d think, and might not mean there was anything ‘wrong’ with you OP.

I don't mind asking in a way. That's why I was thinking about the SARs route but I don't understand how to do it . Word it or the dates . I mean I was 8 or 9 I think. But im thinking I need actual dates or at least close to the dates.

I doubt anyone will know the schools but no harm in saying.

First school which would have been when it was decided I needed to go to a SEN school from approx age 8/9 to 13ihe was:

Woodside school, woodside road bexley Kent.

The 2nd school was called : Parkside school. College road Norwich , Norfolk.

You're not going to find anything out if you're unwilling to ask anyone anything!

Have you at least Googled the schools, seen if they are still open? if they are you can ask if they have any records or at least ask what the admission criteria was in the 80s.

Yh sorry OP but the only ones who would know would be the school who may very well keep records of how many kids they've taught & with what conditions as a matter of pride/school history or your parents there would be no other records.

It's possible the school was just close to your house or your parents knew somebody who's kids had been there 10+ years ago & they had spaces available.

I know you said you can’t ask your parents but I wondered if there’s any extended family members you could ask? My niece moved schools mid-term during Covid and my DGS got a placement in a specialised school - both situations were chatted about generally when catching up with family.

Medical notes are normally destroyed by age 25 so it may be difficult to access childhood notes. Were there difficulties in your life in general that may have had an emotional or traumatic impact on behaviour or engagement at that age? Did you revert to ms education otherwise?