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.

I went to school in Scotland for five years bk in the 80s I'm 49 now, when I went bk to Scotland to visit relatives I went to my old school, there was records of my time there and old photos, so it is possibly. You won't know unless you ask, email the school give them your name your date of birth, parents name address at the time and the years you were there and ask if they have any info on the reason you attended the school.Hope you find what your looking for, good luck.

Hi op, just came back to see how you're getting on. Well done on contacting one school and the doctors. I sometimes can find stuff like this very overwhelming and difficult, which is why I was keen to help you.

All the best on Monday with the forms. Let us know how you get on. 💖

Was there any trauma in your life at that time? My BIL was sent to Remedial class following the death of his father. He was 8 or 9 and this was the early 1980s. Might have been a thing at the time to take pressure off. He now is now a graduate and has a good job so no harm done.

No there was no trauma going on. Glad your BIL is doing well .

Thank you 💐 I'm not sure how long it takes once I do the forms . I think i might take id with me just incase ?

It might be worth writing to the Local Authority education department. Children sent to special schools usually had education psychologist reports carried out to assess needs, and the special needs team had to liaise with the special school. It's possible they still have records, although it is a long time ago now.

I have contacted GP and the school. I will see what I find fron them first . If nothing then I will contact the local authority.

Best of luck, I would want to know too.

I hope you've had a full life. It sounds like it with children and grandchildren.
We often take on messages we are given as children and we believe them right in our heart, even though it is not true. It can take a lifetime to realise that they were wrong.
You write well and I wonder if this has been true for you about your abilities.

There are many forms of intelligence, whether that's being creative, being good at practical things, being sporty, being good at exams, being good at listening to their friends, being able to make a cosy home, finding joy in simple things that other people might miss etc .

Someone can be brilliant at school but have no clue how to cook for their family, for example.
Whatever you find out, please think about the things you do well and the things you enjoy. Any sort of diagnosis ( that may even be wrong) does not define us.

My daughter was in mainstream school but had some medical needs relating to an undiagnosed ( connective tissue disorder) she was in upper band for all curriculum based learning , she had no statement but I was frequently asked about her secondary education by drs and school ,she used a nebuliser for what we were told was asthma , there was always a push and pull effect from school ,drs ,hospital with none of them forming a diagnosis for the health condition she actually had , sadly she passed away after yrs of lack of diagnosis from what I believe was a treatable condition! So how do I know this I hear you all say ?! Because I am now bringing up her daughter and have just been through the exact same process to keep her in mainstream school ,the only difference is prior to her mum dying we managed to get genetic testing which revealed my daughter ,grandaughter ,myself and my son and his daughter have loeys dietz syndrome , it’s thought to be rare but likely not if more are tested !! However I am not saying you have that but maybe a similar condition , regards sars and dates it’s not difficult to work out the school year you are asking for , ring the information officer for advice , . Another way forward as they won’t help you is to write down any family conditions that you may have even if they seem unconnected and do some Google searches you may stumble across a condition that makes sense that you never even heard of before , ours was random collection , Back pain , flat feet , teeth overcrowding , dyspraxia clumsy and so on do you see as I say random !!! Insist on face to face with actual gp now they are not allowed to lie to you so prepare your question and remember the school connection because you would not of gone to that type of school without your gp knowledge and they would’ve been involved in your statement which I believe you needed to go to any special school , the send label has been possibly preventing you from having the right to make medical decisions for yourself !! It’s important that you get to the bottom of this one way or another ,I take it you are capable of making your own decisions and that is the only thing that actually is relevant , good luck

the send label has been possibly preventing you from having the right to make medical decisions for yourself !! It’s important that you get to the bottom of this one way or another ,I take it you are capable of making your own decisions and that is the only thing that actually is relevant , good luck

I'm sorry, this is simply not true. I had to go through a very complicated legal process to get deputyship for my adult child who has SLD, and there are many safeguards in place. Going to a special school does not mean this is the case at all. Please don't be thrown off track by inaccurate statements.

Criteria worked differently years ago. My dad was sent to a special needs boarding school due to his mother dying when he was ten.

Life Changing - Excluded - BBC Sounds
is it this?

i listened to this one
Life Changing - Overheard - BBC Sounds

Their policy should state a timeframe for response. Usually a month but can be extended by up to two more depending on how straightforward the request is. ID should be required.

I'm so sorry to read about your dd that must having been awful for you . Im so sorry 💐.

I do not have anything like that in my family. I definitely wasn't sent there for a physical type reason, or an illness. There is autism in the family but I have never been told I have that.

I have never been told I can't access my records. But I didn't know how. Plus i thought things would not exist anymore.

Great idea. I've actually just looked up and found something to suggest that's exactly what you do. I wouldn't have thought of that, well done!

The highlight of the info is here -
"""We will usually process your request within 30 days. As long as we have received proof of your identity.

Following your request, we may write back to you within the 30-day time frame to request you to narrow or modify your requirements. This may also result in an extension of a further 60 days whilst we examine your request."""

From here https://digital.nhs.uk/about-nhs-digital/corporate-information-and-documents/publication-scheme/how-to-make-a-subject-access-request (assuming you're in England, I'm in NI so unsure)

Where is says narrow or modify your request does that mean i cant get my full records ?

And it looks like it could take around 3 months.

School records are kept by local authorities for 25 years in case of issues arising so should be with your local authority unless school was grant maintained or similar but as it is Local Authorities who are charged with meeting SEN provision/ need at that time it seems unlikely. Try the Local Education Authority that dealt with your school.

I'm getting mixed messages about how long things are kept for. So I will just see how that gos. Will find out regardless.

Found this 😓

In England, school records are generally kept until the pupil's 25th birthday for secondary school records and until the child's 25th birthday for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) records, including reviews and education, health, and care (EHC) plans. Primary school records are typically transferred to the relevant secondary school when the child leaves.

Only hope there is is medical records.

They normally ask for a defined period or type of record if the request covers a wide period of time or is vague, for example, and it may be held in different formats or locations. There might also be information to be redacted such as the names of others involved or sensitive data which makes the process more time consuming. The more specific your request you make the quicker it is likely to be delivered.

Often things are kept on microfilm/fiche after more than 10 years… especially hospitals. There will surely be a record from the 80s kept someplace.

Often things are kept on microfilm/fiche after more than 10 years… especially hospitals. There will surely be a record from the 80s kept someplace.

I really hope you get some answers!

I think things like these quote maximum timescales & state bad possible outcomes.

I assume each one is assessed and altered only if necessary.

So 90 days with restricted information is only them letting you know what could happen. It's not saying it will.

I hope that makes sense. All you call do is submit your forms on Monday, ask at the doctors maybe any questions about timescales etc. They should know.

I would write a list for Monday for myself. Passport, pen paper.
Questions...
-how long does it usually take?
Add more as you think of them.

But That's just me explaining what would help me. I take meds and can forget, so this is how I remember and be organised 😁