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.

Maybe that has gone through my head. I think i haven't done it because I was wanting sone history/background. And when speaking to GP it often feels like they don't have time to speak to you and have a conversation. And i feel a bit off about it because I'm not ringing due to being ill.

Ring one of the schools. Say what you've said here and ask if they could point you in the right direction.

Please be mindful OP may have moderate learning needs or ND. It might be difficult for her to do this.

But OP unless your parents can answer then it’s prob best to contact the school.

Do you have dyslexia? My cousin was sent to a specialist school because he was dyslexic. That was the early 90s.

Parkside is still open.

https://www.parkside.norfolk.sch.uk/

you could email them and so if they have any records.

True maybe via email i may not feel so silly as it's not on the phone. I may do that now.

I'd contact the schools and ask whether they have any records from the dates you were there. They likely won't after this amount of times, but it's really not a strange thing at all to request any data they have on you. You don't need to ask them specific questions like why you were enrolled. Just see if they have the data and say you'd like it for your records.

When I went for ADHD diagnosis I contacted my old schools to see if they still held former pupil details and they didn't as it had been too long. One was a large comprehensive with approx 1000 pupils and they stored records for 15 years, which I was just past when I enquired. So a smaller school might hold onto records longer, it's possible and you don't lose anything by asking.

Fair point.

Not to be rude, but surely that's the most obvious place to start (without asking a family member first)

Yeah it just through me although it's still open it seems to be a different type of special needs school compared to back then I'm gonna do it anyway. Thank you

I'm not saying I'm right I'm saying how i feel and what I'm thinking.

You don't have to put much information in the email. I or someone here could help you type up an email? Only if that's helpful. Just a template type thing for you to fill in some details. I can understand how difficult it feels, but I would be happy to help you in this way if it helps.

I do for writing and numbers. But I was told I have moderate learning difficulties that bit throws me.

I didn’t go to a SEN school but had similar issues finding out about my medical history/ diagnoses from 1990 onwards as I had multiple issues and assessments then my parents abruptly stopped it all as professionals wanted me removed from home and put in an inpatient unit for ‘treatment’. I remember my parents saying no more appts and they didn’t want me labelled for life. I can barely find anything on my medical records and I was seen extensively for years so it’s very odd. As an adult I’ve had a diagnosis of ASD and ADHD.

Thank you . That's really kind. I'm just gonna write it how I think. I'm not overly worried about the winging as such.

Are you in the UK? If so you should have started school around age 5, yet you refer to going to your first school aged 8 or 9, is this correct?

If for some reason you didn't start school at the usual time you could have been sent to a special school because mainstream couldn't accommodate an older child who required the basics normally taught in reception.

It's worth a go, my GP records say I had unexplained urticaria (hives) in 1988, I would've been 3 or 4.

OP surely you know if you have learning difficulties, we don't magically grow out of them.

Even without a diagnosis its often clear to see. My friend has never been diagnosed and dropped out then failed school but I you only have to see her try read and/or write to easily see she has severe Dyslexia (far worse than me and I was diagnosed).

Even if you don't know the name for it you would have aware of the struggles you face with something. Like with Dyslexia I remember being very aware of spelling words and then reading them back and the letters are suddenly different to what I just wrote (feels like reality is gaslighting you) or other issues related to my other diagnosis I have like not being able to run like all the other kids or struggling to fasten buttons or guide a fork to my mouth etc...

Learning difficulties and disabilities are different things. Are you getting the two mixed up?

It's probable you could have been considered to have moderate learning difficulties because of your difficulties with literacy and numeracy. Suspected dyslexia, dyscalculia.

Ask for a copy of your complete notes from gp. The 80s isn’t that long ago. We have records at work from the 50s on some patients

I think it was much more common then. My best friend was in mainstream with me, but spent a few years in the middle of primary at a special school. She started mainstream secondary, but at some point in year 7 moved to another primary school. Had some learning difficulties, but there’s no way she’d have moved to a special school in the current system (this was in the 80s).

I was surprised when I asked to see my electric GP notes that they had digitised everything, every ear infection, every jab. I'm 49!
So the GP may well have something

I would imagine that this information would be easy for the local authority to locate. You could ask for a copy of your Statement of Educational needs between the years you are thinking about. Go through the Education department. Hope you get some answers.

No i went to school at 5. But I didn't start the SEN schools until age 8 or 9 .

That's great. It doesn't have to be written in any specific way, as long as you get your point over 😊. If your thoughts are running crazy, it could be helpful to write some stuff down. Maybe places to try next of needed. Dates. Things you remember. Good luck with it. You will feel so much better just having started the process