If you had a SEN child writing GCSE would you....

[Imjustwonderingnow]

Take the 4 to 6 weeks off work to just be there and support them ? Be around, help where needed with revision etc ? ADHD and predicted grades are touch and go on 4s and 5s - they want to go to College and need the grades. I have a stressful job and don't want that to interfere if they need help. Have you done this ? Would you do this ? Thanks !

I don't understand your question. Are you asking if you should take time off work to support them during the exam period?

If you can easily do this and your child would be responsive to your support/help then it sounds like a good idea to me.

Yes this is what I'm asking. I'm thinking of taking the 4 weeks parental leave we can take oer year (I've used zero up until now and DC is 15)

I'm not sure if they'll be responsive per se 😅 they need help witu structuring but revision etc. And just feel it would really benefit them

I didn’t, but I did ensure i could drive dd to school and drop her off to her support person (school office in her case, they had a mug of tea waiting for her each time) I had a flexible schedule though

Depending on the subjects being sat, the exams can go on for a lot longer than 4 weeks.

Check what arrangements are for gcses. Many schools no longer give study leave or only after half term, and offer revision lessons during the school day. Being available to drop and collect as required can be helpful but ours often went in to revise in the morning if they had an exam that day, even if after lunch. They preferred to know they were on site ready for it. You may find that you are hanging around at home while they carry on. Could you reduce hours and wfh?

I am planning to do this op as I think my dc will need it

Op what do you mean writing GCSE did you mean taking ?

Can you get tutors in now?
Are they reaching their true potential or falling down the cracks in our system because they need teaching in a slightly different way ?
If it's the latter then start tutors now.
However if you feel they are then at least cover English and maths now with tutors.

Yes I mean Takimg GCSEs. No not reaching full potential- always falling through cracks during to ASHD. We've just started a maths tutor.... they are providing extra lessons at school for Science so doing that. Might need to look at English too ... eek

Yes good point - interesting about the study leave - I thinks ours is flexible . I don't know if they'd be better off studying at home or school !

I did, it was absolutely ideal for us and I don't regret it.

I took 15th May (start of exams) to 15th June, DD's last exam was the 17th but we arranged that DH would clear his workload if the last two June weeks would have to be covered.

DD did GCSEs in 2023, she had burn-out during Covid with undiagnosed ASD/ADHD (she was finally diagnosed autumn of 2023). Nearly all weeks from 2022 onward she had to be collected because of anxiety attacks or was physical sick because of panic at least once a week. Every time DH had to be away for work, I had to work from home full time to enable me to drop everything and collect her.

My work knew about the issues, I disclosed it as soon as the burn-out became clear and already told them in December 2022 that I would apply for parental leave in 2023. The regularity of running off during the day to collect her may also clued them in that something wasn't ok. Even when only DH collected her, I marked it in my calendar in case I needed evidence how bad it was.

Parental leave meant I didn't have to stress with work, could focus on her in the afternoons or collect her from school, she had to attend school until the 2nd week of June when the majority of exams were over, no study leave.
I didn't have to rush home after a day in the office to do dinner and was exhausted myself. DH's job means he has often meetings from 3pm onwards so when she came home it was difficult for her to talk to anyone if DH and I were both working.

Luckily my workplace is extremely family friendly so it wasn't an issue.

If you can and can afford the loss of a month pay I would definitely recommend it.

Well great you are not leaving it to the last minute.
It's soul destroying when a child has potential but just needs teaching in a slightly different way our system can't cope with

I would buy the books ,Amazon ,wh Smith the work books and go through witj him in very short bursts ,like 25 mins at a time a few times a week.
You have plenty of time to do this.
Obviously he may not want to but you may have to negotiate hard and even pay him to. 🤣.

What I've found is many students don't know how to learn or revise. It's all a big mystery and it becomes over whelming so they don't even try.

You may find after a few goes he actually enjoys it and starts to see progress.

My son is sitting a few GCSES hes at a sen school. I sit with him every week and go through the topics hes learnt that week for the exams. I will be taking time off at the exam period to help him. Its a miracle hes taking GCSEs after I was told his learning disability would get in the way of doing them so I will do everything in my power to help him.