Schools SENCo

[LittleBooInABox]

I'm fully prepared to be told I'm being unreasonable here, but it's been an emotional weekend and I'm still feeling a little fragile so I'd like some fresh eyes to look over this and decide if I should make a complaint of if I'm just being precious.

On Friday I went into see DS class teacher, after a week of tantrums and meltdowns not proportionate to the event: like changing his mind on a sweet and being to late to change it. (Already paid, long que) turns out it was because they were doing practice tests for there sats. DS struggled and become distressed causing him to act out.

DS teacher said she had some concerns because DS is working about a year behind where he is (year 2, age 6) it was eventually settled that he may be strongly dyslexic. I asked for a referral to the schools SENCo, who wasn't in on Mondays.

We spent the whole weekend thinking and reading about how best to support DS. We made him a quite space in his room with some a small desk, chair and let h

So move forward with today.

Have SaLT not given you things to work on? I would focus on that for now.

I don't do any "academic" things with ds at home (other than normal school reading and homework) but I do do SaLT activities (and physio and OT) to help him develop skills that don't come naturally to him

The problem stemmed from the fact that the class teacher 'diagnosed' your son. Despite her experience, she had no business doing so. The SENCo can't diagnose either. Does the LEA have a specialist SPLD advisor? They test properly and diagnose. I was a SALT and SENCo.

On a side note, does your school insist on cursive handwriting?

Yes they do.

Good, they should be.

www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/parent/help-with-handwriting

Its common for children to not be able to pronounce certain phonics sounds until the age of 7/8....I forget which...so I suppose that's why many won't diagnose dyslexia before the age of 8. Classes up our way are now expected to be 'dyslexia friendly' and children with dyslexia might get 2 short (20 mins) small group work session per week with support for learning teacher.

I have serious dyslexia. Was only behind in reading/writing at school and was ahead in maths (in particular mental arithmatic), and when I got some help I started getting ahead in everything. If he's poor at all subjects equally, and has already had some support for dyslexia and it's not working, then it might be a symptom of something else. He needs a full assessment not just for dyslexia.

I think you're more than a tad oversensitive, tbh. IME, Sencos may screen for dyslexia, but they cannot diagnose. Teachers don't diagnose either and in fact, every member of staff in the school where I work, is told clearly NOT to offer an opinion on what condition /syndrome may or may not be at the root of a child's sen. Teachers are NOT health professionals.
In this area, schools are very limited in terms of Ed Psych visits - we are currently 'allowed' one visit per term with a maximum of 2 children being seen per visit. By the time you ensure that secondary transfers are covered, that doesn't allow for many new children. I don't think the SENCo was laughing at your child, more likely it was an ironic laugh at the thought of being able to book a meeting like that at such short notice. I understand that your child is your priority, but that doesn't mean he is theirs. Clearly, the SENCo has put measures in place to support your child, and the chances are that any diagnosis would not necessarily change that. A good SENCo will organise support that addresses the needs of an individual rather than the 'tick box' list that accompanies a diagnosis and it sounds as though that's exactly what she's done.
Rather than being angry with the SENCo, you should be pleased that she has recognised your child's needs and is ensuring he gets the support he needs. Any anger should be directed at the teacher, who IMO, acted unprofessionally in saying your child is dyslexic.

Being given the time frame that it will happen in January is pretty quick IME. I have a meeting this week with SENCo that was arranged three weeks ago because she really doesn't have any other gaps. It's to sort out where the extra five hours support allocated to dd will be placed. I suppose i might be considered urgent but realistically even though I know we have extra hours and the school knows we have extra hours it's unlikely that the LA will get around to officially organising the funding until the new year. SEN really is like that, nothing happens quickly,there is a lot of waiting if not for assessments, for reports or for allocation of resources (it's 10 months since we asked for extra hours it will most likely be almost a year when everything is in place) It's frustrating for parents and also for teachers and SENCos too who often have their hands tied.

I'm just going to throw into the mix that there are 3 days of term left

3

in which to fit in parties, nativity plays making sure crafts are done, over excited children alternately screeching and then dissolving into tears, trying to make sure all the stuff that kids are not supposed to bring to school but so anyway is together so that parents don't arrive on the war path when the children invariably lose them. Sickness bugs and colds a plenty and this is the longest term.

If a parent came up to me when I was dealing with all that, have maybe 1/2 day per week of senco time and a full teaching time table and starting whinging that 4 working weeks was too long to wait I might have laughed incredulously too.

Any decent school should be able to screen for dyslexia which will give a reliable indication of the likelihood, although you will need an ed psych for a formal diagnosis of this and other needs. Many schools do not assess until a child is two years behind their peers. A private EP report will cost about 330-350. You will be waiting forever for the school to organise one as there isn't the money available. Wait the month for the SENCO to screen- you don't need to be there. Whatever they put in place will be the same with or without diagnosis, but make sure that access arrangements for exams are in place by year 6. If you aren't satisfied with the help the school offers then consider a private tutor trained in dyslexia and literacy interventions.

My ds2 was referred to salt by his preschool teacher and our health visiter when he was two and a half. He had major intervention from them up until the middle of year four when we were told he had crept over the lower limit for intervention.

We strongly suspected he was dyslexic but the school said no, it was because of his speech/hearing/language difficulties. Although they refused to test they did however have many interventions in place (including a scribe)and he left primary school with good sats.

I told secondary school his Sen history before he started including our dyslexia concerns. The senco pre tested him then referred him to a la educational psychologist and he was formally diagnosed. They then ensured the interventions continued.

The system is broken but those who are in it are doing their best. You have one dc to support, they have many. I didn't find out who the senco at primary was until ds2 left(I didn't know there was one), you not only know who they are but are able to speak to them about support within a four week timescale. In my experience you should be very happy they have listened to you and are prepared to engage in a reasonable timeframe.

Yabvu about this I'm afraid.

LittleBool - I really do understand the sources of your stress, etc, I really do and as you said upthread you weren't prepared for this, you don't understand the processes and truly no one does when they start out on what can often turn out to be a "rocky road". I'm quoting the GP we had when DS was 6 and I didn't really understand what he meant at the time - nearly 10 years later I bloody well do now! And you know what, hardly anyone really knows the right way to go about it - particularly now the whole ballpark has changed with regards to SEN. Lots of us know what is supposed to happen, what the law states, etc, etc, etc. - but it depends on so many variables that the legitimate, correct way is very often ignored or too dependent on the 'patchy' knowledge but overarching 'power' of the 'professionals' involved. Honestly, a parent not being present at a school-based test for dyslexia is totally normal and to have the test scheduled for the end of January given the xmas holidays is not too bad either......in the grand scheme of things.

But I completely understand your frustration and anxiety and wish to get it sorted as soon as possible

Oddbins - we still have 6 more days left of school before the Xmas holidays start

Has your speech and laguage checked him for any processing problems?

6 days is still nothing - they'll still be absolutely packed full. I wish I could show you a screenshot of our school shared calendar - it is insane!

Apologies, not RTFT. But the following needs to be said:

1. 6 is not too young to test. My DS had a full Ed Psych assessment at 6. Early diagnosis of dyslexia is critical to getting the right interventions in place.
2. Waiting until January for the initial screening assessment by the SENCO doesn't feel unreasonable.
3. However, I don't think that it is unreasonable to attend an assessment. I have always been invited by the school to attend assessments, though it does involve a lot of flexibility to fit around their schedules. This is understandable, of course, but I've not seen OP complain about this. Attending assessments has allowed us to better understand my child's strengths and needs. And, for example, to pick up on the SALT who didn't understand why he didn't respond to her when she repeatedly used the totally wrong name.
4. Dyslexia is often very a complex combination of learning difficulties, particular to the individual - and frequently co-occurring with other SpLDs. To say that the interventions are all the same and a diagnosis doesn't affect them is, frankly, ignorant.
5. Finally, how fucking rude to tell a parent, who is dealing with the emotional impact of a possibility that their child faces a much more difficult life than someone who is neurotypical, that they should not worry about it because her dc isn't 'facing a death sentence' and that some famous people have dyslexia. Just because some people have overcome additional difficulties doesn't mean that the difficulties don't exist. Just listen to interviews with Branson, et al to find out the impact on their early lives.

My child is bright, funny, caring and brilliant. I have seen him cry in frustration and wrestle with demons that some of you can't begin to understand. We have fought a SEN system that seems set up to ration care, not to support children. We, as his parents, are his only advocates. And that's with a supportive school behind us.

Try a bit of empathy, you lazy, unfeeling fools.

I wish I could have an actual conversation with you OP. If you get an independent dyslexia assessment tit more often than not diagnoses dyslexia. In the olden days, the Ed Psych would test for non verbal intelligence and verbal ability. The SALt might use the CELF test to pinpoint weaknesses and strength. God knows what happens now.

Philomena - thank you! I haven't said I'm not happy to wait of be flexible. I even said to Senco give me a day, I can book it off. Then call me the day before to arrange the time. I'm happy to be flexible. I just want to be there. I'm sorry your DC has had a hard time, it's horrific watching this unfolding and being able to do little to help, I can't imagine how you feel so far in.

It's all very well and good saying that this list of famous people made it, where's the list to show who didn't do so well.

All I wanted was some advice and support for my son and I. But sadly I'm feeling like it's not a supportive road.

Little
There have been lots of supportive posts from people who have been through this already. I know you are upset but don't ignore all the positive advice because you didn't like a couple of posts.

Chaz - no, I have taken the positive in. And I really am grateful for all the support.
It's nice (wrong word) comforting, to know that I'm not alone and we've all felt this sense of confused drowning at the start.

But thank you to everyone who has helped me, you've given me food for thought and a more positive outlook

Little
I know it's a shock when someone says out loud that there is a problem but it is for the best. Once he is screened, everyone will have a clearer idea what to focus on.
One thing that helped DS2 was me and teachers highlighting when we made a mistake e.g. read something wrong so he learned that making mistakes is normal and that everyone does it.

You won't be there, and you need to get that idea out of your head right now. You will not be allowed to be in the room while he is testing, and you need to not make a big deal about the testing, in order not to skew the results. He needs to think it is nothing more than a bit of an extra lesson, not a test that is going to label him. "Mrs X is going to do some games with you, won't that be fun?"

Do you always turn everything into a catastrophe? Calm down. He's getting support and the process is ongoing. You're working yourself into a state, and you've written off his whole future.

Don't insist on being there during the assessment. Your son will obviously work out that something is up and will tense up, so the result of the assessment will be very unreliable. The Senco needs to do it in as low key a way as possible, which may well mean grabbing a moment in the middle of a literacy lesson when he's in the right mood and it isn't too obtrusive - and that is probably why she can't give you an appointment. By all means ask for a meeting with her after she's done it.

I'd strongly suggest you contact your local branch of the Dyslexia Association for more help and advice.

Why do you want to be there?
The SENCO will need to score the results in peace - she won't be able to give you an instant result.

Do you think, bearing in mind how stressed and emotional you feel, that it would be a good idea for you to be sitting there while he does the assessments? Don't you think it would heighten the anxiety, especially since you've said how you "both end up in tears" so he's obviously picking up on your angst?

Obviously your son is your priority but the school might have 5 more pressing priorities and the EP might only be able to see 3 in a day. They also take time to write up their reports.

It's the end of term now, if she's said by the end of January that is really really good.

We can only afford a few slots a year and so there are months in between appointments.