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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

How you would handle this meeting with the Head today at 2:15pm.

44 replies

DayDreamer99 · 14/11/2017 13:39

I am not new but name changed. I have 4 dc, one in year 7 and three in primary, meeting is with the Primary school head. My eldest child was failed so badly by the primary school, I asked for help and testing for SEN multiple times between year 1-6. Each time I was told there was no need child was progressing normally and very well behaved blah blah blah. I always left frustrated thinking my child was going under the radar because they didn't misbehave in school, I knew there were SEN there just not what ones, it was obvious when comparing the children. Started year 7 I requested testing from the new school, they said I had made their job easier as xxx has come back as needing screenings from the CAT's results and as I was already aware could just get on with it rather than having to have a meeting first to discuss/consent etc. The tests came back with ability at age 8y 2m presently with multiple SEN identified and I have been advised to get my other 3 children tested. The primary school have said there was nothing wrong with my eldest when they were there, the secondary school have misdiagnosised these things in dc1 to get rid of me. I wrote one email to secondary school as my request so was in no way a pestering them. To cut along story short they are refusing to screen the other kids, where do I stand with this. Dc1 does have SEN been screened by school and again by department of education and has a specialists teacher come into school 1 hour per day as well as being taken out of classes like P.E to work in a small group of 3. Any advice or thoughts of how to handle this will be greatly appreciated

OP posts:
steppemum · 14/11/2017 18:45

the SEN board
doesn't appear in the active/news round up type things

LizzieSiddal · 14/11/2017 18:47

You need to tread very carefully. You are proposing to accuse the school of cheating in the SATS tests

Well unless the child was officially allowed extra time and help, the school did cheat.

steppemum · 14/11/2017 19:21

sorry, this is right place

FireCracker2 · 14/11/2017 19:24

Well unless the child was officially allowed extra time and help, the school did cheat.

''Schools do not need to seek permission from STA or their local authority before making arrangements for a reader to be on hand for a child taking a national curriculum test."

YellowMakesMeSmile · 14/11/2017 19:57

Schools can have a reader for the tests bar the reading paper with no special arrangements.

I'd find it odd the high school have suggested testing three children they have never met and most schools won't have spare money to test chidren on the basis their siblings may have needs.

Allthewaves · 14/11/2017 19:58

Are your other children struggling in school? No school will screen children unless they perceive that there is a problem. If your thinking asd, adhd etc you can go through your gp.

Out school has to provide 3 detailed ieps even before ed psych can be called in. Even then there's only so many ed psych hours so they have to be used for most urgent cases - sad and unfair

Ceto · 14/11/2017 23:29

They don't have to yet. As of May the rules change, the new GDPR (replaces data protection act) will allow you to make a SAR (Subject access request) for all info they hold on your child from the school.

No need to wait for May, the DPA allows you to ask for copies of the records now. Even better, if it is a maintained school you can ask for them and get them under the Education (Pupil Information) Regulations 2005, which entitles you to copies within 15 school days. I think it would be a good idea - you could find out more about what progress your children are or are not making, and what your Year 3 child got in the KS2 SATs.

JonSnowsWife · 15/11/2017 00:56

DayDreamer it is late now but I'll hopefully be back later to post more coherently.

You have not let your DCs down.

The 'above average' thing is used as a coverall for the schools that can't be arsed.

DayDreamer99 · 15/11/2017 10:41

We had some good news just now, all 3 3dc have been given places at an Ofsted Outstanding school which is 9 miles from our house. It is an A road all the way there so national speed limit so a short drive away. I have excepted the places and now just need to agree a start date, I am hopefully it will be before Christmas but dh thinks it is more likely to be January.

Those that were confused why the other 3 dc needed testing it is because apparently the disabilities my eldest has can be hereditary and it is very clear that even when it is very clear there is an issue the Primary school can't pick it up. The testing has been granted by the council and is due to take place Monday with an educational psychologist, dh and I will get a chance to meet up with her/him after the testing is complete. It is not ADHD or any other behaviour problem it is all learning based issues. Just so pleased I got somewhere with the council and my other 3 dc have been given the opportunity of a better education.

OP posts:
Booboobooboo84 · 15/11/2017 10:44

That’s wonderful news OP

Ttbb · 15/11/2017 10:44

Tell them that if they do not test the younger ones you will report them to foster and also contact the DM (if they haven't already picked up the thread). Just be aggressive. Being polite hasn't worked.

nobody22 · 15/11/2017 12:51

Following as I’m in the same boat sort of.

DayDreamer99 · 15/11/2017 15:12

nobody22 I have found the best way to deal with it is by factual and show no emotion. I want this, this and this, they say no you leave and take it above the schools head. Somebody somewhere has listen to me as 3dc have new school places in an Ofsted Outstanding school that had no places last week when I checked, they are being tested for SEN, so don't give up.

OP posts:
Ceto · 15/11/2017 16:18

Excellent. If any of the tests confirm you are right to be concerned, I'd be tempted to tell the head of the current school and ask whether she is satisfied with her own judgment and those of the teachers and SENCO.

FireCracker2 · 15/11/2017 17:08

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

YouTheCat · 15/11/2017 17:13

You need to tread very carefully. You are proposing to accuse the school of cheating in the SATS tests

The school did cheat because without any diagnosis of additional needs there is no way that extra time and help would have been granted. And the school should rightly be pulled up on this.

DayDreamer99 · 15/11/2017 17:45

FireCracker2 The council are screening the dc after it was recommended by an educational psychologist who also works for the council. The primary school had no concerns about my eldest dc so to be honest there opinion is no concern of mine. I applied for places, was told no put the children's names on the waiting list and appealed. I went to an appeal hearing this morning at 8:30 where it was ruled by 3 independent people that it was in the children's best interests to move school. Their decision trumped the local authorities decision, I don't make the rules but I did follow them and this time got lucky. My dc current school is 11 miles from the house as we live rurally, so the new school is closer just a different direction.

OP posts:
DayDreamer99 · 15/11/2017 17:46

And no 3 spaces haven't opened up they were told they had to accept my dc, sorry you don't like it but that is how it is.

OP posts:
jenp256 · 15/11/2017 18:13

I would be going over the schools head as they are not helping and get in touch with your la's sen department. I would also get an independent advocate to support you in meetings, preferably send partnership or edge inclusion are the ones local to me, try googling sen advocacy for your area.

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