AIBU to think that DS should get extra time in exams

[yearofthehorse]

DS is 15, in Year 10 and has GCSE's next year. He is also ASD, diagnosed by an NHS doctor and has all the associated issues of lack of concentration and anxiety that go with the condition.

However he was diagnosed by a diagnostic service who do not engage under any circumstances in correspondence. The school insist that he cannot get extra time unless they are sent a letter by an NHS doctor to say that he will benefit from it but DS has now been discharged from CAMHS and the waiting list to get back on is over a year so that may be too late.

Has anyone else found themselves in this Catch 22 situation and found a way round it?

JCQ was Feb 21st

OP's DS is taking the exams in 2021.

It was for Punxsutawney’s DS who starts in May and has no provisions in place.

That is hopeless of the school.

Ds actually has a laptop and smaller room. School have always said that he is entitled to nothing else. He was diagnosed with ASD last year but that did not involve an educational psychology assessment. School say grades are fine.

I have no idea if he would be entitled to anything else. His anxiety is very high and his organisation and planning is non existent (he's so stressed about trying to plan his self study and revision he is not doing any the moment). I think he has poor executive functioning which is not unusual for autistic teens.

School say that there is nothing else available as far as exams go.

School is wrong, Punx.

It’s not about the grades being fine in general, it’s about whether there is a barrier to then demonstrating their full ability in the exams.

them

Late applications for adjustments are possible if there is a new manifestation of an existing condition. His extreme anxiety and inability to plan have only manifested since the exam pressure has ramped up and is almost certainly a manifestation of his ASD.

I am not an expert and happy to be corrected but surely it’s worth pushing this point with the school.

See yellow box

Feb 21st deadline applies to 2020 Summer exams - op's ds is in Year 10 and has exams next year.

nevertrustaninja
Punxsutawney’s DS has exams this year and the school have not considered rest breaks or extra time.

I apologise, @callimanco is right. I only saw 'extra time' and 'anxiety' when I saw your post, I didn't see ASD. I've had A LOT of requests for the aforementioned this week so clearly am going a bit mad! The only thing I would say is that there would have to be evidence that he uses extra time as his normal way or working. If he does, school can apply it to his mock exams and keep a copy of the exam papers as evidence (I ask pupils to write in a different coloured pen when using additional time). Sorry I didn't read your post properly, I read it after a long day at school!

Chaz thanks for that, will have a look and see if there is anything we can do. Unfortunately Ds seems to have been let down by everyone we try and get help from. His mental health is really poor too as he has very low mood but Camhs have refused to see him, he doesn't meet their criteria apparently. We have weeks where he barely eats which is not great for concentration or energy levels for study or exams.

There has been a noticeable increase in anxiety in the last month. When I emailed the Senco last week she just forwarded it onto his teachers to which only two have replied. I've told them he is so overwhelmed that he is not revising at all but they don't offer any extra revision classes or support.

He has 26 exams between mid May and mid June.

Sorry OP, I will stop moaning on your thread now! I do hope you get things sorted for your Ds.

I have some experience of this op. I have a 15 yo ds (birthday in August) he is doing his GCSEs this year. Due to sensory issues he is using a word processor for his exams and a scribe in maths. He is predicted 8s and 9s

He is autistic and has a lot of sensory issues around touch which affect the way be holds a pen and his handwriting is unreadable as a result. He uses a laptop in class where possible to ensure readable work and notes for revision, marking purposes so there is plenty of evidence for the exam boards to accept the case for alternative provision. It also means he is a different room from the main exam hall which helps with his anxiety around exams.

It is difficult to get people - teachers included - to understand the necessity for alternative provision for children who are going to do well in exams, but as ds is only going to achieve his potential if the exam papers are readable enough to mark, then that helps make the case.

We did not need a supportive letter from paediatrician, we have been told that it is the evidence that ds uses laptop in class, the special arrangements in his mocks and the supporting statements from his teachers that is important.

I do the applications for my school. This can be really clear cut. Most important question, does he have an EHCP?

The only pertinent information necessary here is does he have an EHCP or not? If yes, there should be zero issues in getting extra time. If no, it’s a little more complex but not impossible.

Eemamc DS has ASD, had an EHCP and a scribe but still wasn’t given extra time. Not clear cut in every school.

The issue I was talking about is ASD with and EHCP and extra time, if it is normal way of working it is easy for school to process. I would be inclined to recommend extra time alongside the scribe in the situation you describe, again if it is normal way of working. If it is not then yes the centre are correct here. If you have an EHCP for an SEMH issue and it is normal way of working, then extra time is very easily achievable in terms of access arrangements. I have a specific qualification in access arrangements, this is something I process a lot. Scribe is a harder access arrangement to justify in my experience as the SENCo has to confirm that the student cannot write, and also that student cannot use a word processor. I process very few scribe access arrangements under the JCQ regs, as actually word processor is often more appropriate.

Callimanco thanks for the info. As I say, we're not at exam stage yet as my DS is only 9, so not really sure of the whole process with regards to extra time etc. We had OT for other reasons but handwriting was picked up on and she said she would make the recommendation to school if needed for the laptop

DS was no quicker typing than writing. Something like 9 words a minute? I can’t remember exactly, he’s 20 now. He was supposed to use a laptop in lessons, but with worksheets and maths etc (and teachers forgetting) it didn’t get enough use to enable him to get his speed up.

He doesn't need a diagnosis to get additional time. The school apply with the evidence of his need in class.

@nevertrustaninja

The op's son needs exam arrangements due to a medical need, which is why she has been asked to provide medical evidence. The SENCO does not need to assess op's son or complete form 8. Op needs to provide medical evidence which confirms her ds's disability.

The SENCO's role is to write a file note which confirms that the adjustment of extra time is Op's ds's usual way of working and which demonstrates evidence from teaching staff that op's ds has persistent and significant difficulties as a result of his disability, and how these difficulties impact on his learning in the classroom.

Whoever applies online will apply for extra time due to a medical need and will not be asked to input any scores. They will however be asked whether school have medical evidence to confirm ds's disability/medical condition.

Hello nevertrustaninja if you are still on mumsnet please can you contact me - I wanted to ask you one question but messaging is off - thank you xx