AIBU to expect some SEN provision despite the pandemic?

[ACupOfTeaSolvesEverything]

Ok before you shoot me down right away, I know teachers are up against it at the moment and school life has radically transformed since this time last year.

However all SEN support has been withdrawn at my son’s school unless the child has an EHCP, those kids are getting partial support.

The reality for my child is that he gets home and completely melts down as he has spent the entire day just coping. This school work is suffering, his mental health is suffering. I feel like I’m sending a lamb to the slaughter every day.

Now I know his small group sessions can’t go ahead, I know he can’t get up and be sent on errands to add movement to his day, I know he can’t use the play equipment at lunch to get much needed sensory input.

Fine.

But I’m fighting school for his wobble cushion which he has used for the last 3 years, it lives in school, it’s in his classroom but the teacher won’t give it to him.
Fiddle toys were banned because other children might touch them - DS took some anyway and keeps them in his tray when he is not using them, no one touches them.
He has been sat on the back row because he’s quiet and no trouble but he has hearing issues and actually can’t hear the teacher so relies on the child next to him. School think this is acceptable.

AIBU to expect basic, reasonable accommodations in a pandemic? A wobble cushion and being sat somewhere he can hear? I’m not asking for the moon on a bloody stick! Or am I?

You are not being unreasonable at all. I take it you've spoken to teacher and the SENCo? If so it's time to go over their head. Speak to the headteacher and if you don't get a satisfactory response ask the office for a copy of the complaints procedure and follow it. They cannot abandon SEN children and inclusion because of bloody covid.

Senco is on long term sick unfortunately

You are definitely not being unreasonable. Unfortunately children with special needs have been kicked way down the road, a shame because provision often wasn't great Before Covid.

Yanbu. They need to get a replacement in.

YANBU

Being able to hear/understand your teacher is pretty much a minimum requirement to learn, for any child not only those with specific SEN. If any child couldn’t hear their teacher they should be moved somewhere they can. The school are failing your son if they don’t move him somewhere he can actually hear.

And they’re BU not to allow them his wobble cushion that stays in school, only he uses and is presumably cleanable? It’s a coping mechanism important to his education, especially at a time when everything else is different and more stressful.

YANBU. My DD is still getting small focus groups etc (but not as focussed as it's just from her class not the whole year). She sits at the front, as although she is quiet and amenable, she struggles to copy the board (not eyesight, processing). And her needs don't sound as intense as your child.

I think some schools are just looking for excuses.

As a teacher this makes me so sad to read. All students deserve fair access to education and that does mean taking the time to accommodate SEN needs: that's literally written into the national teacher standards.
When you say you're fighting the school, who have you spoken with already and what reasons have they specifically given for not allowing the wobble cushion and for refusing to allow your son to sit near the front?

Kids are obviously still allowed to have their own supplies, so just on that basis, you are already not BU! What difference does it make between his wobble cushion or a pack of pens (or a pack lunch box or whatever they need)

Not sitting him in the front when he cannot hear is just mean. I would be very loudly complaining about that! it makes no difference to anyone else if he's the one sitting on the first row or another child.

The school is BU and ridiculous.

School are being ridiculous. Their EHCP children must be receiving full provision. It's in the guidelines that SEN support should be provided.

I would be taking this further!

They need a replacement SENDCO

@EithneBlue

As a teacher this makes me so sad to read. All students deserve fair access to education and that does mean taking the time to accommodate SEN needs: that's literally written into the national teacher standards. When you say you're fighting the school, who have you spoken with already and what reasons have they specifically given for not allowing the wobble cushion and for refusing to allow your son to sit near the front?

It’s the teacher. At the recent parents evening he seemed unaware DS is even on the SEN register. He gave it a bit of lip service and said he would “look into” giving him a wobble cushion. Office staff say there is no reason he can’t have one. I’m taking one to school today for DS to put on his chair at 3pm. At least I can do that. The seating arrangement is ridiculous. Teacher said that he needs an NHS audiology report to move him!! He can’t hear you! DS is on urgent list for audiology and finally hoping to be seen in the next few weeks. In the meantime bloody move him!! Aaargh!

My DD is dyslexic. She’s still getting the same support.

Oh @ACupOfTeaSolvesEverything that's crap. As previous posters have said, your first step is escalate it up to the headteacher: my advice is to do it very firmly, outlining your son's specific needs (and the academic/emotional impact of these needs not being met), but don't lose your temper - be clear, calm and factual. It does sometimes happen that teachers miss SEN needs, especially near the start of the academic year, but as soon as the teacher became aware of it he should have taken them time to address your son's needs immediately. The fact that he hasn't rightfully gives you cause for concern and you are absolutely right to raise it further.
If the headteacher is not helpful then look in to the complaints procedure of the school, but hopefully that won't be necessary.
Good luck: I hope it gets resolved quickly!

Bloody hell thats awful.

I have an asd year 7 and I thank god the pastoral care in his new school has been amazing.

I'd be having a meeting with the head.

Definitely go over the teachers head on this.

I sent the teacher DS’s recent assessment report a week ago along with a friendly, collaborative email and I’ve heard nothing at all nor has anything changed in school for DS.

I have a child with Sen but no ehcp. His school senco and his teachers have bent over backwards to accommodate his needs in a covid safe way. He has all his aids and fiddle toys (the other kids know full well they’re his and not to be touched, it’s no different to his pencil), he has movement breaks (outside, although I acknowledge the particular geography of the school site and building helps here) and his table position was specifically chosen to suit his particular needs. I had a video tour of his classroom at the start of the year and was consulted on what would work for him in terms of location etc. His teachers have put hours in to helping him manage his behaviour within the constraints of distancing etc. It’s not ideal that his access to eg safe quiet spaces is reduced at present but they’ve done their absolute best under the circumstances and I’m very grateful.

Frankly, I’d be very actively following your school complaints procedure - yes, teachers are up against it but his teacher just sounds like she doesn’t believe he really has Sen and just doesn’t want to accommodate him. What money or effort would it actually cost to sit him at the front for goodness sake. It hardly takes a senco to sort that out.

Omg I am actually crying Smallwhiterat your son’s school sounds amazing!

Complain, to the head, the governors and your mp if needed. It's completely unacceptable to remove provisions that have no impact on covid transmission. My dd is still getting support, but different, her groups and her individual support sessions are now virtual.

YANBU, you need to make a complaint, speak to the head teacher first.

Sadly even without covid some schools are rubbish with reasonable adjustments. They are using this as an excuse the wobble cushion could easily be provided in a safe way.

They really are, covid times or not, although they are just a normal cash strapped state primary school. We are incredibly lucky they happen to be our local school. But a lot of it is really just attitude. My son doesn’t cost extra money or even much more staff time, just requires some mental flexibility on the part of staff, a willingness to listen and work with me as a team and a general ethos of inclusivity. For example, his entire morning routine one year was transformed by simply moving his coat peg so he wasn’t crowded when he arrived - cost nothing, just needed a teacher to listen to me.

I’ve had to negotiate a bit with my daughters school to make sure she has enough of what she needs to cope, the first 6 weeks back we’re hard going but it’s settled down now and she’s doing much better. There’s nothing you’ve written which is unreasonable, I’d be raising it with the head teacher.

Why does school neglect him?
My SENds son has small group tuition, 1-2-1 sessions, booster club etc. He gets his work differentiated for him. The educational psychologist visited, observed in class (kind off - poor lady was positioned in the outside door), etc.
The only thing they can’t do in the moment is tuition across year groups, so no typing club (my son is severely dyslexic).

He also had his own (named) fidget toys and ear protectors. all not an issue .

And he sits front middle as he is hearing impaired in one ear.