As a teacher to be surprised at how many in my class have SEN?

[Floatingcactus]

I teach a reception class of 26. 4 of them have an EHCP plan, 6 are waiting assessment and at least another 4 are showing possible signs of SEN including speech delay.

I’ve been teaching for 10 years and I personally believe there is an increase.
I don’t know if lockdown plays a part or whether it’s down to other factors.

You’re joking!? The assessments and criteria for autism has not changed for years! That’s why so many kids fall through the cracks because they don’t fit into the stereotypical boxes they still use to diagnose autism.

As a parent of two children with SEN (one diagnosed ASD and one on the pathway for diagnosis of ADHD and ASD), this is such a triggering discussion so I’ll try to remain as impartial as possible. It’s a long one.

What you see in a class or of a child that isn’t yours in public or social situations, is a tiny part of their life and personality. I find comments like “diagnosis is given too easily these days” as beyond ignorant. If you had been blessed with having to go through the diagnosis pathway with your child, you would know it is a very hard and long process. You don’t just walk in to the first appointment with many different professionals and they write off a letter with a big tick on it for whichever SEN diagnosis you think appropriate. It’s literally a process that takes 2-3 years. I don’t think there will be many parents or carers that desire their child to be labelled with SEN. There will be the exception to the rule, but not many. In fact when my youngest first displayed traits of ASD, I convinced myself that it was just a speech delay and immediately had contact with SALTS. I at that time did not want to accept it. As time progressed it couldn’t be ignored, and let me tell you, at this stage he wasn’t what someone would stereotype as autistic. He didn’t hand flap or spin in circles, he was talking and his food was somewhat limited but he would still eat a fairly varied diet. Nothing to me screamed ASD. He was referred at just 3 and diagnosed just after he turned 5 and only because we got a cancellation appointment for diagnosis. We then progressed to genetics and discovered he does have a gene deletion, which is likely the cause of the ASD. Myself and my husband have now also had the genetics tests and are awaiting the results and then our other boys will have them once we know which side the gene deletion is like to have come down. This is of course purely for research purposes really, as the outcome makes zero difference to how we or our children will progress. Their issues are what they are regardless.

My middle boy is on the pathway for diagnosis and he is 10. We have suspected since he was 3 there were underlying issues and when he turned 6 they became even more apparent. In school he only shows traits during social situations. He achieves very well in class and internalises his anxiety. This is called ‘masking’. It’s a huge issue, because despite him only spending 32.5 hours out of a 168 hour week in school, the teachers opinion is the be all and end all of diagnosis. I have had to record my son at home immediately after school so that they can see where he’s at mentally when he has had a full day of school. He’s had counselling and the counsellor agrees that he thinks there is more going on with him so at least we know we’re not imagining things. Their dad, my OH, has ADHD. Eldest has anxiety but that’s it for now. Managed very well in school etc and no other issues.

Screen time for children with ASD can centre them. It helps them disengage when overwhelmed with sensory issues. The judgemental comments on screen time are not always warranted. If you see a child and they are on their device in a restaurant or at the shops, that may be the only thing that’s allowing them to access that environment as it’s so overwhelming for them.

The main thing is, if you aren’t that child’s parents, you’ve no idea of the struggles they may be experiencing. Judging them on how they look or speak and deciding it’s because of their parenting is beyond ignorant. If that child does have SEN, it will show and affect them regardless of what their parents look like.

Diagnosis is prevalent because money has been invested greatly in early diagnosis for earlier intervention. It’s a shame the funding isn’t actually available for that early intervention. My youngest has honestly had the best treatment from the start which we are so lucky for. He attends a specialist provision after spending reception year on mainstream and he is due to move to a specialist school from September as his ASD provision only runs to KS1. So many parents out there are struggling with their children for whatever reason. We always said all the way through? If it’s not ASD it’s something?! Medical professionals are the best judge of that child’s full profile, not everyone that has an opinion based on many different situations. It’s complex and vast. One parent that may be pushing diagnosis for their own reasons does not represent all parents.

I am aware this is just my opinion as a parent, and I do not speak for all.

Agree. My son was non verbal but didn't get any Speech therapy at all until he started school. Imagine his outcome if he had therapy before five? Same with his brother. No speech therapy until he got a ehcp at 7. Imagine if he had speech therapy pre junior age?

Awareness of neuro divergence must certainly be a part of it and increased notice/concern for children. This is partly a more intense parenting culture and also I think partly to do with smaller families so more parenting intensity on individual children. And also the culture is more academic focused (less manual work of all skill levels) so more concern of children are not thriving academically.

I'm undx but have strong ASD and ADHD traits. Amongst other things, I probably could have used a toilet pass as I suffered from both avoiding the school toilets which were often dominated by bullies and often rarely had working locks/toilet paper/soap and I also have bladder issues probably exacerbated by a lack of introspection so often don't know I need until I'm bursting.

I regularly wet myself on the walk home from school and didn't tell anyone. No one really noticed and I was too ashamed to ask for help.

I think most kids today have a lot more supervision and would be less likely to have a problem like that not picked up.

As a parent of two children with SEN (one diagnosed ASD and one on the pathway for diagnosis of ADHD and ASD), this is such a triggering discussion so I’ll try to remain as impartial as possible. It’s a long one.

What you see in a class or of a child that isn’t yours in public or social situations, is a tiny part of their life and personality. I find comments like “diagnosis is given too easily these days” as beyond ignorant. If you had been blessed with having to go through the diagnosis pathway with your child, you would know it is a very hard and long process. You don’t just walk in to the first appointment with many different professionals and they write off a letter with a big tick on it for whichever SEN diagnosis you think appropriate. It’s literally a process that takes 2-3 years. I don’t think there will be many parents or carers that desire their child to be labelled with SEN. There will be the exception to the rule, but not many. In fact when my youngest first displayed traits of ASD, I convinced myself that it was just a speech delay and immediately had contact with SALTS. I at that time did not want to accept it. As time progressed it couldn’t be ignored, and let me tell you, at this stage he wasn’t what someone would stereotype as autistic. He didn’t hand flap or spin in circles, he was talking and his food was somewhat limited but he would still eat a fairly varied diet. Nothing to me screamed ASD. He was referred at just 3 and diagnosed just after he turned 5 and only because we got a cancellation appointment for diagnosis. We then progressed to genetics and discovered he does have a gene deletion, which is likely the cause of the ASD. Myself and my husband have now also had the genetics tests and are awaiting the results and then our other boys will have them once we know which side the gene deletion is like to have come down. This is of course purely for research purposes really, as the outcome makes zero difference to how we or our children will progress. Their issues are what they are regardless.

My middle boy is on the pathway for diagnosis and he is 10. We have suspected since he was 3 there were underlying issues and when he turned 6 they became even more apparent. In school he only shows traits during social situations. He achieves very well in class and internalises his anxiety. This is called ‘masking’. It’s a huge issue, because despite him only spending 32.5 hours out of a 168 hour week in school, the teachers opinion is the be all and end all of diagnosis. I have had to record my son at home immediately after school so that they can see where he’s at mentally when he has had a full day of school. He’s had counselling and the counsellor agrees that he thinks there is more going on with him so at least we know we’re not imagining things. Their dad, my OH, has ADHD. Eldest has anxiety but that’s it for now. Managed very well in school etc and no other issues.

Screen time for children with ASD can centre them. It helps them disengage when overwhelmed with sensory issues. The judgemental comments on screen time are not always warranted. If you see a child and they are on their device in a restaurant or at the shops, that may be the only thing that’s allowing them to access that environment as it’s so overwhelming for them.

The main thing is, if you aren’t that child’s parents, you’ve no idea of the struggles they may be experiencing. Judging them on how they look or speak and deciding it’s because of their parenting is beyond ignorant. If that child does have SEN, it will show and affect them regardless of what their parents look like.

Diagnosis is prevalent because money has been invested greatly in early diagnosis for earlier intervention. It’s a shame the funding isn’t actually available for that early intervention. My youngest has honestly had the best treatment from the start which we are so lucky for. He attends a specialist provision after spending reception year on mainstream and he is due to move to a specialist school from September as his ASD provision only runs to KS1. So many parents out there are struggling with their children for whatever reason. We always said all the way through? If it’s not ASD it’s something?! Medical professionals are the best judge of that child’s full profile, not everyone that has an opinion based on many different situations. It’s complex and vast. One parent that may be pushing diagnosis for their own reasons does not represent all parents.

I am aware this is just my opinion as a parent, and I do not speak for all.

Your LA isn’t unique. LAs across the country act unlawfully all the time. But parents shouldn’t just accept it, they can challenge it/enforce their rights and should be supported to do so. Posters repeating unlawful myths doesn’t help.

My post didn’t say anything about getting an unwarranted EHCP so if your last sentence is directed at me it’s irrelevant.

>I see kids who don’t leave the house for the entire holiday

This is something I had never imagined but have encountered those who so rarely go out that it has revised my idea of what childhood might sometimes be.

My daughter who is 16 has recently been diagnosed with visual stress and also slow processing speed. She sat her Nat 5s last year (we are in Scotland) and got good but not outstanding grades. This year after her diagnosis and a few tiny changes (pink paper and extra time) she is expected to get the excellent grades that she can achieve.

She can now achieve her potential because her school cared enough to ensure she can achieve everything. Has she been labelled with ASN, yes, so in her school the numbers will have gone up, but the changes needed to accommodate her ASN are tiny.

You are ridiculous.

Are you seriously suggestiing there is no disgnotic criteria and that professional bodies/academics etc.. dont spend years on consultation and research before reaching consensus which is then documented and published for clinicians to follow?

You are embarrassing yourself.

You may wish to go away and study the DSM

We’re at a school where parents are generally very involved but it does look a higher number than other dc schools a few years ago

I take the pp re study showing lockdown exacerbated some issues

But I’m not sure it is entirely that as the dc have specific needs that would be there without lockdown

I don’t know why it would be an increase though

Interesting to see a few posters suggesting it’s due to parents giving birth at an older age.

Im an ‘older’ adoptive mum to two children born to very young birth parents. Both children have had EHCPs since preschool. On all the SEN parental courses etc I’ve been on, I’m very much an ‘old mum’. The majority of parents are decades younger than me.

But at the school gate, where I don’t stand out as being older, there’s a definite correlation of older birth parents being less likely to have SEN.

Likewise, as an SEN teacher, I see no link between older parents and increased likelihood of SEN. If anything, overall it’s the opposite (only exception being the parents of children who have Down’s Syndrome who tend on average to be slightly older).

@AliceinSlumberland Excellent post, completely agree.

As an aside, the number of posts referring to ASD and ADHD while completely ignoring other types of SEN is staggering. The SEND picture is much more complex than ASD/ADHD.

Essentially what we’re saying is traditional schooling isn’t a perfect fit for all dc and some need different approaches. We’ve known for many years this is the case but in a state school system we educate in one approach and try to make others fit in. The only difference to the 70s is we have more definitions to help us understand the dc who aren’t fitting into the state school approach and this gives us opportunities to support these dc and help them thrive.

I’m also thinking medication … could the uptick in prescription medications for a whole range of things be having some kind of effect on developing babies during pregnancy.

sodium valproate for example was still being given to women and girls well into the 2000s. It’s a dangerous as fuck to a unborn children. The manufacturer was aware of the risk for YEARS but covered it up - how many more medications could be causing issues

I’m going to have to assume you aren’t a parent.
I was born in the mid 70s. As I child my regular out of school activities were learning to swim (lessons stopped once I could swim and then we went swimming a few times a year with my dad) and church related activities. I also had piano lessons.

most children I know do at least 3 out of school activities, all of which require transporting to and from, many of which require additional parental input in the week (I support my 2 children learning 4 instruments between them….I never remember either of my parents helping me with music practice).

there was no world book day or any other dressing up day to co-ordinate for. There were no cake sales. I don’t ever recall my parents being invited into school for any concert/art display/activity except sports day in primary school which was on a Saturday.

There weren’t 13 emails a week from school for my parents to read and digest/action and there certainly were no school meetings to attend other than an annual parents evening.

when I was looking at universities I got a train, usually with a friend, and went myself; my parents had zero input into my choice of course or university.

I would say my parents were actively involved and supportive parents for the time.

parenting today is a totally different game to parenting 30 years ago.

If parents where one or both are ND have ND kids they are probably better at managing the environment so their ND kids can achieve. So it may cancel out. I have a friend with secondary age DC in Cambridge. She tells me rates of ASC are very high there - no doubt "assortatative mating" is a factor. Cambridge is not a bad place to be neurodiverse, is it?

Ha ha ha ha ha. Ignorant.

My daughter got ZERO support or understanding until she was diagnosed. It was ‘make your child fit our school or fuck off’ basically. Many others experience this too. Now, with diagnosis, and a pending EHCP, they have to support her.

I am also a child of the 70s. I think my DSis may have some additional needs. They were simply ignored at school and within the family she was treated as quirky.

I have seen this with totally new eyes since becoming a parent myself.

I do consider my parents a bit negligent in some ways.

Yes, same experience before. Significant at school post diagnosis. Not much before.

If teaching was less regimented and less concentrated on grades and box ticking, fewer children would need intervention as school would be able to nurture more, adapt teaching styles more. People can be disabled due to a lack of adjustments put in place for them. Teachers have an almost impossible task to meet each pupil's needs and give Ofsted worthy teaching. Teachers need more assistance in the classroom to do this, schools need more funding and there is a huge need for more specialist provision.

My adhd/asd was diagnosed in my early 50s. Apart from art, where a student teacher recognised my talent in that area, every single lesson and break was pure hell for me.

My kids faired better, although again, no childhood diagnoses, but the household was set up for a nd family, even if we didn't know this at the time!

We need Surestart back.
Parents' concerns need hearing and action taken
Each child is entitled to and deserves a good quality education.
More education and training for care givers and education on nd
Schools funded properly.

Powers that be don't seem to recognise that meeting a child's needs from a young age means less need for more expensive intervention as adults. Look at the stats on men with adhd who are in prison.

It's not directed at you. It's directed at this thread that is suggesting ehcps are just dished out like candy.

I have done more sen tribunals than anyone else I have ever met. I'm just stating that LAs lie to avoid forfilling issuing and forfilling ehcps routinely. By saying that LAs are doing so I'm not advocating for it. But if its never mentioned what then? I did say in that post it wasn't that law.

I'm not advocating illegal practice, I'm sorry if I'm coming across pro law breaking. If no one had mentioned the 10k being illegal my child wouldn't have a ehcp. You don't get a hand book on common la practices from ipsea or sossen with your diagnosis. I didn't. Someone has to inform you or their journey

Significant help post diagnosis. Very little before, that was supposed to say. That was in a private school by the way so not like they were overwhelmed with SEN.

Really funny you say this. I mentioned ASD and ADHD in my post because I was in a rush and they are possibly the better known conditions.
As a parent of children with attachment disorder and possibly FASD, I couldn’t agree with you more. FASD is actually more common than autism yet the majority of people don’t know what it is (and I recently had an argument with someone who claimed it doesn’t even exist!). It can feel very isolating when you turn up to groups for ND children and then realise it’s really just for autistic children.

I'm sorry you had that experience @mabelface. I read Keith Brymer Jones' autobiography recently and he was "rescued" by an art teacher too.

Hurray for art teachers.

Both my children had DLA and EHCPs several years before diagnosis. I accept this isn’t always the case (even though the system is meant to be needs based) but it does happen.