Should I email the school but it will 100 percent look like “ I’m one of those parents “

[Winningatlife12]

I will try not to drip feed. DD is year 7 and attends a small mild Sen school ( specialised in SPLD )!. She has autism / CP/ a complex health needs but is academically able. The school runs mainstream curriculum. She is a little out of cohort as she is a bit more complex than their usual cohort in terms of medical side.

every week they have awards and also good work mention in the news letter as well as end of term awards. DD is getting incredibly annoyed and frustrated about not ever getting mentioned like others do for maths sparx and reading plus.

maths spark there is compulsory homework - then you can XP work and targets as extra for extra XP points.

she has completed every compulsory homework on there plus the XP and the target work. She has been 1st place in the leader board for her class for a long time.

reading plus - compulsory is x 2 a week ( Monday to Friday and house points for any extra you may do as well a reason plus award each week that gives you some prize.

so far the compulsory is at around 44 they should have done she has done 107 for her house points for the class. She has completed 5 levels.

here’s where the issue is sometimes it’s out of the time frame so for instance reading plus there is some weeks she has done 0 but then has done extra on another week.

so overall all her apps are ahead of where they should be by miles but on a weekly basis sometimes one week will have one the next week she will do the week set and the week she missed before.

this is because of health - she has had a really rocky start to secondary school life which had unfortunately lead to 3 hospital admissions including being on life support for septic shock.

after the admission for septic shock she returned to school the following week of being discharged straight to full days ( because she wanted to )
the school were supportive of this and kind no issues there and have allowed her breaks when needed etc.
( this was recent )
yesterday - she came home and she was so upset because somehow despite all of what’s happened in the last month her homework was all done and ahead. She said she doesn’t know what else she has to do or what she is doing differently to the ones who are getting recognition / awards ( you can see the leaderboards ) so she knows where she is.

I don’t know whether I should ask the school ? But that may make me look like a crazy mum.
or to just remove the apps 🤣

I think politely mentioning it to her form tutor (or whoever the equivalent is) would be fine - normally I’d say by secondary school they really ought to have got over caring about special mentions in assembly and secondary school parents should stay out of things like this, but in the context of her additional needs and the big effort your daughter is making I think it’s fair to raise it. Even better - could you support her to raise it with her form tutor?

This is a “mild SEN school”? I thought that they would be in mainstream school and just receive extra assistance?

It’s a SpLd school.

So those who are academically able but have specific issues mainly dyslexia.

Private?

I would. It's important to her and she's going through a lot.

I'm a teacher and wouldn't be at all offended by something like:
Dear X,
Could you possibly clarify for me the process that miniwinningatlife needs to follow in order to get the award in assembly? She's so keen to get one and is working really hard on all her homework but still isn't quite hitting the criteria. Sometimes she can't get everything she needs to do done within the time limit due to her hospital appointments and general health but she can definitely get to the right point. If there's a particular order that I can prioritise things for her in so that she can get her award I'd be really grateful if you could share it with me.
Best Wishes,
winningatlife.

ETA
With that, is she's been missed out, the teacher will be alerted. If they haven't considered her circumstance, it subtly points them out. It will make the school realise they've done her a disservice without you specifically saying so.

By secondary school age DC should be doing homework and reading for its own sake and not "star of the week" certificates. I appreciate the additional needs but a mainstream school wouldn't do this so you should be working away from this really.

Absolutely drop school an email
just short and factual and polite

Agreed

but as the op stipulates - this is not mainstream

I didn’t say she was doing it for the certificate she does it because she likes to catch up on her school work and is hard working. They give awards that’s their thing
if they didn’t give awards she would still do it. Just she gets confused why she doesn’t.

I'd email, say she's upset about it and what can you/she do so that she gets an award or mention?

Be prepared for the school to email back with a somewhat different version of the situation though

If there is a different version .. not sure what you mean then that would be fine like if there is a reason that I can explain to her.

The problem is though that they are giving out these awards and OP’s DD is aware she’s not getting them, which is more of an issue than if they didn’t give them out at all.

That’s her behaviour for example has not been up to the standard where they feel she would be rewarded

Ah yeah I would mention it nicely - it will be an oversight and no harm intended but once they know it’s upsetting her they’ll be glad you said so they can fix it

No - that’s defo not an issue.

3 hospital admissions including life support in 5 months? How much time has the poor girl actually had to have off?!

Yes this is it. It’s not that she is doing it purely for the award she woukd have given it up ages ago otherwise !
it’s purely she is confused as to why she has never got one.

All I’m saying is - prepare yourself for the school coming back with a somewhat different version

Yes just email them. Don't tell her though!

Yes will most likely due attendance and how she has to do her homework.

othewise she has a completely clear track record at school - 0 negative points / detentions / sanctions.

Yeh don’t think I email the form tutor or the maths and English teacher ?

5 weeks

Drop them a note . No need for drama
let us know the outcome!