Primary school fails to recorgnise and test for SEN

[hertsmum10]

What would happen if a primary school fails to respond to parents concerns about child. A child in their care for 7yrs.

For instance Fails to flag child up to SENCO, action plus. Despite low grades, child struggling and showing significant signs of needing help and the school just says the child needs to work harder, get less distracted etc. Although the child does extra help from a teaching assistant as do many of the children. Now effecting the child's mental health and esteem the parent who is on a very low income and child on pupil premium feels they have no choice but to pay privately for child be a assessed and the report sadly confirms that child has severe complex learning difficulties (to say the least!) needs in put from educational psychologist, paediatrician etc

Can the school deny failing the child as by refusing to test the child or acknowledge issues they 'did not know about'

what do you mums think? Thank you x

Have the school have tried to cover themselves by having child on some sort of IEP that lists group help rather than 1:1 need (have known this happen)
I don't know where you stand as far as getting the school to acknowledge their failings, it might be worth posting in special needs as theres some very knowledgable people over there.

I think I need to apply for his full record and see? I will look into that, thank you.

when I say memory issues I mean although bright, writes amazing poems, descrtiptive stories, draws at art GCSE level (honest;) and sporty, he can not tell the time, learn a phone number, forgets the difference between + and -, remember times tables etc

Who privately assessed the child if not an Ed Psych or a Paed?

If a child needs paediatrician input surely the GP is the route to go?

I'm really not sure what they can do to rectify the past.

Did you speak to the SENCO about the child?

My DS has difficulties at school. I have had to push for help. If I hadn't pushed he wouldn't have been assessed by the ed psych.

From my experience with DD1, if a child is doing 'OK' i.e. not the bottom one or 2 in the class, learning issues such as you describe can easily be overlooked.

Has the school 'failed' the child? Yes, especially if the parent has been raising issues and trying to get extra help.

Is that failure understandable? Yes. The school has very limited funds and these will be focussed on the children in apparent greatest need.

What do you aim to achieve by getting the school to admit its failings?

Umm who did the private testing are they qualified and what is their motivation in this ? Are they selling a treatment package?

Sounds like child is on an Iep already?

They are a qualified assessor. Has in the past worked for the local authority etc well known but because the school refused to flag my child up to SENCO we had to go privately. There was a parent and school questionnaire to complete before the day but sadly the school refused to complete their one. We are now going the GP route too. I have since spoke to paediatricians I do not feel there is any motivation.

I just wondered if there was a point in complaining? sounds like maybe not?

You are quite within your rights to start the statutory assessment process with regards to getting a statement if you feel the child requires that level of support. If you already have an educational psychologist report and will hopefully soon have a paediatrician's report identifying the level of need that your OP seems to be implying.

Even if you don't get a statement you will have flagged up your concerns to everyone and have all the assessments (which contain educational advice) to ensure the SENCo and HT have copies of.

Look up the local parent partnership and get in touch to find out about the statementing process and your rights.

'severe and complex learning difficulties' is quite a dramatic statement to make.

SLD is usually reserved for children who struggle to break into NC levels at all, not those who can write poetry. Hence my question over your assessment.

Is it a dyslexia assessment?

From OPs second post it looks like maths difficulties so maybe dyscalculia concerns?

it was originally a dyslexia assessment and paediatrician we have seen agrees so far but need further test and maybe neurologist? so far I have told he may well be dyslexic but dyslexia would be 'the tip of iceberg' and a diagnosis might not be helpful. If in the future things improve or feel useful we can assess again but the priority has to be helping with the memory and attention issues. He was an ex prem with very low birth weight, they are thinking this might be factor.

thank you 'onlyonesundays' I will look up the parent partnership. I guess complaining about the school should be the least of my concerns at the moment

Speak to your GP. Paid for private assessments are not worth the paper they re written on, and carry no weight. You need an NHS assessment.

I too am confused about who has assessed your child.
A child with "Severe and complex learning difficulties" is not a child who could have managed in mainstream school for 7 years without help. They wouldn't need 'flagging up' to the SENCo, it would be apparent from the first meeting.

so did the assessment if not the EP? who is suggesting a neurologist?

There is a huge contradiction in your description of a child with severe complex learning difficulties (to say the least!) and a child who writes amazing poems, descrtiptive stories, draws at art GCSE level (honest;) and sporty, he can not tell the time, learn a phone number, forgets the difference between + and -, remember times tables etc.
It seems from your original post the school has recognised additional needs and providing support at SA level normally the SENCO would be involved in any support.