Working at 'pre-curriculum' levels, so little info

[MrsBobDylan]

DS 7 (yr 3) had a one page report sent home yesterday which says he is 'working at pre-curriculum' levels.

This has been the case since Reception. He has a diagnosis of Dyslexia but is otherwise a socially able, enthusiastic child who likes to follow rules.

I know what 'pre-curriculum' means but the school never tell me how it fits in to a bigger picture.

For example, he still hasn't passed his phonics check and struggles to do his homework. I have had to really push the school to set him easier stuff. If he doesn't complete his homework, they keep him in to do work on a Friday lunchtime

We are waiting for a space to come up at another school but in the meantime, does anyone know where I can find some stats on how many kids are working at pre-curriculum levels? What should I know?

DS is waiting on the results of a full genetic array and if that comes back clear, I'd like to work out if he is in the right provision and what I can do to help him (beyond supporting him with homework and reading with him daily).

His IQ is in the lower end of average, so I don't think that is the problem (or maybe it is?).

If he doesn't complete his homework, they keep him in to do work on a Friday lunchtime sad

This is entirely inappropriate. Your son has SEN. He should be punished for this. Please put this in writing to them and tell them he is absolutely not to be kept in for failure to complete any work set.

shouldnt be punished!

Does he have an EHCP? That would be my first port of call as his school are clearly not able to meet his needs if he is capable but still pre-curriculum.

“If he doesn't complete his homework, they keep him in to do work on a Friday lunchtime”.
This is awful! Google SMART targets, his targets need to be achievable and punishing him for not reaching unachievable targets it’s ridiculous. I would arrange an urgent meeting with the SENCO and teacher and go through what is in place for him.

I hadn't thought of putting it into writing...I have had meetings with the teacher and SENCO, they spend the whole thing telling me how well he's doing, aka fobbing me off.

The lunchtime policy is appalling and I have told them that if they are going to keep him in, they must ring me and I will pick him up.

I've just read some government stats on 'pre-curriculum' figures and they have cleverly used a scale system. So, x% pass phonics by end of reception. Of those who failed, X% pass by the end of yr 1 and so on and so forth.

I have called our local special school and emailed them for advice. I paid for the EP assessment and the school just ignored it. They are the ultimate pompous arses

Is he being described as pre-curriculum across all areas, or only in one or two? Either way it sounds like he is not actually being educated in his current school setting. I believe parents can apply for an EHCP and would think that is urgent to clarify his needs and work out how to meet them.

Good luck.

He won't gain a special school placem without an ehcp. If you suggest have an Ed psych assessment I would request an ehcp asses yourself. Then you can determine if a special school or a different mainstream with support in page would be best for him

@Pythonesque he is pre-curriculum in three areas, reading, writing and maths.

He isn't right for a special school socially or emotionally - I have a child who has never been mainstream schooled and he is very different to his brothers and fits beautifully into his specialist school.

My eldest is very clever (also has ASD) and he does fab in mainstream. If anything, he finds it all too easy.

My three sons span the range of educational requirement!

I have now applied to move him to a new school. The Head won't meet with me, the SENCO spends her time trying to suck up to the Head, and they treat me like I'm daft.

I am going to apply for an EHCP for ds but I know his current school will block it so will wait until he starts his new one.

He is such a funny, well-behaved , lovely child yet he cries every day about going to school. I actually don't care about academic progress but just want him to feel confident and secure at school.

Oh bless him. Working at pre curriculum levels in yr 3 I would say was fairly unusual and would normally have ahigh degree of senco involvement/ed psych / echp. Its crazy he's got to yr 3 without intervention.

And to be crying everyday is obviously not right.

Have you contacted sendias for advice at all?

Senco here. You must absolutely apply for an EHCP now. The school cannot ‘block’ it. You get the relevant paperwork from the LA, they notify the school that you’ve applied for a needs assessment and they then have a deadline in which to complete their parts.
It may be some time before your dd gets another school place - all that is wasted time in the EHCP process.

The phonics check is usually at the end of year 1, then if they don't pass they have another go at the end of yea r2. Given the current situation that may have been pushed to the beginning of year 3 but if they don't pass then the school shouldn't keep trying! They should be putting in extra support for phonics and the rest, but I tend to think that there comes a point when we have to admit that phonics is not the way forward (it suits most but not all learners) and it's time to explore other methods. I've seen this often with dyslexic children.

It sounds like he should def have a ehcp, and you need to ask what pre ehcp measures school have put in place to help.

Perhaps ask Sendias to help you out

Another one saying don't wait to apply for an EHCP. Here is the framework for assessing subject specific contempt for pupils working pre-key stage 1.

Thank you so much, I am honestly so grateful you the support I've had.

I have rung Sendiass and requested a call back. DS doesn't even have an ILP - he works in small groups and actually really enjoys his work when it is an appropriate level for him.

I am going to apply for an EHCP today. The school have put all their energies into minimising . When I've told them his confidence is in tatters and he cries before school and at the weekend, they just say they don't see it at school. Classic, lazy-arse fob off.

@Imitatingdory thanks you - I have been looking for something like that for hours!!

Content, not contempt!

For non-subject specific content this model is used to assess pupils working below the NC, it recently took over from P scales.

I spoke to the county council and was advised I can homeschool my son while waiting for an in year transfer place.

It is such a last resort but he's been off again today and keeps crying about being scared to go in.

He told me he isn't clever and wishes he could be a dog, not a boy, so he could be happy

They, and their utter arrogance, have shredded the last of his natural confidence.

poor DS.

Don’t, deregister and EHE unless you actively want to. By doing so the LA will state you are making suitable alternative arrangements and they are relieved of their duties. When not on a school’s roll it is all too often too easy for people to brush DC’s needs under the carpet. Crudely, when on a school’s roll you are someone’s ‘problem’.

Instead, apply for an EHCNA ASAP, and if in the meantime DS can not attend school due to his SEN, including his MH needs, the LA have a statutory duty to provide him with alternative education.

Have you spoken to the school to check that school refusal is definitely because of finding the work problematic, not (also) another issue like bullying?

If that was a possibility I would ask your DS about relationships with others too. I wouldnt rely on the school to admit to bullying. They dont sound like they are willing to acknowledge any problems!

I was advised by the CC to withdraw him but not deregister. So they don't try and get him in to school or fine me for not sending him in.

I don't know about bullying...I think the school place a great deal of emphasis on attainment and the other kids know he is 'bottom of the class' and I think avoid him.

He actually has excellent social skills and loves making friends so it has always puzzled me that he doesn't have any at school.

Today is our first day of homeschooling. My middle child is also home as his school is shut due to Covid teacher shortages - going into the third week now.

I am trying to pack up to move house and finish coursework for a qualification - it will be a busy week

Don’t withdraw him. I don’t believe there is a technical difference between being withdrawn and being deregistered. You could check with someone like IPSEA or SOSSEN, don’t trust everything the LA tell you, they often have unlawful policies.

If DS is on the school roll but not attending he should be marked as absent, but not unauthorised absence. You will not be fined if DS can not attend school due to his SEN/MH, if the school or LA threaten it don’t listen.

It's so stressful. I just want him to be in school and feeling happy.

I feel utterly lost. I got an email today fro. The school saying that I needed to call or email them about ds' absence as it was 'a safeguarding issue'.

I emailed the office this time saying that he wasn't able to come into school because of MH issues.

Fucks sake, everything is so up in the air.

Just a quick update: got hold of my local SENDIASS today. Massive relief!

Don't feel so alone now and worried I might fuck everything up.

Also, house move scheduled for Jan/beg Feb, so plenty of time to start the new school place and settle in.

Going to start on the EHCP next.