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Original poster

Why is my non SEN child being put on SEN register

21 replies

Whatonearthisgoingonnnn · 09/05/2023 11:04

Just that really!

My son is 13 years old and in high school

Back when he was at primary school the school was failing massively - they had substitute teachers for 2 years. Now when I say substitute teachers, none were there longer than a couple of weeks. It was a total mess and from around yr2 to yr4 he had almost zero education given in school

I moved him to a brilliant school when he was in yr4. They identified he was behind and he had a support teacher so by the time he left in yr6 he was at about yr6 level, on track

First year at secondary school he had some support then around 12 months ago I received a call to say he was on track, didn’t require any additional support and would be signed off. Great!

Fast forward to the weekend and I’ve received an email from school stating he has access arrangements which are apparently that he will get a longer time to do GCSE exams than his peers and - would be being added to the SEN register. Why?

The emails have also firmly stated he does not have or need any additional support. Indeed between the call 12 months ago and the email at the weekend I’ve had nothing like this from school.

So why would he need to be added to the SEN register if he does not have SEN?

The cynic in me is thinking this is a financial move for the school as they get funding for each SEN child - and they have clearly stated he would not require any additional support/support teacher - and either way he would still have the access arrangements for the exams. So there is literally no benefit to my son with adding him to the SEN register.

My son has also confirmed he receives no additional support from school and hasn’t for a long time

Can anyone advise what would you do? I have a call with school this afternoon

OP posts:

Original poster

Whatonearthisgoingonnnn · 09/05/2023 11:05

I will also add my son does do well with his work, always decent marks in tests etc. He struggles a little with organising himself but please tell me a 13 year old who is spot on with organisation!!! Other than that he’s a fab though grumpy teenager!!

OP posts:

pizzaHeart · 09/05/2023 11:07

I wonder if it is a simple technical mistake - the register wasn’t updated and the examiner officer has sent you a standard letter.

LittleMrsPerfect · 09/05/2023 11:08

Sounds like school are doing their job as schools should give all children the support they need regardless of diagnosis.

Original poster

Whatonearthisgoingonnnn · 09/05/2023 11:08

Definitely not - as I questioned it and received a further response stating he didn’t require additional support but they need my consent to add him to the register

OP posts:

Original poster

Whatonearthisgoingonnnn · 09/05/2023 11:09

It just makes no sense at all as to why 12 months ago they stated he would be being removed from support and now they want to add him to the register.

Like I’ve said the cynic in me is wondering if this is a funding move for school - I hadn’t realised but they received between £4.5-6k per SEN registered child

OP posts:

Batalax · 09/05/2023 11:15

Would your ds actually like more time for his exams or does he not want to be singled out? That would be the basis for my agreement this afternoon.

Clearly more time etc is advantageous. So take that advantage if ds wants to.

noblegiraffe · 09/05/2023 11:15

Schools don't get any extra money for kids being on the SEN register, so it's definitely not that.

Re access arrangements for exams - it's a bit early to start looking at them but possible he has had an assessment at school for something like writing or processing speed which has flagged an issue? Or teachers have flagged an issue with him running out of time in tests? You don't just get it for having SEN, there has to be an identified and evidenced need for it.

Ask the school why they think he needs extra time.

bluechameleon · 09/05/2023 11:20

Schools do not receive 4.5-6k per pupil on the SEND register. There is no financial benefit in adding pupils to the SEND register. I don't know why the school has put your child back on the SEND register but it is not for financial gain.

encounterthis · 09/05/2023 12:25

@Whatonearthisgoingonnnn I'm a secondary school governor. Our school's SEN register has many students on what we call "School Support" which means they have been identified as needing additional help, like your son. A much smaller subgroup of those children have an EHCP, which they have obtained through a formal external assessment process.

It is only EHCP students who bring additional funds to the school. (But, in case you're still feeling cynical, the additional funds don't cover everything they need, just some of it, and schools still have to make difficult choices about how they spend the money).

ThomasWasTortured · 09/05/2023 12:42

Schools don’t get an additional £4.5-6k for adding a pupil to the SEN register. That’s not how the notional SEN budget works.

Access arrangements are additional support. If the school are saying DS will qualify for extra time for GCSEs they must have assessed him as being eligible.

Takeachance18 · 09/05/2023 20:16

Is he year 9? They have probably assessed all possible students for exam access arrangements and his processing may require him to have extra time, but for most areas quality first teaching is sufficient and being aware may need processing time if asked a question

Ilovetea42 · 09/05/2023 20:27

I think there's been a clerical error and they haven't updated their system so he's still listed for extra support even though he's not received any. I'd see if he's happier with the extra 15 minutes and if he is then great if not then ask the school for it to be removed. As far as I'm aware there's a certain level of discretion that can be offered for students who've had a difficult time or circumstances that may negatively affect their chances through no fault of your own. They may have decided your son falls into this category.

Appuskidu · 09/05/2023 20:35

Like I’ve said the cynic in me is wondering if this is a funding move for school-I hadn’t realised but they received between £4.5-6k per SEN registered child

I don’t know where you’ve got that idea but it is incorrect. Schools receive a block of Element 2 ‘notional’ funding which is not ring-fenced and is based on a complicated formula around EAL/deprivation/FSM etc. It isn’t based on the number of children on the SEN register either, so if they add a child to the register, no extra money will suddenly appear.

they need my consent to add him to the register

This isn’t true either-they just need to inform you.

ArcticSkewer · 09/05/2023 20:38

omg there was another thread last week by a mum convinced there was some kind of scam going on where the school made money out of putting everyone on the sen register unnecessarily

what is wrong with parents at the moment?

lilsupersparks · 09/05/2023 20:44

I believe all our y9 students are screened for Access Arrangements. You qualify for extra time if you have slow processing, slow writing speed or slow reading speed. The rules are very specific and strict. This does not mean that the school has suddenly decided that your son has SEN but that the objective assessment data has shown he may benefit from extra time.

I’d grab any extra time or support with both hands tbh!

sendismylife · 17/09/2023 13:35

I am afraid this is simply not true. That £6000 you mention is what the school has to pay out of its own budget before getting any additional funding.

Enthusedeggplant · 17/09/2023 13:44

He will have sat a JCQ complaint test that shows he is slower than average at processing, reading or writing. The extra time makes up for this. School are supporting your child in gaining the best results and this type of access is common across the ability and result ranges.

Enthusedeggplant · 17/09/2023 13:45

School won’t receive extra funding.

HollyGolightly4 · 17/09/2023 13:48

The school doesn't get additional funding.

If he's qualified for extra time, his processing speed is likely lower than his peers (or he takes more time reading/writing). The form needed to be filled in talks about his profile of learning difficulties - this might be why he is being added to the sen register.

Foxesandsquirrels · 17/09/2023 13:51

Schools actually have to find £6k in their budgets per SEN child before they can ask for additional help, so you're very very mistaken if you think this is for financial gain. It's either a clerical error or an overwhelmed SEN department that hasn't had time to communicate to you. Seems incredibly strange to complain about this tbh. Most people have to beg to be put in this and get additional support.

LyndaLaHughes · 17/09/2023 15:19

As others have said, your theories about funding are categorically incorrect. A child needs to have an EHCP to get additional funding and even then, schools have to find the first bulk of that finding themselves. Hence why SEN children in mainstream schools are being woefully failed and schools given an impossible task. The government is now paying a consultancy nearly 20 million to cut the number of EHCPs by 20%. But clearly the government have done a great job of gaslighting parents about funding if anyone believes there is all this extra money available just for putting a child on the register. There isn't even enough money for the basics!
It may be that he receives additional time in class and this is all he needs to support his learning and so they want him to have this for exams. Can you not just ask the school to explain? They will have their reasons and only they are in a position to explain and it will be the usual position schools come from-a desire to support children, not some hidden agenda.

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