DLD

[ForWiseZebra]

Hi All,
My daughter is currently in year 5 at a mainstream primary school, she has an official diagnosis of DLD (development language delay,) and has an EHCP she has expressed a desire to attend a mainstream secondary school, ive emailed them asking to arrange a visit with the SENCO leader to discuss further, please share your experiences on this. I don't wanna give up hope and I genuinely want to advocate for her the best I can.
Thanks for reading!

What adjustments does she have to enable her to access the curriculum? Are they quantified in the EHCP.

At the transition review, you can express your preference for a secondary placement. It’s a good idea to look at local mainstream schools and consider which you think will best suit her needs. A discussion with the SENCo is a good idea, because it will give you some information about how her needs may be met and how proactive the school is in working with children with SEND.

During the autumn term of Y6 a phase transfer review must be held. As part of this you will get to state your preferred placement.

Unless your preferred school is wholly independent, the LA must name your preferred school unless the LA can prove:
-The setting is unsuitable for the age, ability, aptitude or special educational needs (“SEN”) of the child or young person; or
-The attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the provision of efficient education for others; or
-The attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the efficient use of resources.
The bar to prove one of the above is high.

You have a right to a mainstream education (not quite the same as a right to a specific mainstream placement) unless mainstream would be incompatible with the efficient education of others and no reasonable steps could be taken to avoid this.

At the moment I am accessing a parent support dld group its only 7 weeks in duration they've stated just to try and see how she goes. What does your first question mean?
At the moment my plan is to arrange a meeting and take it from there.

Thank you for this, as a starter what questions should I put forward to the SENCO team would be helpful if u have any recommendations?

What support does your daughter have at the moment? What does the school do to make it possible for her to learn and make progress?

I would show them DD’s EHCP and discuss the provision within it.

Then I would start with questions such as:
-How many DC with EHCPs do they have on roll?
-Class sizes?
-What support with transition do they offer for those with SEN? (Although transition can be covered in the EHCP.)
-What support do they provide other DC with similar needs? (The provision in the EHCP must be provided, but the answer can help you ascertain how inclusive and proactive they are.)
-Do they run a nurture group/transition group? If so, is this only for Y7 or longer, and what subjects are taught in the nurture/transition group?
-What support with homework do they offer?
-Depending on your thoughts, do they withdraw DC from MFL lessons?
-Do they have a quieter room/lunch club DC who are overwhelmed with the hall/playground can go?
-Where do DC who are overwhelmed in a lesson go to?
-If it is relevant to you, how does the school reduce/prevent sensory overwhelm?
-Do they allow DC to use noise cancelling headphones/ear defenders? (This is a reasonable adjustment, but you would be surprised how many are reluctant to allow it.)
-What support do they offer for those who struggle to make friends? (This provision can be included in the EHCP, but it will give you an idea of how proactive they are.)

If it is relevant to how DD presents, look at the classrooms set up/how busy they are.

She is in a mainstream primary school with an active ehcp in place she has one to one support regarding her dld it isn't severe as in some cases but at times she still needs support she struggles to process information needs extra time and visual aids in order to remember.

Thank you, I will make a note of these, it is half term at the moment once schools reopen will be chasing up the appointment. She just doesn't want to go to a special needs school which is ehcp focused so I've said I will try my best it's a case of you'll only know once u are there kind of thing.