Year 12 - first half term DONE.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

new thread so we don't get lost. Well done to all our dc whether doing btech (or breach as autocorrect prefers to call it) or a levels. 1/6 of the way through this year. (blimey)

Sounds like a very good personal statement opportunity, Lobster. Well done your DD.

DS2 has his annual review for his EHCP tomorrow, wish us luck. They try to reduce his support every year and sometimes succeed.

Good luck Ellen, will you be there?

Oh yes! Though these days they prefer to talk to DS2 directly as it's supposed to be 'child centred' but obviously he's no idea why they are asking him how he's coping so will answer 'fine' to everything.

Just to clarify, DS2 will answer 'fine' so he doesn't have to talk any more. It's his standard answer to get people to leave him alone, rather than him actually being fine.

Good Luck Ellen and your DS.
This is something I see often as a teacher. "Oh, x is doing brilliantly, they don't need so much support anymore" so the support is taken away and, surprise surprise, x suddenly doesn't do as brilliantly anymore.
I hope the review goes well and your ds continues to get the support he needs.

Thanks, will report back tomorrow.

Good luck for tomorrow Ellen. From another parent with a ds who says 'fine' or if it is really bad 'meh'.

Good luck Ellen. I'm a 1-1 support TA so have some idea of what it's like for you.

I did that for 6 years, raspberry.

I think it went well today. No one from the LA came, though! First time that's happened in 11 annual reviews.

The old statement reviews used to have a section about whether the provision was to be maintained/reduced/increased but the new EHCP review doesn't seem to have that section. The college send off the paperwork to the LA and they make a decision based on that. Interesting.

I had a bad experience last year at the transition to an EHCP when provision was reduced by 5 hours without any discussion and after a battle via email and phone they grudgingly gave one hour back so I'm not expecting good things this time.

DS2 seems to be doing well, though, with the current level of support. It was nice to meet one of his teachers and the HO computing department, his learning mentor and the autism coordinator (specialist senior LSW.) They told me his target grades for this year (DM) which seem suitably aspirational, and a report is due out by Christmas with a parents' evening in the New Year.

So I'm basically happy with college, DS2 is happy with college, just got to wait for the evil LA to get involved. Before EHCPs, statements of SEN didn't apply to colleges so it's all new for them. Funding for support was worked out differently.

fingers crossed Ellen. It sounds positive at the school end.

Yes, indeed! And that's the important thing, really.

Ellen I'm glad to hear that there were some positives coming out of the meeting, it must be such a worry that you don't get any idea of the future level of support until afterwards. Fingers crossed that it all goes well (or at least not as badly as it could do).

Thank you everyone. Shineyshoes twice within a year? With 2 different DC or have you had to start again? Either way, I don't envy you. The transfer process was far from easy and full of confrontation and incompetence. Always with the LA for me. Schools and college now have always been pretty supportive, luckily. Those people who actually know and work with DS2 have been lovely, those stuck in an office making decisions based on money have ranged from simply useless to positively nasty.

Very occasionally clear cut or obvious needs can be beneficial, mostly when trying to access support. I'm lucky in some respects that DS2's autism is really obvious, but it does make him a target for bullies. He's academically average, which is fantastic, but it does tend to mask his needs and difficulties from the back room officials who only see him as a statistic.

I hope things go well with both your DC, shiney, and that you find an appropriate setting for your DS.

ellen
Excellent news!

DD rang tonight saying she had got a B in R.S in her second paper she's baffled but happy! He says it's because he can now read her writing since it's on computer,

That all sounds positive Ellen. Hopefully the la won't try to take his support away.

Fantasy I'm glad your dd is getting better results now she's using a computer, but I must say it sounds like a cop out from the teacher, surely he should be making more effort to read her writing (or giving it back without a grade telling her it's impossible to read so he can't mark it)

Dd's national insurance number arrived! It wasn't the 9 weeks they told us it would be, it was 5 weeks. Unfortunately, the branch of McDonald's she's supposed to be working in is now closed for refurbishment until the middle of December so she can't start till then, but she does now have a start date :)

That's super news Ellen. It's good to hear that the school are so supportive. Definite relief.

DS is plodding on as usual. He was used by the Maths dept last night to promote the A Level at 6th form open evening.

He's set up his fish tank. . Needs to wait for it to settle now for 4/6 weeks before adding stock. We bought plants and food today. Looks great! He's been taking pictures for his Gold D of E. Joined a tropical fish forum.

Might I just give an honourable mention to DD (Y11) who has had all A's and A*'s so far back for her mock results and who gets overlooked by DS academically?

Also DN has a Cambridge interview. Chuffed to bits for him as he has high functioning aspergers, goes to state school and the family have an annual income of circa £20k. Obviously it's not an offer, but it's a great achievement I think anyway.

Ahhh congratulations all round Strong One, Fantastic achievements!

Dragon hooray for the NI number, and job start date - a busy time of year to be starting, I imagine it will be a little bit like being thrown in at the deep end! But that's probably the best way to learn.

Good news on the RE improvement Fantasy, your dd must feel a lot happier now, and a bit of a confidence boost for her.

Dd has had some exam assessment results back today and is pretty happy with them all (especially the Maths mock - full marks! she's most excited that she beat even the further maths crowd!)

She also found out today that she got a Gold award in the Maths challenge and through to next round! This is the only place I can share that news as she won't let me tell anyone in real life - too geeky apparently!

Ellen I'm so glad to hear it went well and college are being so supportive.

Oh that's fantastic Lobster for your DD, both for the mock result and for the Gold. Both are brilliant achievements. Well done to her.

ps, the writing thing. DS has writing like a tiny spider crawling over the page. He did get told that some examiners/markers may mark down if they couldn't figure out his answers or they deemed it illegible, if that is any bearing on matters? Which is a shame if the content is excellent, but understandable maybe if you have a pile of exams to mark?

Lobster those are fantastic results for your dd! I don't get many who get full marks in any tests, and we only had 3 who got gold certificates in the maths challenge. 2 of those are through to the next round. Is it the kangaroo round or the BMO1 that she's doing (we've got one of each in my school)?

Writing does indeed have an effect on grades if examiners can't read it, but IMO it's the teachers job to ensure that pupils know that's what the problem is, not just dock marks without explaining. If handwriting is bad then pupils need to either work on it, or use a computer if that will be possible in the exam (it stands more chance of being allowed if there is a diagnosis of something, and it needs to be normal practice)

Congratulations Lobster, we are always here to listen when there's no-one else to tell.

Congratulations Lobster, that's brilliant.

Handwriting - my Y9 DS has come home tonight telling me there is to be a crack down on handwriting at school, and their text books should contain their highest standard writing!

DD had a great time at her Further Maths Problem Solving uni day yesterday. She always seems to be surprised she can actually do Maths.