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French schools and sen

10 replies

indiastar · 24/10/2011 12:37

Does anyone have a child in a French school that has SEN. Ds (8) has dyslexia and ADHD. Thinking of moving back to France but only if he got good support. I have lived there before and know how strict the schools can be.
Many thanks.

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flyingcloud · 26/10/2011 13:28

Hi there - no experience and/or help to offer you but didn't want your thread to go unanswered. There are people out there who can help you (but maybe after the Toussaint holidays are over).

indiastar · 26/10/2011 15:47

Thank you! Forgot about the holidays!

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chickflit · 27/10/2011 08:51

I have a DS(9) in French primaire with ASD, dyspraxia and dyslexia. I've had to jump through hoops and it took a good couple of years and lots of tears, but once the school came on board we're snowed under with help. In fact he's had so much offered to him that we've had to turn one organisation down because he simply can't fit it all in and that's just what's been organised externally to help him with school and social skills. He also has in own support worker 1 to 1 for nine hours a week in class.

In school they also have a special assistant to help the kids who are struggling, so for two years she spent an extra 30 mins twice a week helping DS get to grips with his reading, writing and dyslexia.

There are about 10 children in the DC's school with more complex SEN than my DS and they can't cope in the classroom environment, these children have been put into the CLIS class where they are in a more controlled, calmer environment and the work is adapted to their needs.

As I say it was very difficult and frustrating getting a diagnosis and help, but to be honest once the school approached me and told me there was a problem they really got the ball rolling and now DS has gone from struggling to the top of his class in just one academic year.

However, until you have a diagnosis that the school believe and has been presented to them you'll get nowhere and in fact my my DS' teacher spent a whole year telling me how rubbish he was when she knew he was in the process of receiving a diagnosis - she made his life hell too. Even though I had a diagnosis of dyspraxia from the UK from before our living in France days the school disregarded it until we had something down in French from a psychomotricienne.

I think your best bet might be to approach the school and get the educational psychologist on board straight away.

I don't know if it makes any difference but my DC's are educated in an ecole privee, I don't know what it's like an ecole publique.

PM if you need any more info.

pinkhousesarebest · 27/10/2011 15:34

My children are in the publique. My dd refused to speak when she entered maternelle, although she already spoke French well. We got in touch with the educational psychologist who was affiliated to the school through the RASED, dcalin.fr/rased.html, and she worked on confidence building with dd, who eventually did speak.

I suppose that would be your first port of call. Sadly, cuts in education have diminished their role. I am not sure if my dd would have as much time lavished on her today as she had four years ago.

indiastar · 27/10/2011 17:28

Thank you for your replies. I didn't think it would be easy. I grew up in France and my brother was (is) dyslexic, my mum spent a year trying to get the help he needed - headmaster didn't believe in dyslexia, just thought he was stupid! This was 20 years ago, so was hoping things had changed!

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chickflit · 27/10/2011 18:25

There are very blinkered attitudes here india the psychologists are of the opinion DS' autism is based on my bad parenting and the fact that DH works away during the week. DS probably has several faults that are caused by my parenting skills but I can't lay claim for autism.

When I asked the teacher who made DS' life hell because he just could not do dictee (still can't) if she thought he could have dyslexia, she said why would I know I'm the teacher?

So there are still some dreadful attitudes here, but I just keep repeating the line from Madagascar "smile and wave" and I just let them say their piece, let it all flow over me and then take the AVS and all the other help they offer us.

DS is being given pony riding lessons now as part of his therapy - I can't afford that on top of the other activities I pay for so I'm just letting them get on with it and he's having a great time. I'm thinking of trying to convince them piano, swimming, theatre and scouts are all a necessary part of his therapy and see if they'll cough up for that. Grin

indiastar · 27/10/2011 20:24

To be honest, having lived in France as a child (and adult), my gut instinct is not to put him in a French school and all these posts have confirmed this. It seems that he might get help eventually, but I'm not sure it's worth having his life made a misery until it is sorted.
Angry at the teacher who thinks autism is called by bad parenting. Sad
Thanks again.

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dilbertina · 29/10/2011 20:04

BriocheDoree would probably a font of knowledge for you! Looks like she's away at the moment but I'm sure she'll be back soon! She has some experience of SN in the state system and last time I spoke to her seemed happy with provision....

(waves across valley at Brioche!)

mountaingirl · 01/11/2011 17:39

Not good but getting better. A friend's son was just put in the corner at the back of the class due to his dyslexia. His mother was told not to speak English to him. Neither of her dss can speak english well, dreadful waste. Things have got better in the last 14 years but you need to be one step ahead of the system and insist on help. It seems better in collège.

indiastar · 02/11/2011 14:31

Thanks again - I think I have made up my mind not to chance it with my ds. Mountaingirl - my friends (English) ds was also put in the corner all day because he couldn't speak French properly - he was only 3 at the time and had just started school.

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