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Primary education

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Original poster

4 children with statements in ds' reception class - help!

166 replies

ALittleBitConfused · 28/01/2011 17:26

DS is due to start reception in Sept. The choice we have for our first choice will have 3 siblings with SEN. One with profound difficulties, one with ASD and one with behavioural probelms. All have statements with 1:1 written in them I believe.

My friend has a ds with ASD and has put down this school, so there will be 4 children with SEN in the class.

Is this likely to impact on the education of my ds if he gets in? It's an overscribed school.

OP posts:
mrz · 28/01/2011 18:05

1-1 varies with need so saying 3-4 children with 1-1 could mean anything.

WimpleOfTheBallet · 28/01/2011 18:06

I feel a biy bisuity over this one...my DD is in private prep...she's in year two an there are three children with statements in her class...(one oof them are my DD) one with very complex needs. There are only 15 in the class so the balance is even higher than in your childs case and I am PAYING! Iave ner even considered the kids as taking too much attntion...Iwas happy my child was getting to mix with children of all abilities....that's how life is!

Do you think you have more right to get an education for your child than those other parents?

AvonCallingBarksdale · 28/01/2011 18:08

The choice we have for our first choice will have 3 siblings with SEN. One with profound difficulties, one with ASD and one with behavioural probelms. All have statements with 1:1 written in them I believe. My friend has a ds with ASD and has put down this school, so there will be 4 children with SEN in the class.

Just to be clear, the three siblings will be in the same class, then? Are they triplets? How do you know so much about their statements? FWIW, DS has 1 child with SEN in his class and he and the other children see that child as just someone in their class, which can only be a good thing, surely.

WimpleOfTheBallet · 28/01/2011 18:10

sorry...BISCUITY not bisuity...and my DD is NOT one the children with a statement..crappy laptop.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 28/01/2011 18:10

yes i think this is a bit suss, that you appear to know so much about these children and their statements.

tomhardyismydh · 28/01/2011 18:11

so what exactly is your problem/worry about this?

I would have no clue who has a statement of needs in my dds class and quite frankly why would I have a need to know.

the fact you know this is probably quite unfortaunate for you as you are stressing about it.

WimpleOfTheBallet · 28/01/2011 18:13

In the village where my sis lives they know everyhing about one another...maybe the OP is in a small village...were IS the OP?

BadBagel · 28/01/2011 18:14

I am with tomhardy as I also have absolutely no idea who or how many in both my dc class have statements, neither do I care.

They both go to schools with SN departments.

Why are you worried?

Original poster
ALittleBitConfused · 28/01/2011 18:15

To answer your questions:

The 3 children with statements are not each other's siblings but the younger siblings of children already in that school.

The reasons I know this is because my friend has had a phonecall from the HT of the school attempting to put her off from applying there. The reasons that the HT has given my friend is that it will disrupt the education of the other children in the class.

My friend will probably still send her ds there I think but we are bot concerned about the HT's attitude and wondering if there is any truth in what she says.

I'm not anti-SN. I was hoping that a teacher could come with their perspective of practicalities.

I am still wondering if, considering the HT herself thinks all the other children's education will be disrupted, it is therefore the right place for my ds.

OP posts:
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 28/01/2011 18:15

this thread really is helpful...as I have been racking my brains wondering why a mum at nursery talks to everyone except me and DH, and used to talk to me before my DD's SN was evident..the nursery actually get MORE staff as someone is paid to come in and help with DD, but maybe she resents DD and her 1:1 (I'd gladly lose it if DD could speak and feed herself etc)

Doobydoo · 28/01/2011 18:16

I would imagine each will have a support helper[TA]not sure of correct wording.In ds1's primary school 2 children had a person sitting with them.So am sure it won't impact on your child's education.Be more concerned if your child is academically bright[ie above the average...whatever that is] as depending on the school tjey will probably be left to get on with it.
So,no I do not think it will have a negative impact on your child's education from what you have said in your OP

OmicronPersei8 · 28/01/2011 18:16

When I taught, I found having any children with statements in my class tremendously enriching: it was great having 1:1 for them (a nicer atmosphere I think when there is more than one adult in the class - quite welcoming I think) and I learnt so much from the various specialists I liaised with, it had a positive impact on my teaching for all children in the class. I think it made me a better teacher.

If there was a child in my DC's class with a statement I would not worry about it. Including if it was my DC with the statement.

5inthebed · 28/01/2011 18:16

Just out of interest, how do you find out who has a statement and who doesn't? Seems a bit of invasion of privacy if you ask me.

FWIW, DS2 is the only child in his school with a statement and he gets a full time 1:1. This means he can't disrupt the other pfb's whos parents like to give me dirty looks in the school yard.

lisad123isasnuttyasaboxoffrogs · 28/01/2011 18:18

soyour friend, who has a SN child had a call from the HT trying to put her off applying? I would be more worried about the schools attitude to SN than the children being there at all.

HecateQueenOfWitches · 28/01/2011 18:18

I would NOT send my child there.

Not if the head has that attitude!

The important thing is that each child's needs are met.

Ideally this would be done by funding that comes from the lea and is detailed on the statement.

I'll be back when you've finished.

Goblinchild · 28/01/2011 18:19

Well, I'm a teacher so what practicalities would you like to discuss? Given that each child with additional needs is unique and so how their IEP looks in practice will vary enormously.
Why is the school oversubscribed? Is it particularly good with SN, or education for all?

WimpleOfTheBallet · 28/01/2011 18:19

The HT called your friend and tried to put her off applying?

Hmm
Original poster
ALittleBitConfused · 28/01/2011 18:20

Omic What about 4 children with statements?

OP posts:
tomhardyismydh · 28/01/2011 18:21

sorry I dont belive you now after that last post. what a crock!!! a ht would not do that it is against the law.

Original poster
ALittleBitConfused · 28/01/2011 18:21

Yes, she got a phonecall. Actually she has also got a letter with these details in it when the LA consulted with the school on behalf of her child, but this phonecall was because she was going ahead anyway.

OP posts:
thegrudge · 28/01/2011 18:23

The HT would put me off.

I bet she brings in a compulsary uniform in an obscure colour that can only be purchased at the John 'o Groats uniform shop and cost £65 for a jumper.

Has she phoned the parents of 'nice' children and asked for a 'donation' to hold a place?

Original poster
ALittleBitConfused · 28/01/2011 18:23

Goblin, the practicalities of having 4 children with statements and probably all with 1:1s.

Is this a problem/unmanagable for the average class teacher in reception? Or is it perfectly fine?

OP posts:
tomhardyismydh · 28/01/2011 18:24

well im sure it would fall somewhere under the disability discrimination act.

HecateQueenOfWitches · 28/01/2011 18:24

Then that's 4 children with extra funding to put in extra support and that means extra people in the classroom.

But like I say, I wouldn't give that school a chance, not with a head like that.

Seeing the child as a problem Hmm

one school we looked at for ds2 had a head like that. Told us all about funding and how it came in arrears and how tight things were and the struggle they were having etc.

We got the message loud and clear. And no way would we even try to put our child somewhere he clearly wasn't wanted. I don't feel they would treat him right.

I hate heads like the one you describe.

Original poster
ALittleBitConfused · 28/01/2011 18:24

LOL TomHardy, I know enough about SEN to know for certain that the law is broken regularly wrt education.

OP posts: