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

[ALittleBitConfused]

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.

Thanks everyone. I'm sending my ds there if he can get in. Something inside me rather likes the idea of this unique and challenging class. It means that the teachers need to think outside of the box a bit.

My friend is also going to send her child there although she believes now that the school are trying to throw in the 'affecting others education' thing to try and appeal etc.

However, honestly, her ds wouldn't disrupt a mouse standing in the way of a mountain of chocolate. He is such a calm and complient little thing but with oodles of self-confidence. (I don't know if that is typical of a child with ASD though as I only know him).

When my DS started school the other class had 3 boys with ASD, as they had 1 to 2 TAs to help with their needs, and it worked quite well. DS had a partially sighted girl who needed her TA. I've always liked children with needs in kids classes as it normally means there is an extra adult (although if the needs are profound, they tend to be fully occupied).

Hi Op, just read through and wanted to say I love the tone of your last post there. that's how I feel about the large and querky class DD is in!

I also agree with Indigobell way back. I do not believe there is anything wrong with this Head. there is no dislike of inclusion and this is not personal. The Head is looking after the balance of the class as a whole as they appear on paper. Who knows what the mix will be like in reality but that could indeed be a tough class.

Hope it goes well!

I think there's a lot of political correctness on this thread.My DC4 got stuck in a reception class with 2 very disruptive boys who had VERY challenging behaviour.it was a complete nightmare, made her very stressed and I moved her to a different school and many of her claasmated moved too.She is much happier now.The first school won aclaim for being 'inclusive' however the reality of that meant it was 'exclusive' to the NT children.

Hi katiestar, I've missed you.
I don't recall a single thread that you and I have agreed on.

As a teacher, the main practicality I can think of would relate to the size of the classrooms. That's it really.

I'd be delighted if any one of the 3 children in my Y4 class (of 22) who need a statement (ideally with 1:1 provision) actually had one - it would mean that those children would stand a much better chance of receiving the support they need in order to make the progress they are capable of. It would also mean that 21 of the 22 wouldn't have their learning so disrupted by the one child whose behaviour is problematic.

My classroom is enormous and could easily accommodate a few more adults but that's not the case with every school, particularly as the classes move up through KS2 where there is often no outside learning area and less 'free play' so, in the eyes of planners, need less space.

It's the only acceptable reason I can think of for a Head actively trying to dissuade a parent from naming a particular school.

It would be interesting if the OP was to feed back to us after her child has been in this class for a while.

Se13 - but why don't the kids who need statements in your class have one?

Is it because they have applied and been turned down as not needing one?

The majority of students who need statements don't get them.

And the majority of kids who get statements don't get any or enough 1:1 on it.

And herts is particularly bad for giving statements.

It is also almost impossible to get into a special school.
So many kids whose parents would like them to go to special school can't go.

I still think you are all very naive to maintain that giving a child with severe needs 1:1 support means he will be able to survive in the classroom. 1:1 support may or may not be enough. And you are taking that gamble x 3.

You are also taking the gamble that a child with incredibly severe behavioural problems won't continually upset the child with Autism. Another huge gamble.

It's not just for play based reception. It's a one form entry school. So it's for the next 7 years.

Good luck OP. Seems to me you are blinded by ofsted reports and league tables.

IndigoBell - because the LA believe that very few children 'need' a statement and so grant very few. The couple I'm aware of having been granted fairly recently are what might be best described as 'lip service statements'; they acknowledge a need and support it with no funding for any additional resources/support.

If i were your friend i would be calling the LEA and making a formal complaint about that HT.

How fucking dare she phone other parents and discuss possible future pupils and their educational needs?

Dear lord i would be fuming.

Are you sure each statemented chiold has an individual TA?

DS1 and his friend with ASD share a TA on a sattement of 16 hours each; in fact in our LEA and a few others I know of a TA over 16 hours is rare, they then expect you to head for a more specialist abse (as ds2 has done, and ds1 will in September).

The mix of kids with Sn does matter: ds3 was very apssive and in a class with a child with ADHD and huge behavioural issues. Poor ds3 simply becmae ignored as the etachers and both TAs concentrated on the immediate danger from the child with ADHD and he was largely left to sit alone (until teh governor tiped me off he was crying ignored at the back during her visit and then we went elsewhere).

So, on that basis I'd be wary about the mix, rather than the fact of the kids with statements if that makes sense?

but having ahd a child at a school where they were not wanted by the HT i woudl say run anyway. And fast.

Oh also:

Those children with statements may be demanding as Indigo says- or they may be the opposite as ds3 was (sadly in past tense). A statement gusrantees nothing in that way.

But agree with ehr about being blinded by OFSTED etc: our school V V V highly rated. Would cut my own leg off before allowing a child of mine with an SN to attend again- ds4 seems NT so is down for nursery in Sept but one whiff of problems and off we run.

Penelope, I'm sorry but from what the Op said, that is not what happened....

My understanding is that what the head said was in a letter to the council in objection to the application to the school.
Council gave a copy of the letter to the parent who showed it to Op.

It does sound really unprofessional to discuss other childrens requirements with another party.

I know that at the school my DS goes to they are very careful never to disclose others situations apart from re-assuring us that there were others with special needs and statements within the school. (My DS has FT 1:1)

I think that the class my DS is in really benefit from having his LSA around as she can also help with others who need additional support.

Definitely don't let it impact on your decision on school to send your DS to.

To update. My friend has sought advice and tells me that the school have no grounds to refuse her ds, and the LA are supporting her with this.

She says that she is simply in the middle of school/LA beaurocracy battle.

katie, what do you mean by exclusive to the NT children. It sounds a bit paranoid.