SENCO for daydreaming?

[Frog253]

OK so not strickly daydreaming perhaps but not focussing during her lessons.
Background is that she is in year 3 but since year 2 her reports have mentioned that she has a tendency to daydream and not concentrate on what she is being told in her lessons. Her grades have started to slip from well above average to just above average perhaps as a direct result of this lack of focus.

We went to her parents' evening tonight and the teacher wants to ask the SENCO to observe her, we've agreed of course but we are so worried and just don't know what to expect.
As far as I am concerned she has come on leaps and bounds recently eg she stayed away with Brownies for 2 nights at half term, this time last year she wouldn't do very much without me being very close.
Odd things (not that I thought they were that odd really)about my DD include
Indecision about what to wear even on a schoolday.
Needs to be told what time to stop reading rather than decide to stop when she's tired.
Takes a long time to go to sleep.
Has a sleep routine including putting Badger balm on beforehand.
Worries and is easily upset a lot about things eg misses her cousins when they leave.
Makes perhaps too sensible a choice about food eg will only have one sweet after school even though I've said she can have two.

Anyway, could do with some reassurance and experience if you have the time.

I'm a class teacher and ex-SENCo and I have observed children for a variety of reasons. When you are busy teaching 30 children is hard to observe one child really closely and pinpoint issues. The SENCo usually just watches a lesson, purely focussing on one child; what they do; how they respond to task; how well they listen; what might be distracting them. This might narrow things that are making it more difficult for your daughter to concentrate in lessons. The SENCo can then offer suggestions of ideas that the class teacher can out in place to support your child. The SENCo is usually really careful that the child doesn't know their being observed as this can change their behaviours.
Also the SENCo is (hopefully) more knowledgeable about any other difficulties your daughter may be facing.
I can see that you are worried, but feel reassured that school is eager to support your daughter and needs to get to the root of the difficulties in order to support fully.
If I were you I would ask for a meeting with the SENCo and class teacher as soon as possible after the observation. Feedback should ease your mind and then you can ask what the school are planning to do next. Then would be a good time to discuss some of the issues at home you are concerned about.
Hope it goes well.
PS I assume you've had eyes and ears tested?

Thanks so much for your feedback, what you've said makes sense. I thought we'd make an appointment soon after the observation. Her eyes have been tested but her ears haven't been tested for a while, perhaps I should do this? It's never crossed our minds that she has a hearing problem .
DH says she reminds him of himself as a boy which is a worry as he left school without any qualifications. Perhaps if SEN had been recognised then he might have done better at school, who knows. At least my DH understands what she is talking about whereas I don't really.
I've decided to make some small changes at home eg she must start making a few decisions about things instead of relying on me. Also when she arrives at school I will encourage her to put her stuff away straight away and sit down to read rather than spend her time faffing. Apparently despite being one of the first to arrive at school she's one of the last to sit down

Lack of concentration can be caused by anything and nothing. It can just be her personality - but at the extreme end it is a real problem which can be helped.

For example it is a major symptom of ADD-Predominantly Inattentive

If you are concerned about her concentration start her on Omega Fish Oils. If you are really concerned, research ADD. If you are not concerned just let school do its observation and relax. School won't find anything that's not there.....

IndigoBell: School won't find anything thats not there...can I just say thats an excellent post.

Already there with the fish oils (ordered on-line yesterday). Thanks for the link and feedback. Perhaps she does have ADD, she does have a couple of those symptoms at school daydreaming and silly mistakes in her work.

Am going to speak to the SENCo teacher today to see what she says as we have been totally knocked for 6 with this news. I suppose there has to be a line drawn between normal behaviour in an 8 year old and not normal and they will see which side of the line she sits.

Have discussed this endlessly with friends and family since and am convinced that she doesn't daydream or display any of those symptoms at home, she concentrates well and plays nicely. She's not always that easy to be with at home but when I've talked to other mums she doesn't sound terribly different from other 8 year olds.

Frog, start her on the Omega Fish Oils before you panic. They made a vast, vast diff to my DDs ability to concentrate in class.

And of course if the don't help, then you have ruled that out as a cause.....

You just described my dd! We tried omega 3 fish oils and they did help. We also discovered that the reason why she daydreamed so much was that she was bored and was very rarely challenged in school. She was very able (but definitely not a genius!) and found that she needed to put in very little effort. She is now at secondary school and it is a school that really pushes the kids who can do it. She is now doing very well (probably because she is with other similar ability kids) and doesn't get the opportunity to daydream!

Update-spoke to SENCo teacher who reassured me that her job covered all sorts of special needs including emotional problems and broken ankles so she wasn't thinking of starting the statementing process or such like-phew!

We had a really good chat about DD and she has decided to have a good talk with her to see if she is worrying about something which distracts her at school. Also DD's grades arn't going downhill BUT no doubt they would be better if she concentrated more.

DD is in school with lots of bright children so I doubt that they arn't challenging her, it could be argued that they expect too much.
I feel a lot happier now I know what is really going on and have a better understanding of what the SENCo teacher does and offers to the children. Thanks for all your input. Will still do the fish oil for good measure though.

Can't really go wrong with fish oils. My whole family take them, including me. I recommend them to lots of parents and other staff even joke I must have shares in the company.
I've had lots of positive feedback, but it does take a while for them to really get working.

Must admit ADD was one of the things that sprung to mind when you described your dd.....

I though ADD as well. ALthough it does sound a bit like my dd who is dyspraxic - she is easily distracted, indecisive and can lack focus. She's also easily upset by things and even though she's nearly 10 we still have to be really careful what films she watches.

We're doing fish oils and also some vision training prescribed by a behavioural optometrist which is really helping.

It's good that the SENCO is observing a lesson - they might spot things that prompt a loss of focus or cause a distraction.

Hi, can I just ask when you all mention fish oils is there a specific one you use or will any fish oil do?? What I'm wondering is, do some of the fish oils contain any colurings/sugars etc to mask the fishy taste?

There's no consensus as to which is the best fish oil to use. But do check the amount of fish oil in it, as the ones that are more like sweeties contain very little fish oil.

I go for one with a very high DHA content. But others recommend a very high EPA content :)

They come in all sorts of types. Pills to swallow, ones with flavourings, and plain flavours.

DS1 will take an 'orange flavoured syrup'. But I find it has a nasty after tase.

DS2 is quite happy to swallow pills.

DD likes tuna. So I give her a snack of tuna and pour a natural flavoured one over it - she doesn't even know she's taking it. (Because the natural flavoured one tastes very strongly of fish)

Someone else told me you can rub the oil on the inside of a childs wrist and it will be absorbed - I don't know if that's right or not.

Popular brands are EyeQ, Nature's Own, Nordic Naturals, Boots.....

You need to try and see what you can get your DC to take. But do make sure it has lots of fish oil in it.

This is the book that converted me.

It has made a very noticeable improvement in stress levels and concentration for DS1 and DD.