how does school action plus work

[jbl2312]

our daughter (5 years old) had an upper limb difference no left hand and part forearm, the nursery she is in have applied for her to have school action plus 5 medical hours per week, im not sure what exactly this means as she copes very well she obviously finds a few things difficult ie zips buttons socks using sissors and her writing skills are a little behind due to the fact it is her left hand missing and her new consultant has diagnosed her as being left handed so the brain takes time to adjust. can anyone tell me why she would need medical hours im at a loss

Hi!
My dd2 (year 3) was born with her left hand missing from below the elbow.

So far she has not been on school action/school action plus. She is right handed, which I think does make a difference. Her infant school just made sure that if they were cutting then the TA was on hand (no pun intended) to help her if necessary. Most of the time she didn't want help, and stuck it under her little arm and cut her cardi/dress/coat with the thing she was cutting.

When she started school I asked if she could do PE wearing her plimpsoles rather than taking her socks off and on as she found putting them on hard. She didn't want to be different, and so determinedly spent a day at home practicing, then could do it fine. I would make sure that on PE days she had simpler uniform for changing etc.

The junior school are thinking about putting her on School action, not to get medical hours, just that it's a big school and they want something to be on her records so that if either something comes up in the future it's quicker to get it recognised, and if they have a supply/new etc. teacher, it is there for them to easily see.

I asked the limb centre their view, and their view was that generally a child with a limb difficiency like this doesn't need any extra help, but if there's further problems (and being handed the side that's missing might count) then they might.

Are you a member of REACH? If so this might be worth asking on their fb message board. I know of one member whose daughter is missing the right hand (and is right handed), and I'm fairly certain she started school on school action or action plus. I don't think she got any extra hours though.

I have never regretted that she wasn't on the action/action plus register, if that helps.

Hi my 5 year old daughter (yr 1) was also born without her left hand/arm just below her elbow.

DD is right handed (and they believe she would have been anyway)

She has been on school action plus in the past - difference we were told between school action and school action plus are plus if child is receiving services like OT. Sorry i've never heard of medical hours.

We did apply for a statement and she was refused at nursery age - view was she will manage without any additional support.

We took decision to privately educate from reception for a variety of reasons and it has worked very well so far for DD. She is in a class of 16 with a teacher and full time TA.

DD manages very well but there are times when she needs a 'helping hand' and in a small class teacher/TA is able to notice and give that.

Not sure if she is still officially on SA plus as Local Authorithy have withdrawn all involvement. They suggested we get back in contact yr 4or 5 re transition to secondary. School will hold an annual review meeting and DD has an IEP.

Second REACH suggestion.

What are your schooling plans - sorry just confused as you say she is 5 and in nursery (maybe you are not UK?)

thank you so much for your replies yes we are a member of REACH and will check their page out, i said she is 5 cos she will be in feb, she is still in nursery as of yet we have no school for her we turned down the one they gave us as its too far 3.8 miles and is a notorious estate school with a lot of problems all the local schools we put down are over subscribed so we are just in limbo waiting...it was the nurserys idea to get her school action plus they said it would stay with her throughout her school life and any problems she incurs doing certain things they would be able to help her out quickly...im also confused with the term medical hours. think i need to do a little research on this. but thank you once again x

The REACH fb is www.facebook.com/#!/groups/27827506020/

Hope that works. Sue has to approve you but it is reasonably active once you're on at present.

Are you hoping for the school action to get you into another school? Because I don't think it will effect it. I think you have to be on the next stage up for it to effect it.

I took medical hours to mean time you have 1-1 assistance due to a medical (as opposed to behavioural/learning) problem. But that was my assumption, not any knowledge.

Yes school action plus status will have no bearing on school allocation. Needs to be a statement naming a specific school to assist.

I do sympathise. DD was allocated a school not of our choosing and one we wouldn't send her to. She was on school action plus status at the time.

Only other external input DD has had at school has been for OT from limb centre to visit her in school a couple of times.

What is your plan come legal school age at Easter?

we know it has no bearing on school allocations, and to be honest i dont think she needs it and she is very persistent at tackling things she wants to do and always finds her own way of doing it......we can extend her place on the reserved lists for the local schools till march, i should imagine we will have to home school her from then if no place is available which is not ideal as she loves the school environment, and where we live is very rural with no other children about for her to interact with and to make matters worse we are the last house in our county so she gets bumped down the lists often as new applications all live nearer to the schools than we do..seems unfair but apparently thats how it all works x