Is it hard to get help from school?

[littlemiss06]

I went to my daughters yr 1 parents evening in November and her class teacher said she had made pretty much no progress since reception, she is below level 1 at NC levels, she had poor concentration, they couldnt get her to write more than a few words in her work book, she didnt join in class discussion, messed about rather than listening hence they moved her carpet place to the front, struggled to work with numbers above 5, tried hard with reading and could blend a little but often sounded out a word and then said a totally different word, shes on stage 1 of her ort books, she just never gets her spellings no matter how hard we try, she shouts out a lot when she shouldnt so I asked her teacher how long we left her like this before getting help for her, he said he wasnt sure and would speak to the headteacher.

I also spoke to the headteacher who said she was really behind when she went to the school in reception and he would look at her work and levels and get back to me.

They had their normal school assessments in December and I spoke to him again after one of the christmas concerts where he told me he had observed her in class and felt there was definately something with her but he couldnt put his finger on what it was and yes her levels were still below level 1 so she is still behind. He said he was going to speak with the senco and they would get round to sorting her out, she is on a list but they have a few children with more severe needs who they need to deal with first.

Yesterday my partner was on the phone to the headteacher about another thing and the headteacher mentioned our daughter, he said I havent phoned because nothing has changed, he said her levels are the same but she did however do a guided task and did good in it so hes not doing anything because he doesnt feel there is a problem with her learning.

I'm a bit confused now as theyve only been back in two days but the last time I spoke to him regarding the tests he said yes they are all really low still and shes still coming out as well behind for her age.

We have some trouble at home as well with her, shes very hardwork and on the go all the time, she also has sensory things going on like her bobble has to touch her head in the right place and be tight, her shoes laces cant be to near the floor, her waist band has to be really tight the list goes on. We feel there is something with her (shes adopted as well and her mum drank whilst pregnant with her) but I just wondered whether it sounds like the headteacher is just fobbing us off, I cant see how he can tell me all her tests were well below average and now in one area shes done good so hes leaving her. Someone did warn me on here that its hard to get support from school and wondered if it sounds like this is just whats happening here.

School can only help with academic problems.

It def sounds like your DD needs help - but the question is what kind and from who?

You say she is hardwork at home and has sensory issues and messes about on the carpet. It's possible a paedetrician is the right person to see her?

Is there any chance she may have ADHD? Aspergers? Dyspraxia? Hearing problems? Something else?

There are two things you need to do now:

1. Make an appointment to see the SENCO
2. Make a list of all her symptoms nd quirks and decide whether she needs to be seen by someone medical.

Remember school aren't experts in SN. There's no reason for them to recognise SN, and they cant diagnose SN. All they have to do is follow professional advice - but normally it's the parent who seeks the professional advice.

I may be totally wrong, and her problems may be just academic, but very, very often academic problems are caused by something else. (even simple vision or hearing problems) - and the 'something else' is not something school can help with.

I would repost this in the special needs section

I would ask the HT to send her to their SENCO to be assessed properly

I'd seriously look into changing schools as they sound woefully inadequate

'School can only help with academic problems. '

I don't agree with that

Our school helps with all sorts of problems from socialisation to bullying for example

Thanks Indigobell, she has been referred to camhs, her eyes/ears have been tested and are fine. It was the academic side that was concerning me with her . I will do that, make the list and go from there. I'm sure we have another parents evening around february so will hang fire and see how it goes there, if theres been any improvement in her work. Thanks again :)

Thanks Gumpy, I have to be fair it is a really good school and they seem to have picked up pretty quick that she is behind its just getting something done now and I just wonder how needy or behind she has to be to get support in school

But a SENCO can't assess for anything. That is not their job.

Why is she being referred to CAMHS? And who initiated that?

She should get extra support at school as soon as she is behind - but this can take many,many forms.

Is she not on any interventions?

Does she do phonics with the whole class? Or with kids who are working at her level?

What about maths? Is she in a group with other kids her level?

I would expect her to be getting extra support - but that could be 1:1 or in a group.

I think you should also ask if she's on the SEN register. Then she can get an IEP detailing what extra support she gets.

I would just like to add, you might find your local parent partnership may be able to guide you, and fight your case.

I asked for her referred to someone because we felt she needed to see someone, our GP who thought camhs would be a good first step to assess her to see if she did need any help and which area could offer that help.

Im not sure what you mean by on any interventions? She works with her group for all lessons which are 5 children from her class who are in the bottom group, another little girl in her group is being assessed for autism. They stay in the group in class for lessons and the majority of the time get a lot of help from the TA however last week it was only the TA in class as the teacher was off sick. The groups are all based on ability think there are about 4 or 5 groups in her class.

Thanks mummytime ill look in to parentpartnership

Are the school aware of the CAMHS referral?
They could be waiting to see the outcome although I would expect them to be taking some action for a child achieving well below her peers.

We told them at the end of the phonecall yesterday that life for her is quite hectic and we have got her referred now to camhs

Getting a lot of help from the TA is extra support - and is the kind of support you'd expect.

If all the kids in her group are around her level then there's every reason to assume school are teaching all of them appropriately. I'd only be concerned if you felt she was far behind them, yet expected to do the same as them.

The referral to CAMHS sounds good. Keep a diary or list of behaviours you want to discuss with them. CAMHS normally know about ADHD and Aspergers, as well as the range of 'normal' behaviour :)

But, I'd still want to talk to the SENCO, and get her to clarify. And I old ask f she's on the SEN register.