Son in year 5 working at Level 2a for Maths

[jojo28]

Hi
August born 9 year old in year 5. Loves his school, popular, articulate and well behaved.

BUT finds school work extremely difficult. This year he has become increasingly dismayed at his performance and very anxious.

Spoke to class teacher and to our horror found that he was working at a level 2a for Maths and 3 c for everything else! They told us that he was not on track to leave with a level 4b in year 6.

Went to talk to head who is also the SENCO. She does not recognise that DS may need extra help or that she should seek outside advice on how to help him. Class teacher does feel that DS may have some learning difficulties but head feel he just lacks stamina.

I sought advice from a highly experienced EdPsych who unfortunately can't assess him till April but she has recommended a tutor who specialises in helping kids who are struggling academically. Tutor can only see DS in school hours but head teacher says that would not be possible as 'it sends an odd message about the quality of what he is getting in school'.

What can I do?

Sympathies. When did your ds start working below the expected level? What have they done so far to support him?

at the head. Thinking.

My advice would be to contact another ed psych and have your son assessed asap. The longer you leave it, the more time your DS is struggling. He will be at secondary school next year and it really is important to get the ball rolling re any statements if necessary. I'm very surprised at the head's attitude btw!

I am not going to try for a statement so not worried about that. My main priority is getting him the help he needs now. I feel this teacher/tutor who has been working with SEN children for 20 years in partnership with the EdPsych is our best bet.

The EdPsych will just be pinpointing exactly what the problems may or may not be and advising on strategies to help son going forward.

Can the school stop me from taking him out for tutoring? How far behind does he have to get before the school HAS to do something?

By the way DS's school got Outstanding from Ofsted across the board recently!

At what point were his targets behind the 'expected' level?

I would think he would qualify for some SEN support in his maths class from an LSA, even if it was just one lesson a week.

Not sure the school have to do anything at all though unfortunately unless he is statemented. I work as an LSA in a high school and a shocking number of our yr 7's are around a level 2 in maths - literally have to use their fingers to do 1x5!!!! We have a really excellent maths teacher though who always takes the bottom sets and always manages to get a GSCE grade out of the kids in the end! Could the school not provide extra maths tuition themselves?

Year 1 - he started to really lag joanofarchitrave. Sleepless night last night my brain is whirring! Really do not want to lock horns with the head. It would be so counter productive. At the same time 'no child left behind' and all that. They are not offering us any extra help except some maths games! Was reading all about Maths learning difficulties yesterday and he has soooo many of the same problems. He said to me the other day - 'Mum school is about important things and I don't think I am very good at important things.' Sob!

Unfortunately I believe it's common for the need to fight for extra help. Extra help=£££ and some schools don't want to fork out the money if they can pass the buck onto his next school. If you are not up for a fight then I'd start talking to other local schools. Not at schools are so unhelpful with regards to SEN.

If you are staying at your current school then I'd be demanding why your son hasn't got an IEP and isn't on School Action (or School Action Plus)? I would start seeing the school more regularly about how he's doing (find out his targets etc) and help him more at home.

Personally I wouldn't wait until April and would consult another EdPsych asap. I would be worried that April is so close to the end of the year that any help that the EdPsych suggests won't be implemented until September or that they will drag their heels over it and pass the buck onto his secondary school as they will assume that you're unlikely to change schools during Y6.