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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Year 2 DS doing well but fidgety, teacher seems a bit concerned

48 replies

jalapeno · 29/01/2012 16:00

I'm terribly confused about the limited feedback we are getting from teacher, please let me know what you think and whether there is even anything to worry about...

DS is 6.5 and doing well at school, he is a free reader and in top groups for everything, regularly getting top marks in maths tests and good at spellings too. He asks interesting questions, is popular with other children and very good at imaginative play. I don't have too many worries, however have always found him very loud, bouncy, in a bit of a dream world when it comes to getting dressed etc. I have always just put this down to being a 6.5 year old boy so all good.

His teacher last year picked up on his fidgets and told us of the things she did with him to maintain his concentration. Great, we knew what was happening and what was expected of us.

This year, his (different) teacher is often pulling me aside, she tells me he sometimes refuses to do work (although this is better recently she says), he is stubborn, he says he is tired, can't concentrate, he is distracted by other children (this is what he tells her, not her observation) and she has been given my full permission to dole out "consequences" for this sort of behaviour. She has now told me that she thinks he would benefit from a cushion with corn in to give sensory stimulation but I think she means I have to get one- why can't she just get him one? Do I have to make one? My sister has dyspraxia (which I don't think he has) and sensory issues (which I think he might have) and so he may benefit from this sort of aid but I think there are some issues here that run deeper. Should I be concerned that he has issues? Should they be acknowledged even though his learning isn't affected? He is doing well! If he is disruptive shouldn't she be dealing with it in class? He isn't a naughty boy but I accept possibly irritating but is this a personality clash more than anything?

Given the familial link should I get him tested for something...but if so which condition? We have a SENCO in the family and they don't seem concerned. Perhaps he needs more tailored work because he is a bit bored? Please help!

OP posts:

MerryMarigold · 31/01/2012 13:35

mrz, can I hijack you?? my thread on dyspraxia also in primary. Not sure of next step. Talk to teacher? Ask to speak to SENCO? Talk to GP? How did you figure your child out?

Original poster

jalapeno · 31/01/2012 16:00

Thanks Wannabe, the teacher has spoken to the SENCO and they'd like him to see the ed psych but because he's doing well academically they won't get to him until 2013!! And that's if noone else bumps him down before then. Fair enough, he's not doing badly at school but he's still suffering and he'll need to calm down for juniors next year, I'm going to see if the dr can get him referred more quickly. His teacher wants some K*nex from home for him to fiddle with on the carpet, hope it will do the trick.

Thanks to all!

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Original poster

jalapeno · 31/01/2012 16:03

Winless Chunder My sister does have SPD, it was called something different when she was diagnosed!

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MerryMarigold · 31/01/2012 16:05

jalapeno, they sound really on the ball at your school. That's great!

Original poster

jalapeno · 31/01/2012 16:13

On the ball to tell me he needs help...but no actual help for at least 12 months!!

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MerryMarigold · 31/01/2012 17:13

Hmmm...that part's not so good! But at least they spotted it.

mrz · 31/01/2012 17:18

I'm a SENCO and 12 months is actually quick for an EP referral. I spoke to our EP last week and she said her workload has increased from 8 to 37 schools and not to expect to see her this year

MerryMarigold · 31/01/2012 17:22

Wow! One of ds1's classmates has 2 parents who are EP's. Maybe I should ask them .

IndigoBell · 31/01/2012 17:24

An EP won't help for dsypraxia - you need an OT.

MerryMarigold · 31/01/2012 17:28

My friend is an OT but she seems to deal with old people going home from hospital to their houses. Maybe there are different sorts?

mrz · 31/01/2012 17:31

I'm allocated 14 hours EP time this school year with 70+ children on the SEN register to assess them all would take about 12 weeks or the whole school year

MerryMarigold · 31/01/2012 17:34

Wow, mrz it must be very hard to prioritise. Do they not need to be assessed to get on the SEN register? Is it after they are assessed that they are 'statemented'?

mrz · 31/01/2012 17:37

www.treetopsoccupationaltherapy.co.uk/

IndigoBell · 31/01/2012 17:43

Yes, you need a paediatric OT.

You get on the SEN register as soon as you get extra support in school - any kind of extra support.

Almost no one gets a statement. (1.5% of kids in MS schools I think)

An OT is nothing to do with the SEN register - it's to help you and school help your child.

mrz · 31/01/2012 17:43

Children move on and off the SEN register all the time and most don't need to see an EP to be honest although as a parent I do understand the feeling that "your" child needs to be seen. Speaking as a parent of a child seen by 5 different EPs in his school career ... not one had any impact whatsoever.

conorsrockers · 31/01/2012 17:44

You've just described my son at that age. Yr 4 now and absolutely fine!! If you and the teachers keep on top of it he will eventually come round. My DS1 had a bad day yesterday (tired I think) and his teacher said she had asked everyone to get their prep diary out and write down the homework - he got his reading book out and started reading, but had no idea why! DS3 had 'the wobble cushion' but only needed for a few months (and the school supplied - but they are private).

mrz · 31/01/2012 17:48

Some children will "eventually come round" with no intervention (some won't) your choice whether you leave it to chance or give it a helping hand.
We use and provide wobble cushions (inflatable not corn filled) - in out state school.

Original poster

jalapeno · 31/01/2012 18:54

I have made an appointment with the GP tomorrow, I will ask for an OT appointment and EP if possible.

Mrz I think that is a complete scandal, luckily there are no urgent worries but if he is not reaching his potential, and even more upsetting his teacher finds him hard work, I would like him to be seen whether that makes me a pushy mum then so be it. The sad fact is you probably don't know whether they need to be seen until they are iyswim.

Can't they employ more EPs? Or train more teachers to be able to assess this sort of thing? sigh Having spoken to my mother it seems that EPs can charge £500 a pop for an assessment privately!

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mrz · 31/01/2012 20:06

jalapeno most children don't need to see an EP (although most parents feel this is necessary if their child is experiencing difficulties) and yes I am quite capable of assessing whether a child needs to see an EP or an OT or any of the other professionals I work with regularly.
An EP report rarely tells the teacher anything they didn't know

Original poster

jalapeno · 31/01/2012 20:18

No mrz, sorry for phrasing that badly, I meant couldn't teachers assess the child's problem instead of an EP- I did not mean could they assess whether they need to see an EP in the first place!

In my case, I've been told DS needs to see an EP but there is a long wait. I would never have insisted he needs to see one without the teacher raising a concern. Now I am keen to get this sorted out, it isn't fair on him or us to have this hanging in the air for 12 months or more, I would rather teachers (specialist or otherwise) were able to give a diagnosis rather than refer for a large wait. As you say, if you are capable of telling me whether he needs to see one or not, now that his teacher has said he does, I am even more concerned.

I didn't mean to upset, however why would the teacher raise this with me if there is no need for him to see an EP and I am just "feeling it is necessary".

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Original poster

jalapeno · 31/01/2012 20:26

Also if an EP report wouldn't tell DS's teacher anything she didn't know, I would have a "well, it may be..." sort of ball park. I would probably be happy with whatever she told me, I generally trust a professional judgement. At the moment there are no probable causes on the table from the school, I am speculating given my experience with my sister and the advice from here and my mother. I would love my son's teacher to be as confident in a diagnosis as you are with your children, you are probably a lot more experienced though...

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mrz · 31/01/2012 20:27

Teachers can and do but if the teacher says actually your child just needs x, y or z some parents insist that only an EP can recognise their child's problems. Children who have complex needs are usually instantly recognisable to all concerned and experienced staff will pick up many other problems as part of their normal interaction with a child and often put in appropriate strategies and interventions without any outside involvement this is called School Action and is the first step of the SEN process. If a child still doesn't make progress or the teacher/parents are still concerned the school will involve other professionals with appropriate expertise this is School Action plus the final stage is statement of SEN which usually requires an EP report to support the application.

Original poster

jalapeno · 31/01/2012 20:46

So does this mean that the school will have put in school action for DS without me knowing, this hasn't worked and now he is not making progress I am involved. I am told he probably needs to see an EP although this is going to take forever, it is called school action plus but I am somehow going against the teacher's advice by insisting he sees someone that is unnecessary. Even though they suggested it.

Sorry this is at the end of a long day with both his teacher and my mother telling me there is possibly a problem but maybe not, this is making no sense at all to me and now I can't decide whether I am being pushy or confused and concerned.

I just want the teachers to tell me what is wrong. I didn't even think there was a problem this time last week

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