Sorry for the this but i'm blooming fuming!!! Year 6 SATS!!!

[littlelegsmum]

Ok, so after fighting the school and endless meetings and phone conversations where DH & I have been told DD does NOT need any help and support in class, where we've been told DD does NOT have an SEN, where 'apparently' DD is understanding everything given to her and regularly helps other children in English & Maths . . I have found out that she's going to be given a reader?!?! DD is 'apparently' doing age appropriate work, without difficulty or any help needed . . You may ask why i'm making a fuss that she will be given a helper but there is a HUGE discrepancy in what they have been telling us for months and what i've just been told on the phone!!!

Can I request they do not provide her with one? Can I complain to someone about this?

I want a true reflection of DD's abilities/work etc and was under the impression this had to be a daily thing, not just a 'making the school look better' mark.

It does have to be a daily thing. The school can't provide an unrepresentative level of support for the SATs.

I don't know where you would go to complain, though, if the Head isn't recognising the issue. Probably the local authority.

So I am right in thinking it's supposed to be a daily level of support.

I've been told (by the school) that as "there is an LSA in the group" of 15/16, that "she is allowed one" By no means is this support for the children - There is usually an LSA in all classess nowadays, so i'm not sure what the SENco's reasoning was.

Thank you for your reply.

I would be fuming too.
My DDs start on Monday. I've already told her it isn't a reflection of her ability it is toward the league tables.
Bloody things they are.

If the LSA was serving as a reader for your daughter, then I would expect you to know about it specifically. There's no reason for a parent not to be informed of that level of support by the school.

It sounds like you've been let down significantly.

Thank you both very much . . We have definitely been told numerous times that DD is not and does not qualify for any support in lessons - including by the LA, after speaking with the SENco.

Sounds grim, littlelegs. At our school those DC with a reading age under 9 (4/60) are getting readers for maths, not literacy as you can't really read for that. They are all on school action, school action plus or have a statement, but only the one with a statement gets 1:1 support. The others do have maths questions read to them during lessons and IEPs. Is your DD on SA or SA+?

Hello

DD is not on SA or SA+ as the school have completely dismissed her having any problems at all. . You can see why it just doesn't make sense, other than to make the school look better.

I would be complaining and refusing in that case. This is to make them look good and won't help your DD in the long run.

Thank you, DH & I thought it would be the best way to go.

I did point out this was purely to make them look good and I don't want DD to think she's fantastic then when she goes to High School 'shot down to pieces'

I feel so sad, and if they would guarantee the help and support after sats, I would gladly accept - unfortunately, that won't be happening :(

If it was me I'd go to the head, then governors, then the local paper.

Your HT is breaking the rules. I have reported DS's school. Phone the LEA. You may be initially fobbed off but you will be phoned back - and by someone with power not backroom staff. Monitors following up such a complaint can request documentation to show that DC receive the support regularly in class. We have had to fight tooth and nail for every bit of support but a reader was offered as a matter of course - even though he did not qualify! The head really pissed me off with his 'there's a little boy in the middle of this..' - I'm more concerned with him having his needs met for the next 5 years rather than for 3 days. However it is justified as being in the interests of the child, it is not, the rules are being broken not because it is morally right to do so but because the schools are anxious to improve results.

I'm just not sure the Head will do anything about it. By all accounts the SENco seems to practically run the school and few people have suggested the Head is a waste of time!! That could obviously be rumours I suppose.

Hi koko1 . . I phoned Lea and was put through to Additional Needs ?? Not sure which department I need but they were a little dismissive and seemed to back the school up . . Maybe i'll get further if I get to the right Department.

Quick email to dfes website, education. Gov.uk. and click on testing and standards agency should do the trick!

Maladministration team email: [email protected]

Thank you both for those details. I will certainly be using them. Do you think a copy of the complaint should also go to the govenors?

that would depend on you, if you've raised it with the head and senco and got no where then i wouldn't bother personally as a parent, as a member of staff in a school I would hope that a parent would give the governors the heads up... see i sit on both sides of the fence! but it is entirely reasonable to email the dfes and then send a specific message to Chair of Governors saying you have complained about this

It has only been raised with the senco. However I am very happy to be completely transparent and tell them I've complained about the situation. I hope I don't come across as rude to you but I really try to see it fro
Schools point of view yet it doesn't make sense and there are too many discrepancies and changing of stories to suit the school.

For the maths papers, any child can have a reader if the teacher thinks they would benefit from it. It makes no difference to their score/mark/level whatsoever. It can be due to difficulty with reading or just to make the questions clearer- children often misread maths questions. That is all. A reader is not allowed for the reading test as it's a reading test (!) and instructions for the writing tasks are read out to all children by the teacher.

For the maths papers, any child can have a reader if the teacher thinks they would benefit from it. It makes no difference to their score/mark/level whatsoever

Not strictly true, wtf1981 - it has to be normal classroom practice for that child to have questions read to them on a day to day basis. Not quite the same thing.

From the [[https://orderline.education.gov.uk/gempdf/1445951959/STA125571p_Assessment_and_reporting_arrangements_key_stage_2.pdf ARA 2012]

'Use of a reader How to apply: No application or notification form is needed.
Who is it for: If a child already has reading support in the classroom'.

Link again: ARA 2012

Thank you for clarifying that Feenie . . I thought I was going mad there.

Wtf - In that case, the teacher could easily say most of the class would benefit a reader, if that was the case. The guidelines to clearly say it has to be regular classroom practice.

Am sure it is not breaking the rules to have a reader!

I am a SATS reader for a child I have NEVER WORKED WITH EVER! and the rules have been clearly stated to me and the other TAs.

It is just for Maths and Science.

I am a SATS reader for a child I have NEVER WORKED WITH EVER!

That's not the point... they may have another adult who acts as a reader. It wouldn't have to be you.

However, if they don't have regular classroom support of this type, then it is breaking the rules.