MrZ, SEN?

[CardyMow]

Could you tell me more about the scrapping of SA and SA+? I have a 14yo DD on SA+(though is being given statement levels of support at her school, as they believe that she SHOULD have a statement, but even they have tried and failed to get one for her), she is currently in Y9, and I also have an 8yo in Y3 that has been illegally dropped (sore point, am fighting it right now) from SA+ to SA, despite still having outside involvement fro
Physio, OT, respiratory consultant, ENT and a developmental paed.

If they stop SA and SA+, will my DD no longer get the extra 25% time and a scribe in her GCSE's, will she lose the funding that has enabled her Secondary to bring her from NC level 1 in Y7 to being a C/D GCSE'S student in Y9?

Will my DS2 lose the help he gets from a small group with his reading and spelling every day? Will the school stop doing his OT and Physio exercises with him?

Aaaaarrggghhh, am panicking now!

I don't think anyone knows what's happening other than the government say too many children are being identified with SEN and (they want to cut costs) so it's still basically wait and see how it impacts on the ground I'm afraid.

My best guess is that it won't prevent children from having extra time in exams but may have some impact on school's ability to provide additional support ...
sorry not much help but I'm sure everything will be revealed eventually.

whats herr face on today yesterday (when most teachers are on there way to school) said it is about getting the right help and that there are no targets for rreducing numbers.

I know I'm naive. But I thought it was all about clearer guidelines for who should and shouldn't be on the SEN register.

At the moment there are no guidelines and schools all do it differently.

So any kid who is failing to progress is put on the SEN register. Whereas they might be failing to progress due to SN - or they might be failing to progress due to neglect or any of a hundred reasons.

And if the reason they're failing to progress is to do with pastoral issues rather than SEN, then they should be having help with that - rather than being treated like they have SN.

There def are some kids who are wrongly on the register. Clearer guidelines about who has SEN and who doesn't while still expecting all kids to progress seems fair to me....

It will definitely not effect the provision if 25% extra time in external exams. That's based on reading/writing age.

But what about the LSA that works with her and another child in class, to help them access the curriculum? Without that she will flounder.

She is in a group of two that share an LSA, despite 'only' being on SA+. It is why I chose that school. I'm already worrying about whether that will change in September when they change to an Academy (Outstanding converter), without worrying that they may even be forced to take her off SA+ too!

The bill has received mixed reactions from those working in SEN, the aim to simplify the system is welcomed but many question the governments ability to deliver in the current climate of huge budget cuts and councils nationally slashing SEN services. My own LEA has reduced staff by 2/3rds

Hmm yes I am worried about the bill too - call me cynical, but I suspect that it's all part of the Government's plan to cull Local Authorities - after all, if suddenly lots of pupils aren't deemed to have SEN any more, then there will only be the need for minimalist SEN support services.

Spot on ASB. From what I've heard there are many more public sector cuts to come.