Have I been labeled a 'bad parent' headmistress recommends SENCO

[sfekke]

We put our daughter in special tutoring to bump her up Numeracy. We asked if the information could be considered 'assessing her capabilities'

The headmistress's response no thanks. She re-iterated daughter was below average for the school but sited a SENCO investigation might be necessary? She gave no specific special need

What does this mean

I'm not sure why you should think you may be labelled a bad parent but the SENCOs role is to ensure that children who may be struggling, for whatever reason, are given the necessary support in school to "catch up". If needed they will work with other professionals to help the child. They are there to work with you to support your daughter.

Please don't worry about your daughter being "labelled". It means that she will receive the help that she needs. It bears no reflection on your parenting at all.

I hope you don't think have children with SN makes the rest of us bad parents, OP?

The school probably haven't a very clear idea in mind atm but just want to make sure your dd gets targeted support to catch up. Sounds good to me. Plenty of children get support from the SENCO without any definite diagnosis of SN, others get a diagnosis (e.g. of dyspraxia or dyscalculia) which can then be used to adapt the way she is taught.

SENCO means Special Educational Need Co-ordinator. The head wants them to ensure your daughter is being given the help and support she needs, if that is something that needs to be differentiated from the rest of the class. Nothing to do with your parenting.

Sencos are there to find the right support for each child if they are outside of the 'average' - this can also mean if they achieve well above the expected as well as those who are struggling in some way at any time. It could be that your daughter only requires short term help to consolidate her learning. In ds school we have an 'individual needs co ordinator' which perhaps explains their role better.

not at all. I think it sounds very positive they want to get the SENCO involved. It may be they decide no help is needed but it will probably mean she will get some extra support and they can give you more guidance on what she is struggling with so you can help her at home too.

my daughter is on the SENCO's list to look at in September when she goes into Yr1. She is a good reader but she has some quite clear dyslexia related problems which she seems to be managing quite well herself and she has coloured glasses now which are helping a lot but the school and I want to make sure that any problems are observed early so they don't impact her progress. I am really pleased, the SENCO is lovely and if they say she needs extra help with her blending (she knows her phonics but she finds it hard to apply them, it is like there is a block somewhere so she doesn't relate it properly and then just learns the words instead) then great, we will do that. They may well say she doesn't need anything extra at the moment but it is possible she might in the future. I feel relieved she has been flagged up as at least I know they will be looking for problems which may be masked by her other abilities.

I think quite a lot of children only require help short term but better that they get it than end up further behind or lacking in confidence.