I'm a teacher and happy to answer any questions

[DellaF83]

Hi, I'm an experienced primary school teacher and happy to answer any questions anyone may have.

insanity other's needs do matter to me, as well as my own child's. I cannot separate the two. A flawed system equals flawed support and distorted need. Truth and a transparent system matters to me as it affects how my child is viewed by society as a whole.

You wouldn't have found it patronising if I DID work at managerial level in SEN?

I take it you don't mean the bacon roll post!?

You know, don't you, that a provision map details whole school provision? And that there are other children in the school besides yours?

Maybe the sure start centre in question had identified that improving fathers' engagement in their children's education would have a positive impact on learning and that dad's could be lured in with a free breakfast? The funding for this has to be detailed on the provision map.

The money for that doesn't come out of your kid's statemented 'hours'???

What about the individual provision mapping that replaces IEPs or the provision mapping that will be required to prove the 6k that has been spent before High Needs funding is applied for?

My son is just starting pre school effectively a year early - he was 7 wks prem, should have been born mid Sep but came in early Aug. This means he prem-ed himself into the year above. Apparently you can apply to have such cases reviewed by the local authority and have the child put into their 'gestational' year. Seeing stats for young kids and academic performance and knowing he is effectively even younger I am thinking about doing this. Do you have any experience of this, or advice? Thanks very much

Where did the op go? maybe I should start a simsr thread for Reception parents.

It doesn't come out of my child's statement hours but I'm not interested in provision, I'm interested in outcomes.

To put down all the things offered as if it is something wonderful when it makes no more difference to ds than to Uncle Jo down the road I found quite offensive, especially when used to deny support he does need on the basis of this supposed wonderful 'offering'.

I don't care what a school can offer. I only care what they are DOING and it's relevance to the children it is doing it for.

And so, imo should a good school.

In order to ascertain this, accountability and proper assessment of impact needs to be undertaken.

As it happens the bacon roll club was shut down because the SEN Officer blamed it for the increase in appeals.

And that's where we differ, I'm happy to help parents fight for their own child and have at HT's request helped a parent get her child into an independent school funded by LA but if I was asked to give up some of dd's statement to help get the LA to fund their child then no I wouldn't.
Likewise I don't care that dd is "on the books" as a child with a statement because other than myself her teachers, the TA and the school governing body it's of no concern to anybody else, I'll use the statement to get dd into out of catchment schools and it won't particularly concern me that some other child might have to catch a bus as a consequence. I'll save my battles for my own children at the end of the day because they are the only ones I'm interested in winning.It could be selfishness or self preservation I suppose but I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with either.

Starlight agree.

Since when was providing Bacon Rolls for your child's father, outside of school's time, relevant to making provision, as per a Statement which details educational provision? Does your child have an additional educational need which requires their father to consume Bacon Rolls?

insanity what about a child who has no diagnosis, who has been discharged by NHS professionals, who does not have 1 to 1 any longer, who is doing well, apart from when someone has a distorted image of what they are capable in their head and complains about their every flaw but does not actually use the support detailed in the Statement for them?

When IEPs are not quantified and buddying children systems are described as 'support' (like they are employed?!) as are suggestions of extra work parents can do with them (ditto earlier).

As I have said it is a good thing that it is possible to rise above all this...

Bugger just read the thread so no point in waiting for op, and now realise I posted in the middle of a different debate, still, anyone else have an insight regarding summer prems and education.....?

mugged flexible schooling for reception year? Schools will do it. Might just be delaying the 'hit' though. From what I hear many LAs will not put a child back a year without a fight.

To be honest Daftdame I don't care about others' children.

I suppose everyone has stereotypical images of what a child with a statement is like they certainly don't conjure up a picture of dd who is very able academically and has no behavioural difficulties.

But in school dd is catered to according to her needs as the child in front of them and the stereotypical images go out the window IME. Dd works in top groups with children as able as she is, she'll most likely sit level six papers, her statement hasn't got in the way her statement has enabled her to fly.

It's very sad that not all children have the support they need but I won't beat myself up about that.

insanity and I wouldn't want or expect you to beat yourself up about it. However the legislation has to provide for all these children, so scenarios other than the one(s) you are familiar with are equally relevant.

This is why I am interested in what happens to funding my child is (on paper) receiving to provide for their education. The cost should not be assigned to them if it is not used for them. Sometimes it all feels like an itemised restaurant bill we have received for another table.

Thanks Daft, I suppose I'd better roll up my sleeves then! Seems harsh that on top of a tough start in life these kids then find themselves effectively over a year younger than the oldest....I just feel terrible for him as it was my body that crapped out on him.

Mugged ds went to school with a child who was out of year, I don't know the details but what I do know is that he started initially in his year group but his placement broke down, he was out of school for a while and then restarted in the year below at a different school. It is incredibly rare IME.

Bit Daft why not fight to get you child's statement specified and quantified so as to force the school (or an independent specialist school even) to meet it to the letter? That would be a battle that you had a chance of winning and would ensure that your child got the provision he needed. Why take on a fight you won't win on the behalf of others who may be being short changed as well?

Many thanks insanity not encouraging but best to know the lay of the land. We are moving in nov so no point in engaging this LA, but will take up the cudgel with the next.

insanity my child no longer needs a Statement, that is the point. Our LA does not have genuine Annual Reviews, they have a policy of not updating Statements. My DC's Statement is so out of date he no longer needs the provision detailed. He does not receive the provision. He has no diagnosis and has been discharged by outside agencies. Yet the school were happy for it all to carry on.....

Mugged the child wasn't an August baby but had SEN. Do you suspect that your child might have SEN because of his prematurity? If so it would probably be a good idea to get them documented now by seeing a developmental paediatrician and seeing exactly where his needs lie.

But you have the option to appeal or to ask for reassessment you don't have to just leave things as they are. Have you been in touch with IPSEA or SOSSEN? they'd be very interested in the LA's illegal blanket policies.

We're waiting for an outcome of the last AR at the moment. I also do not see why we should have to interrupt his education for reassessment. However no decisions have been made, as yet.

Insanity, no I don't think he has SEN, although it is early days obviously. I just think he is bloody young and can see him struggling once at school.

But will bear you advice in mind, thanks

I'd imagine the LA would snatch your hand off if they thought that the statement could be lapsed whether the school wanted it or not. Are you saying that any statement isn't needed or that the current statement isn't needed in the form it is because I'd imagine that a request for reassessment would cover both those eventualities.