Have we got a starting Secondary School Support thread?

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

I’ve just just asked DD what the sandwich box and bottle are for in the fridge. It turns out she’s made her first packed lunch ready for school. She doesn’t start till next Tuesday

@CaramelAngel - no, she's an RE teacher. It's not a bad idea to try and speak to the head of maths though. Even if he is fundamentally Set 2 level in maths, which we will accept and try to help him with, I really can't see how dragging all his other subjects down is going to help.

God I miss primary.

What they do in dc school, (Year 7 child is my second dc there,) is they are mixed ability for everything for the first month. They test them in maths, then set them.in maths after the first month taking into account their KS2 result also. The timetable is reshuffled and they get new teachers for everything and are with different children. English, Science and MFL are now set beginning of year 8. Used to be earlier. In dc school it doesn't make much difference whether they are with friends or not in lessons as they have a seating plan (boys next to girls).
It sounds like they are set from the beginning in your dc school. Is that right.
I tend to email rather than.phone as then they can either forward it on to the appropriate person or phone or email back when convenient for them.

Is it definite that he has been moved down a set for other subjects based on maths? Or have they set only for maths and reshuffled the timetable generally?

Also, did they only do that one maths test to assess them? My dc did at least two.

Yes, definitely moved for all subjects based on one test. They're mixed for PE and Tech but stay with their set for every other subject and he spent yesterday being told to sit quietly and not put his hand up to answer questions while his new set did work he'd already completed in all subjects. He is gutted - he's always been such a high achiever academically and it's hit him like a ton of bricks, especially because he seems to have been doing so well in his maths classwork.

Apparently the Head of Year is going to 'ring us back at the end of the day or tomorrow to take us through it' so we'll see how that goes. Lots of tears last night though :(

I hope the HOY rings back today spiderlight. It seems a very illogical system, particularly as they set for the majority of subjects. I know there's no perfect way to do it, but, to base it on maths alone must be incredibly demotivating for those that are stronger in other subjects. The fact your DS didn't get to complete his test due to a nose bleed makes it farcical.

They base it on assessments in maths and English, one test in each. He got a level 5 upper for his English assessment but the sets are based on the weaker result. He'll survive if he does have to be in the lower set for a while but he was sobbing last night, saying 'I feel so ashamed writing Set 2 on my work' :( Have done lots and lots of reassurance on that score but my heart's breaking for him.

all schools do it so differently.
at dc's school they have 'houses' (tutoring groups) who do everything together. a class really.
mixed ability with a buddy system which (only a few weeks in) seems to work well.

That's weird basing it on the lower result as if they were amazing at Maths but very weak in English, presumably they'd be in the botton set for Maths based on the English result!

I'd heard some schools do ability streams rather than sets, but not really ever considered what it meant. I think DS2's school just sets for Maths, English and Science, largely based on SATs, though they did some CATs on an induction day.

Aargh. Things have somehow gone wrong today. Dd's texting me from the toilets in a right state and I can't do anything about it because she'll get into trouble for texting.

Oh no Aornois, is there any way you can engineer a reason to contact the school without mentioning the texts?

We're just back from the GP. He's got a throat infection and his glands are up. Got antibiotics but GP said with the length of time he's had it, plus feeling lethargic it could be Glandular Fever. Will see if the antibiotics help, if not arrange a blood test. I should have taken him back sooner but I was thinking it was allergy related as his eyes have been streaming.

Poor boy, glandular fever is grim.

Ooh yes I could email the Senco about something legitimately. Good idea. Thank you :)

I hope the SENCo is responsive. It's so hard when you know they're struggling and you can't fix it straight away. Hope things are better for her soon.

I had glandular fever as a teen. My dad thought the GP would ring if I had it and sent me back to school when I could barely hold my head up! It's been 84 28 years but I still harbour some resentment. DS2 is o.kish but we'll just have to see how it goes. He can't manage tablets so I need to speak to the school about him having antibiotics as it's 4 doses a day.

I did too as a teen. I remember having a little lie down on the way to get a drink from the kitchen after my mum had gone to work. I was still asleep on the floor when she came home.

Can he not stay off school?

Oh, poor boy. Glandular fever is nasty :(

Aornis I hope you get through to the school and get your daughter sorted out, bless her.

No response yet. She might be in a meeting or dealing with dd.
I think the fraught relationship with her TA just broke down.

I hope you hear something soon Aornis. We had a few fraught TA relationships over the years with DS1. Mostly not individuals at fault, they just just had inadequate training. A couple were downright awful though! He had one amazing TA in primary. She got redeployed as she was just so good they needed her for a more challenging child. It's a hard balance, hope you manage to get something sorted.

Now PE is off the table for a week or so, DS2 seems quite happy to go to school. He's doing well in most subjects and is pretty keen, it's really just been PE that has caused the tears and upset. Understandable when he's feeling grotty. Will see how goes, I won't be forcing him in.

I've just had a mail from the TA about yesterday's problem. No mention of today's happenings at all

I would maybe reply and say thanks and ask how she is today Aornis

Sorry to hear your DS is so ill Frayed

DH went to meeting with the SENCO and got a holding reply to my complaint to Head, governors just rejected it and sent it back to stage 1 which is not great but as Head is replying its fine. She says she's investigating and SENCO should help. She thinks he needs EHCP and DH said SENCO has now agreed to do that himself which is a bit of progress. DH did phone me saying DS was very distressed at school and he couldn't even get him home. I said to try food and then a few minutes later they both appeared with bread. DH seems quite upset at how distressed DS is and was almost crying himself - I realised before and had suggested teaching him at home but DH obviously hadn't. DS is here with me now. He's quite happy here in his sister's bed as she's got a TV with his bread and I'm asking him maths and spelling questions. We are getting lots of I know better than the question type answers like one question was what is the probability of the sun coming up every morning and the answer was certain. But DS is arguing it should be very likely as at some point the sun will explode. Then another one was lead floating on water probability and he's arguing the exact shape of the lead. He's not wrong but he would be marked wrong for these. Can also see the smart comments on every question could get annoying. But DS gets annoyed if things aren't exactly right.

Head also said schools don't have to have fencing around them or internal area locked. At our old school they had to, maybe as close to London. It scares me though knowing he can escape and go anywhere, think he would just come home.

I'd definitely do what Penguins had suggested Aornis

penguins Sorry DS is still struggling. I think the general advice is it best for the parent to apply for the EHCP as if the LA refuse to assess it has to be the parent who appeals? Not 100% on that, but worth looking into.

Penguin, the school or yourself would not be applying for an EHCP though, they apply for a statutory assessment. If for procedural reasons the Senco would delay applying for assessment, your DS will be in limbo for longer... What is your worry about applying yourself?

I am curious what is the legal position if the school applies for assessment and the LA comes back with an EHCP that the parents are not happy with, would parents have the right of appeal?

Have done so. At pick up now.
Re EHCP - parents can appeal even if school apply.

Sorry. EHCNA is what you or school request

And you can do mediation and tribunals to reach an agreement on EHCP.