Meeting at school before beginning of term

[elliejjtiny]

We've had an email inviting us to a meeting at school before term starts about ds4 who is about to start year 8. The email says it's to discuss his timetable and address any concerns we might have. The meeting will last about 30 minutes and was signed by someone we have never met before and ds4 says he doesn't know her either. We haven't had this before with any of our others. Ds4 has an ehcp so it could be related to that, although we haven't been asked to attend a meeting about ds5 who is about to start year 7 and also has an ehcp. Which is a pity because i do have concerns about him.

Sounds like a good thing.
Presumably it will be the SENCo, who, not being a subject teacher won't have taught him in Year 7 presumably, which is why he doesn't recognise the name.

I mean, it is a shame there wasn't a transition meeting for your dc moving from Yr6 to Yr 7, but it has to be a good thing they are discussing any adjustments with you for your dc going in to Year 8.

You can always say at the meeting that you have concerns about your dc who is starting Yr6 and would like to arrange an appointment to discuss his needs.

Sounds great. Go with an open mind.

Do you think a full standard timetable is appropriate? Would he benefit from eg dropping French or Misic to have breathing space some days, or English support or emotional support?

Then take opportunity also to raise issues re brother.

This has been pretty standard for DS with an EHCP. It's just to familiarise them with the new timetable, teachers, routines, etc., so that they are not overwhelmed on the first day. Perhaps it is the head of y8, or SENCO for y8, who is inviting them.
I'm not sure why your other DC has not been invited, but perhaps because they've had an induction already as part of secondary transition?

Presumably Ds4 had problems in year 7 and the school are trying to look at different ways of dealing with those in year 8 now they know him better. If the email doesn't give an indication of what the named member of staff does for a job, can you look it up on the website? There should be a page listing SENCO, heads of year etc.

Maybe they have looked at younger DS's EHCP and decided there are no immediate issues / adaptations they would struggle to make without discussion but will be happy to meet you a week or two into the new term when they can see how he copes with the new school.

Thank you. I asked ds4's friend's mum if she had one too and she has. Friend has SEN but not an ehcp. Friend's mum says the staff member is new this year and works in the learning support department. Definitely not the senco. Maybe one of the year 8 teaching assistants as ds4's teaching assistant he had last year only works with year 7.

Just thought i would update to say that the meeting was good. I got an email that said to bring my younger son too so we met both their new TA's and they talked through their timetables with them. We managed to soet out my youngest child's reasonable adjustments too. They encourage children with sensory needs to fiddle with blu tak but ds eats blu tak so he is allowed to have his fidget toys.

Excellent news.
Thanks for the update.