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Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

Original poster

My dd's Teacher wants to cut dd's school hours!!

11 replies

SewingMadMummy · 21/09/2006 19:25

I have a dd1 who is 4 1/2. She has just started in Reception this term. She has special needs is asd and has a soiling problem. The school are well informed about her needs as the nursery nurse in her class looked after her in nursery. Anyway the school have been phasing in the kids from part time to full time over 3 weeks. Today was her first day. I got to school to pick her up and she had had 5 accidents. The teacher wanted a word about her and said that this was not right and they could not cope. 5 accidents is not the worst she has been by far and they should try LIVING with it. Anyway the teacher worded our "chat" like it was down to me that dd has these difficulties. I felt so angry as I am not to blame for her problems and I have been to every health professional who will listen. Only this week I took her to see a continence specialist and immediately reported back to them. Anyway the teacher has bandied the idea of cutting dd's school time by 2 hours a day!!! I told them in no uncertain terms that I did not want dd singled out on account of her problems as this may make her worse. To top it off dd came home with a dirty backside and as we live 20 mins walk away from the school she now has a very sore bottom and an mum. Has anyone else had this and how did you deal with it?? Are they allowed to cut the school day?? I thought it was compulsory to do a full day from Reception??

OP posts:
Jimjams2 · 21/09/2006 19:31

O.ly compulsary the term after they're 5. DS1 (ASD) sepnt 4 terms in mainstream and for most of reception did 2 hours a day twice a week. it was ludicrous.

Sympathies. WOuld they consider using something like weenies pants (you can add a disposible pad) from Lollipop. DS1's mainstream school was quite good about accidents but I know many aren't.

Sympathy.....

Original poster
SewingMadMummy · 21/09/2006 19:37

I feel so angry about this. They KNOW her and know about her. I have shared everything with them and they still make me feel that I am not good enough. She turns 5 in December so in new year they cannot stop her going but she loves school and I don't want to have to bring her home early.... she will be sooooo upset.

OP posts:
Jimjams2 · 21/09/2006 19:43

Does she have a statement? If not I'd apply for one now. If they can't cope they should be getting extra resources for her.

Original poster
SewingMadMummy · 21/09/2006 19:51

The conversation about statements went something like this:
Can I get the process for statementing her started??
School: Not until we get a written diagnosis from the Childrens centre.
Ok Its on its way... Is that good enough to start??
School: No.
End of. They are so bolshy about this type of stuff. They have to see everything written in triplicate, lost found, lost again and then finally turns up with a dozen coffee stains on it and then they will think about it. Special needs funding comes fronm the school's own budget in this borough and they are not very willing to open the purse. Ps sorry for sounding so bitter I have definitely had a crap day...
They have the diagnosis letter now and I will just have to start a new battle about this. There is a special needs advocacy service here and I think I will give them a try and see what they come up with...

OP posts:
saadia · 21/09/2006 20:01

I once knew an asd child who was not fully potty-trained when she started school. She started off by attending two half days a week and then it was gradually built up. The teacher was told to ask her frequently if she needed the toilet and her mum made sure (feeding her grapes etc) that she did no.2's before school (she had very regular potty habits). I know this won't work with every child though.

Jimjams2 · 21/09/2006 20:07

Don't get the school to apply- apply yourself, then the LEA are tied into a certain timeframe.

IPSEA here have a standard letter you can send off to your LEA to start the ball rolling.

Original poster
SewingMadMummy · 21/09/2006 21:06

Will look into it jimjams thanks for the link...

OP posts:
Celia2 · 21/09/2006 22:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
SewingMadMummy · 22/09/2006 07:27

Thank you that would be helpful. Last year in Nursery I was called in no end of times to change dd1. The sessions were only 2 1/2 hours and they couldn't manage??? I have another dd and if dh was at work she got trailed out every time too....

OP posts:
Original poster
SewingMadMummy · 22/09/2006 19:49

Today was a better day. Dd1 only had 1 accident thank god and told the teachers. I spoke to the school's family support worker and asked her to advocate for me and tell the school to begin the statementing process. Here's hoping for a good week next week and no more talk of cutting her hours!! I am a happy mummy once more - tired but happy. Thanks to the ladies who took the trouble to post and celia2 look forward to hearing the legislation xx

OP posts:
Celia2 · 22/09/2006 21:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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