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SEN

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

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Original poster

Alpha smart

52 replies

BumMum · 12/11/2006 21:49

My DD is 10 and in year 6, she has dyspraxia, and mild social communication difficulties (aspergers tendencies to me and you), and hypermobility.

I recently had a meeting with the senco, and asked if DD could use the alpha smart again as she was comming home from school and wrapping kitchen roll round her pencil as her hand hurt to write.
The Senco said that she couldn't use the alpha smart in her sats. Is this true?
The OT, EP and pediatritian all recommended she used the alpha smart.
She doesn't have a statement.

OP posts:

SparklyGothKat · 12/11/2006 22:00

My DS has a Alphasmart and he uses it for his written work at school. I was told at this old school that he could have a 'scribe' for his SATs (ie someone to write down his answers) Have the school suggested that??

SparklyGothKat · 12/11/2006 22:01

chatee · 12/11/2006 22:03

i was told by educational psychologist that dd could have extra time,short breaks,snack or drink,scribe,room alone when doing sats.....anything as long as it helps the child do their best to the best of their ability?????

Original poster

BumMum · 12/11/2006 22:09

Hi SparklyGothKat... No, no ones suggested anything. Does your DS have a statement? The Senco said that she knows children that have done very little writting and come out with a good grade.

DD's handwritting is good.... for the first 5 lines then it goes to pot... and her spelling is attrotious (not that the alpha smart will help with that I know) My DD gets 20 out of 20 each week for these really hard spellings, and still can't spell any or went!

OP posts:

Original poster

BumMum · 12/11/2006 22:11

Blimey chatee... Your DD's EP sound good... do the school back this up though!
What year is your DD

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SparklyGothKat · 12/11/2006 22:12

No my DS doesn't have a statement, he has Cerebral palsy and hypermobile joints, but because he is very smart and isn't behind in any area, he doesn't need one. He just struggles to write.

SparklyGothKat · 12/11/2006 22:12

I was told the same as Chattee.

chatee · 12/11/2006 22:19

dd is in year2 atm and the discussion took place about a month ago wrt year2 sats and more importantly year6 sats...
atm school are still encouraging dd to do most of her work written, but she does have a lsa(not full time...very p/t really)who will scribe when she feels that dd really has reached her limit...
wrt spellings(weekly testing has only started this year)and verbally dd will reguarly get 12/12 but written down is a totally different story as she loses her level of concentration as she struggles to write the letters(and remember which way round they should be)
next year will be an interesting year(when she is in the juniors).....i am pushing for more support in terms of lsa and possibly it support but with our lea, school are not holding their breath

Original poster

BumMum · 12/11/2006 22:19

My DD's school is bloody useless... they spent the first 3 years saying " she can't do this.. she can't do that" I asked if she could be dyspraxic and they said NO... because she could use a ruler!! and she could put her earings in!!
Anyway her diagnosis is all written down now on paper and I still feel that I'm fighting her corner!

They've taken away her IEP because they didn't think she needed it and that she was doing the same work as the other children (the low set)but didn't suggest anything to help her social skills!
I just feel so exhausted fighting for everything for her... I feel they just fob me off....

This is her last year and I just hope her secondary school is more on the ball...

OP posts:

chatee · 12/11/2006 22:21

when did they take away her iep??

the end of last summer by any chance?

SparklyGothKat · 12/11/2006 22:23

DS' new school have taken him off SA+ and IEPs. I did question it, but they said that he doesn't need it.

Original poster

BumMum · 12/11/2006 22:25

Yes chatee... As far as I know she didn't have on this term (as in year 6)

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SparklyGothKat · 12/11/2006 22:27

Chatee, is there something going down with IEPs?? Should I be arguing with the school??

Original poster

BumMum · 12/11/2006 22:30

chatee ... come back...
you can't say that and disapear...

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chatee · 12/11/2006 22:32

sorry but(and i find this really wrong)many schools have had to remove children from their special needs register and have told parents that their child no longer needs an iep because of a new system brought in (in order for the school to get extra funding/help for the child)they now have to fill in a huge standard portfolio (can't remember the name)that takes so long that the senco just can not physically have the time to complete on every child that just needs a little extra help......the senco at my dd's school took 4 hours to complete the paperwork for my dd(and that didn't include the time it took her to complete the assessments on my dd(some of which were not really needed for my dd's condition but had to be filled in)or the assessment would be returned by the lea....

SparklyGothKat · 12/11/2006 22:32

yes come back Chatee!!!

SparklyGothKat · 12/11/2006 22:35

OMG!! Thats why!!! I dod question it as he has outside support (physio, OT, doctors etc) and he does struggle with his writing so he should still be on it!!
Thank god we are going through the statementing process for dd1 atm, or they might have taken her off it too.....

Original poster

BumMum · 12/11/2006 22:36

but what about if they are on school action +.. won't the EP or some one ask the school what help they have in place for the child...

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chatee · 12/11/2006 22:38

they will have to do the paper work if your dd is being assessed for a statement as it forms part of the annual review package.....
from my knowledge of your postings on mn(and i have chatted to you before and my dd i think is similar to your ds)i would not be happy if my dd did not have an iep......

SparklyGothKat · 12/11/2006 22:39

I wondered that, what if the school need some more equiment from the disability centre? and the school say 'oh he isn't on SA+ or IEPs anymore' surely they won't get any help

SparklyGothKat · 12/11/2006 22:40

Sorry Bummum, Am helping myself on your thread

chatee · 12/11/2006 22:41

I feel they just fob me off....copied from your post BumMum on Sunday, 12 November, 2006 10:19:33 PM....
and that's what happens...
disgusting isn't it

Original poster

BumMum · 12/11/2006 22:42

crack on SparklyGothKat

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SparklyGothKat · 12/11/2006 22:43

Right I am going to talk to the SenCo tomorrow, they can put him back on SA+ and IEPs.

Original poster

BumMum · 12/11/2006 22:45

I thought SA+ was when outside agencies were involved.... they can't stop them comming in can they! so they must still be on them... thats unless they have abbolished them as well...

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