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

ADHD: please help me prepare for meeting with SENCO

4 replies

Chiwawa · 04/11/2022 18:32

My son has a recent diagnosis of ADHD after a troubled start at school. He is Y8. His main difficulties are around maintaining concentration, impulsive behaviour (doing silly things without considering consequences), being fidgety and being easily distracted. He has social issues with maintaining friendships and mild anxiety (was more pronounced last year, has improved). School is stressful for him and us and seems to get worse and worse the further in the term we get.

I am meeting the SENCO to discuss next steps post-diagnosis. What should I be asking for? I have mentioned a support plan and a pupil passport - are these the right thing to be asking for and are these things that are agreed together between school and the parents? I feel my son needs: all teachers to be aware of his diagnosis and so consistent support in class for him, support for transitions (settling down at start of lesson), a time out card/movement breaks permitted, allowed to doodle in a controlled way (not punished for it), more positive reinforcement of behaviours instead of just negatives, some allowance for homework - if we say we have tried to do it then don't punish him if he doesn't complete it and don't punish him for general forgetfulness/disorganisation. Just basically want the school to back off with the petty punishments for a bit so we can try to get him back on track really.

Does this sound like a reasonable ask? At what point do I need to start thinking about a EHCP? I find the whole process utterly confusing.

OP posts:
ittakes2 · 05/11/2022 07:24

That all sounds right have you thought about medIcation?

Chiwawa · 05/11/2022 13:14

We initially want to see if better support from the school will produce positive results but the more I research the more open I am becoming to medication.

OP posts:
LaGioconda · 06/11/2022 08:41

It could be worth arranging an educational psychology assessment which will give you an informed view of what your child needs.

SuperSue77 · 06/11/2022 22:44

Just want to say this is a really helpful thread as I am about to go and speak to my son’s SENCO about his recent ADHD diagnosis. We are also awaiting an appt for medication assessment, from what I have heard from other parents it could be a game changer. Could- I know it doesn’t work for all. Your description of your son’s behaviours sounds just like mine! Good luck with it 🤞

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