Added to SEN register in YR?!

[Donm999]

Interested to get some opinions…

DD is in Year R. She’s a very sensitive girl, has always been quite emotional, perfectionist, and can get easily overwhelmed. Lots of emotional meltdowns in preschool (and at home) but these lessened over time. Don’t find her hugely difficult to manage. Will add, the ‘meltdowns’ are of the crying type, nothing aggressive or violent!

YR teacher spoke with me in first term to mention similar to above in school. Discussed possible strategies etc.

Was asked to come in for a meeting today and have been told they are adding her to the SEN register. This is around her needing support/direction for her self regulation, and also following instructions at times. No other concerns, at or exceeding expectations in all other areas.

I’m a bit taken aback; this feels really early (she’s had 1.5 terms in a school!) to be putting her on SEN just for one area? Bearing in mind all children are different, and develop differently, especially when they are so young.

Curious to hear of other similar experiences…!

It’s not too early and sounds like it is the correct decision. Being on the SEN register isn’t something negative. It is brilliant the school is being proactive, recognising DD’s needs and providing support.

My DD bounced on and off SEN registers throughout school.
It is a good thing they are recognising she has some additional needs right now and are going to address them / support her.

It doesn’t mean she is on it forever. All it really means is that they are keeping a close eye on her and making really sure that any needs she has are being met. Early intervention can prevent (greater) issues down the line. So what might appear mild now, if the correct support is given, might stay that way or go away rather than becoming something that requires much more support in the future. The school sound brilliant.

Thanks - it’s interesting to hear positive takes on it.

I just felt a bit blindsided to be honest - usually you would only add a child to the SEN register this early if the needs were very high. Can’t tell if DDs school have a lower threshold than others, or if DDs needs are much higher than I understood them to be.

usually you would only add a child to the SEN register this early if the needs were very high.

This isn’t the case.

Sorry that you felt blindsided, but I agree with the other posters - this is a good thing, the school has recognised that your dd has some needs that require extra support and are acting on it.

I would also mention your comment Don’t find her hugely difficult to manage - maybe she struggles more at school than you see at home?

I think that’s kind of the bit that blindsided us; we knew she was having sone emotional moments, but it absolutely wasn’t made clear that these were at a level where SEN provision was needing to be made for her. We now don’t know if we’ve been under concerned or if the school are being overly cautious putting her on SEN this early. Hate to think that she’s potentially so distressed/ struggling through the day; school is absolutely a very different environment to home.

Think we’re going to ask for a follow up meeting with the teacher and also SENCo. Was too busy processing to be able to ask the questions I needed to yesterday. Just really need to understand what this looks like day to day as feel we had one view of things and now don’t know that it’s accurate! If she needs the support, she needs the support. We’ve been happily thinking it’s all ok, and she just needed some empathetic care and some more time to settle, but maybe we need to be upping our concern level and supporting her more at home too.

Just to be really clear, in case you aren't, the SEN register is kind of the first step in terms of identifying additional support. It is very different from formal EHCPs which is for children with considerable needs.