Transition to secondary school

[LionAndEmperor]

Hi all, first time poster here.
My son is in year 6 at primary, he has dyslexia, and has been on the SEN register for a few years now.
We're in the process of getting an extended plan for him.
He'll be moving to secondary school in September, and I've requested a meeting with the secondary school SENco to discuss his individual needs and his transition arrangements. This has been refused.
There is a group presentation for parents of children with SEN, where the SENco will do a "brief presentation" and where parents can 'meet other parents of children with SEN'. I don't really feel this is advantageous and I really would like to discuss individual needs rather than go to a catch-all group presentation.
Any thoughts most welcom.

Some schools do have group meetings, which can be helpful for general matters, but it should be in addition to individual contact. If the SENCO won’t arrange a meeting, will they (or the HOY or the tutor when known) speak to you on the phone or via email? I would make sure the primary SENCO passes information on.

Hmmm. That's not great. Is this your choice of school? Are you happy with it? It may be that they have a very high number of DC with additional learning needs starting and the Senco feels they're not able to offer individual meetings to all the new starters.

Has your DS been offered any additional transition days? They should be offering that at the very least.

I have heard of schools not really wanting to engage with parents before their DCs start which I personally feel is counterproductive. Surely it's best for all concerned to know what the triggers/concerns are.

When you say you've applied for an 'extended plan' for him - do you mean an EHCP? Where are you with that? Do ensure that the local authority stick to the legal timeframes.

Thanks. Yes it's our choice of school, but mainly because his brother (2 school years ahead) is also there and we wouldn't split them up.
The 'extended plan' is a kind of a 'light' version of an EHCP which is specific to our area.
Regarding the group meeting, I really don't see the point of it - every child has individual needs, and I don't really have any particular interest in meeting other parents of children with SEN, as they will undoubtedly have very different needs to my son. I also feel it's a breach of confidentiality - I'm not happy discussing my son's situation with complete strangers, I think this should be with the SENco alone (and other school staff of course)

Request an EHCNA yourself. Local LA versions of support plans are not statutory and carry no legal weight. The only way of guaranteeing support is via an EHCP.

Every child has individual needs, but there are things that are relevant to more than just one pupil. For example, the school’s ordinarily available provision, extra transition visits, who to contact with issues, friendship worries. So the group meetings can cover the things relevant to all/a proportion of DC with SEN with less of a time burden on the SENCO (particularly important in schools at the moment). As I said, it should be in addition to individual contact, but, for many, it can be helpful. If you won’t find it helpful you don’t have to attend or could attend but not discuss DS’s difficulties.

I imagine the meeting will be to cover general things such as if there are places for DC to go if they're struggling at lunch times, are there any dispensations around uniform, homework. Who to contact with issues etc.

There may well be issues that crossover for a lot of the parents so I can see why they're offering a general meeting.

If they're refusing to meet with you, you could send the Senco an email outlining your concerns and questions so that at least you're starting a paper trail.

I can't comment on this 'light' plan but does it carry any legal weight? Does the school need to abide by it by law?

thanks - but I don't think he'll qualify for an EHCP plan.

If receiving SEN Support isn’t enough, and the fact you are getting an “extended plan” (aka a local non-statutory plan designed to fob parents off) suggests it isn’t, then DS meets the threshold for an EHCNA.

I'm not sure why you think your DS wouldn't qualify for an EHCP but I know of DC in grammar schools with EHCPs and some who have got 9s at GCSE. It's not 'just' about academic ability. They have been able to achieve academically because they have EHCPs which meet their needs and support them with their barriers to learning.

Sadly some local authorities spout all kinds of unlawful things like a DC has to be 'two years behind' to qualify or have serious behavioural issues.
The legal test to meet for an EHCP assessment is really quite low. There's some good info here:
https://www.ipsea.org.uk/asking-for-an-ehc-needs-assessment

I was told my DS would never get an EHCP by the Senco at the time. I ended up doing it myself as I knew he would never cope in secondary school without one.

What additional support is this 'extended plan' supposed to offer? If the Senco of your Ds's new secondary won't even meet with you before he starts to discuss it, it sounds like not much.

thanks for your detailed answer, I really appreciate it.
I thought he wouldn't qualify for an EHCP because, although his dyslexia is quite severe, he does cope very well. And because one of the things I read was that the EHCP is only given if the school isn't able to meet his needs. Currently they are meeting his needs (our current school's sen provision is excellent), and he's come along in leaps and bounds in the last couple of years, since his diagnosis.
However I will speak to our SENco next week about possibly doing an EHCP.
Again, all advice has been much appreciated!

The threshold for an EHCNA is a) has or may have SEN, and b) may need SEN provision to be made via an EHCP. Any EHCNA request now should consider the transition to secondary and the support DS will need in Y7. If DS’s needs are only being met now by a primary that is going above and beyond providing support not otherwise typically available in MS an EHCNA is still possible. The fact an ‘extended plan’ is needed suggests DS’s needs are beyond provision ordinarily available at a SEN support level and he meets the legal threshold for an EHCNA.

If the SENCO says an EHCP isn’t necessary or DS won’t get one don’t be put off requesting an EHCNA. Unfortunately, some schools incorrectly tell parents their Dc doesn’t need or won’t get an EHCP.

I would also caution that it could take up to two years to get an EHCP if the local authority refuses to assess and then refuses to issue - so that's something to keep in mind.

I would start keeping a diary of any difficulties your DS has at school and what the triggers were. I would also start a paper trail by putting everything in writing/emails to both his primary and secondary school.

My DS just about managed to cope in primary as it was one classroom, one group of classmates and his teachers were fantastic. He also had full time support. So that is a LOT of scaffolding! Secondary school is a huge step up and the DC are expected to be a lot more independent from the get go.

I am so pleased to hear that your DS has made such good progress though. Long may it continue.