SEN Child demoralised by school

[MoreDataPls]

DS almost 13 about to go into Y9. Recent diagnosis of ADHD and ADD. Not dyslexic as per assessment at school when he was aged 9. Top set maths. Bottom set everything else. Writing illegible. Will not pick up a book. Struggle to get him to do homework. Uses a laptop at school but gets very little documented as struggles to multitask. Never uses a single piece of punctuation in any typed or written work but after completing the work is capable of going back through the work and adding punctuation but only when prompted to do so. End of term tests, apart from maths was given lowest grades, however we sat together and did a lot of revision and he knows the subjects if you ask a question. Every day he gets negative points for not listening/following instructions/poor attitude which just demoralises him as he ends up with lunchtime detentions. School (outstanding state) I feel have written him off as (in their words) he’s capable as he answers questions in class but not achieving just yet. SENCO says she needs to focus on children with very complex additional needs!!!! No EHCP school say its too late to apply and he wont get one. He no longer wants to attend school. He feels teachers are unfair on him and he's stupid (his words). He is bright, funny, kind and caring but is getting angry and insular as school progresses. I’m getting to end of tether as how I can support and motivate my child to stick with school and help him achieve his potential without damaging my relationship with him and his mental health. Desperately seeking any hints or tips to support my child. Thank you.

No EHCP school say its too late to apply and he wont get one.

Ignore this. Request an EHCNA. It isn’t too late. You may have to appeal but you can get an EHCP for DS.

Request another meeting with the SENCO. Remind them they must make their best endeavours to meet DS’s SEN and they must make reasonable adjustments.

What is the content of DS’s work like when someone scribes for him? Has he tried speech to text software? Did DS have access arrangements for the tests?

Has DS had ed psych, OT and SALT assessments?

If DS is unable to attend school because of his MH, you could request alternative provision.

Thank you so much for this. I had to Google what these things are but have found a form to request an EHCNA, so I’ll get on with that today. He has not had an ed psych, OT and SALT assessments. I expect I would need to engage these services privately?

If I scribe for him, he does produce good work, although he quickly looses interest and so doesn’t produce much quantity. He also uses speak to text software for some of his homework. He doesn’t have a scribe at school or get any extra support for exams as school do not screen for this until end of Year 9.
The only thing that currently keeps him at school is that as H and I work full time, he knows he needs to be in a safe place, hence he has to attend school as we have no other family around.
Thanks once again for the advice.

IPSEA is a charity who supports parents of DC with SEN. On their website, they have a model letter you can use to request an EHCNA.

You don’t need to pay privately for ed psych, OT and SALT at this stage. If you are requesting an EHCNA and the LA agree to assess, they can be part of the EHCNA.

The school should be providing adjustments for exams. This is something you should raise with the SENCO again.

'Too late for ehcp'

DD got one in y12.

They probably don't screen before end y9 because tests time out for GCSE purposes, bit that's ridiculous they are leaving him to fail rather than put adjustments in place.

If that is the case, the school needs reminding of the JCQ guidance, which states:

“Access arrangements/reasonable adjustments should be processed at the start of the course. Schools, for example, should be able to process applications at the start of or during the first year of a two-year GCSE course having firmly established a picture of need and normal way of working during Years 7 to 9.”

And

“Effective screening and monitoring systems during Years 7 to 9 will enable the SENCo to provide sufficiently robust evidence of need. School tests might
identify those candidates who need to be assessed for access arrangements/
reasonable adjustments.”

And tests giving standardised scores aren’t relevant to OP’s DS because if he needs extra time an application should not be made under the learning difficulties criteria/using a Form 8.