Disappointing ADHD/SEND support at school

[Fairywings1]

My son is 8 years old in year 4, and was identified as SEND 2 years ago. For the last 2 years I feel he has had inadequate support. I had a parents teacher consultation, and was told he is where he needs to be for reading, and Maths but he is very behind when it comes to writing, and ‘big writes’ and he struggles to keep up with the pace of the class. I had asked teacher if he could get additional time to complete this work and was told, ‘if I don’t mind him missing his break or geography or history, not sure if he enjoys these lessons?’ Which was very disappointing attitude from SENCo teacher.

I had to push for him to join a small group intervention to help with his hand writing, which he has been attending since January, now I’ve just been told from his class teacher that he is going to be taken out of this group due to him not being where he needs to be and the other children are advancing and he is holding back their progress. I feel he needs this support more than ever and he’s just being kicked out of this group. I’m devastated for him that he just now has to struggle on on his own.

What is the point of identifying him as a SEND pupil if they are not supporting him where he desperately needs this help so he doesn’t fall further behind?

My son is shy and introverted and struggles to ask for help and my heart breaks that he has just been ejected from this group just because as he’s not progressing at the same pace as the other pupils.

The teacher and SENCo are aware I am going through a ADHD referral for him, as it is suspected he has attention deficit disorder, side as he tends to drift into his own world.

How can I get the school to work with me to support him, do I need to put a complaint in the the headteacher as I feel the SENCo teacher is not at all supportive. I’m very frustrated and want him to enjoy school not struggle on his own when he cannot keep up with the pace and workload.

Any advice please

Can I apply for an EHCP or is it the school that does this? I was told you can only get this if your child is 2 years behind, not sure if he is but he definitely needs more support at school. Possibly 2 years behind with his hand writing but not other subjects.

You can request an EHCNA yourself. On their website, IPSEA has a model letter you can use. DC don’t not have to be 2+ years behind. That is a myth. Academically able DC can have EHCPs.

The first test to focus on is that for an EHCNA. It is relatively low - a) has or may have SEN, and b) may need special educational provision to be made via an EHCP. Anything else is unlawful.

You should ask. I used to be a SEND governor at a primary school and we would put 1:1 and small group interventions into place for every pupil not making expected progress. We used Nessy fingers and similar programs for pupils who didn't make expected progress in writing. It's pretty bad for a school if they can't document progress, so most schools usually try everything they can, and typing programs have good results. We could only put it on before school though, as we needed a teacher to do a 1:1, so often pupils didn't turn up and parents protested. It was pretty common within our LA to do that, though, so I would definitely ask for it. None of the children we offered it to had an EHCP. Schools can also get a log in for pupils to practice at home.

How long ago were you a governor? The current financial climate is very different to even a few years ago. In the current climate, 1-2hrs per week of touch typing programme without an EHCP is highly unlikely. By all means ask, but it is highly unlikely. Many schools cannot provide 1:1 without an EHCP either.

Have you considered dysgraphia? If hes really not making progress that might be why?

Hello thanks for your input, I took my DS to the doctors over a week ago and she did suggest it could be dyspraxia or even dyslexia, these tests need to be requested through the school through education psychology assessment. To date the school has not been helpful of supportive of my son, he has been on the SEND register for 3 years now and just before the end of the Easter term we had a SEND consultation with SEND inclusion manager, she did not know that DS had been taken out of the handwriting intervention group, she asked me did I want him to continue? She asked me what DS is struggling with, this was a pre arranged consultation, I’m very disappointed, I have a appointment booked with head teacher but if I’m honest I feel the school is not doing enough to support my son and he’s educational needs.

Im about to email my ds school to ask for a meeting with senco etc. Likely we will be in the sen system ourselves. Ds is on sen register from p1 (last year).

EPs can’t diagnose dyspraxia/DCD.

With the current financial situation and pressure on EP time, an EP assessment via the school or LA is unlikely outwith the EHCNA process. And even then, LAs often say their LAs don’t ’diagnose’ dyslexia now - shouldn’t happen but does.

So what do I do to help DS? I tried through the docs as I feel school are not supportive and now it’s looks like I have to go through the school but they don’t seem to help. Do I change schools? Do I apply for a EHCNA myself? Im completely ignorant to these things and I feel like I’m going in circles, all I want is my son not to struggle and get the support he needs.

I would:

1. Request an EHCNA yourself. On their website, IPSEA has a model letter you can use. Appeal if the LA refuse to assess or refuse to issue.
2. Request a referral to paeds. The school &/or GP should be able to. Don’t take the GP’s word that it needs to be via school. Sometimes GPs say this even if they can refer. If you google, you might be able to find who can refer in your area.
3. Look at a referral to OT. In some areas, you can self refer. If you can’t in your area, the GP or school will be able to. Again, if you google, you might be able to find who can refer in your area. Some areas have an OT drop in service.
4. Remind the school they must make their best endeavours to meet DS’s SEN and they must make reasonable adjustments. Follow up all verbal conversations with emails so you have a paper trail as evidence.
5. If your area still has a specialist teaching service, you could request the school approaches them for their input.

Personally, I wouldn’t move to another school at this point. It isn’t lawful, but LAs sometimes use a recent move as a reason to refuse to assess/issue. They say DC need time to settle. It is unlawful, but it still takes time to challenge the decision.

Thank you so much for this advice, I spoke to the headmaster and I felt he was minimising my sons needs but there have been some provisions put in place to help him, such as touch type, which has made me feel better. I will request a EHCNA and have asked the school for a psychological assessment I’m waiting for them to get back to me, if they say no I will contact my gp to request it. Thank you so much for your help.

My sister had the same problem.She ended up dropping the school at the age of 16..

When you say you have requested a psychological assessment from the school, what do you mean? If you mean an educational psychologist assessment, with the current financial situation and pressure on EP time, that is unlikely via the school or LA outwith the EHCP process. GPs can’t just refer to EPs either.

Or do you mean you have asked for a referral to CAMHS?

Sorry yes meant to put an educational psychologist assessment , this was what my doctor asked me to request from the school in order to see if my son has dyspraxia or any other underlying issues that is effecting his handwriting as it’s not improving. The school hasn’t responded to my email yet. So you think this won’t be possible and I should request the EHCNA first?

Although an EP assessment is a good idea and they can comment on the difficulties associated with dyspraxia/DCD, EPs don’t diagnose dyspraxia/DCD.

In the current climate, it is unlikely you will get an EP assessment via school or the LA outwith the EHCNA process I’m afraid. You have nothing to lose by asking, but I wouldn’t delay the EHCNA request.