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SEN

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

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Original poster

Enlising the gps help for ds. Do I take him to appointment or leave him home when I discuss his problems in depth?

10 replies

bunny3 · 01/02/2009 16:52

title says it all really. Ds is 8 and in Y4. School have been very concerned about him since Reception and despite assessments and SA+ he continues to struggle. I want to speak to the gp about it with a view to yet another referral and I will need to discuss his problems in depth. He is not aware of how concerned we are or of the seriousness of his problems and it would be easier to discuss hem freely without him listening. Will this be ok or does the gp expect ds to attend too?

(appt 7.40am so cant ring to check)

OP posts:

smartiejake · 01/02/2009 16:54

I would leave him behind and if the doctor wants to see him you can make another appointment and take him with you. I would imagine it won't do his self esteem much good to hear adults talking about him especially if he is not that aware of how serious his problems are.

Original poster

bunny3 · 01/02/2009 16:59

smartiejake, that's what I am worried about. He seems to think he is doing so well at school. The thing is his teacher has now started expressing concerns that ds wont cope in Y5 and I really need to get some help for him. Will the gp expect ds to be with me?

OP posts:

WedgiesMum · 01/02/2009 17:10

No GP won't expect it at I would think. You are looking to your GP referring you on to the developmental paed for some kind of assessment by the sound of it and there are no observations of your DS your GP can make at the appointment are there? Just go and express your concerns ask for a referral and see from there. You have enough on your mind without worrying about taking DS and what he will think, don't make it harder on yourself, you are doing the right thing!

Original poster

bunny3 · 01/02/2009 17:17

Thank you for that. What an encouraging message. Ds has already been referred to developmental paeds 2X but no diagnosis has been made. Both of those referrals were made through the school. I want to see what the gp can offer now.

OP posts:

WedgiesMum · 01/02/2009 17:23

Oh and write notes of everything you are concerned about - even the little stuff, it can all be very important, and you won't forget what you wanted to say and kick yourself later. don't take no for an answer or be fobbed off - you are your DS's greatest advocate in this.

Just as an aside but have school asked the Ed Psych in to see him? Or any of the other support services they can tap into? Sorry to be nosey but what are they worried about? Are there any other agencies you could ask school/the GP to refer you to Like CAMHS??

Original poster

bunny3 · 01/02/2009 17:31

We have had all sorts of referrals - he has been seen by the EP three times. In Reception she referred him to a Paed but no diagnosis was made, in year 3 another PE observed him and another referral made but no diagnosis. His teacher is concerned that there is now way he will cope in Y5. I dont want him held back a year, it will be devestating for him. I am feeling now that we are running out of time and options and noone can help him. That si why I am trying the gp.

OP posts:

WedgiesMum · 01/02/2009 17:37

Have they thought of applying for a statement for him?? Getting him some one to one help? The teacher should be able to differentiate the work so that he is doing similar work but at his own capability, but if he had a one to one then they would be able him to cope within a Y5 environment. You are right not to want him held back - he needs support to cope with it and the school should be looking into ways of facilitating this. You keep puching for help - unfortunately with kids with any kind of SN it often takes a lot of pushing before things happen.

Good luck xx

LIZS · 01/02/2009 17:43

Do you have any letters, reports or iep etc that you can take as "evidence" . He may want to see him separately otherwise. Can you not go back to one fo the paeds ?

Original poster

bunny3 · 01/02/2009 21:04

Back at last!!

Lizs, I have a box of paperwork, I will go through it and take out the most relevant stuff to show the gp. I am hoping she might have some ideas about who to refer him to. The school seem a bit clueless at the moment. The are adamant that he is SN but dont seem to know how to help.

WM, re a statement, the school are gathering all the info/reports to apply for a statement. However, when ds was assessed last term, the paed said he wouldnt be given a statement as his problems werent severe enough. The school say the only way ds can function is with constant 1:1 and they are unable to provide it without a statement. I dont really know which way to turn now.

OP posts:

WedgiesMum · 02/02/2009 15:46

How did it go??

And as for saying he is not 'severe' enough to get one that is just a typical fob off IME. If school do not feel he can cope alone then he is in need of 1 to 1 help and that's just it! And the paed doesn't decide who gets a statement or the criteria that is your Local Authority. You need to push school hard to get this going as it can take ages to come through!

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