HELP!! Meeting with school

[rebl]

I'm very new to this game of school and I don't want to get it wrong at the start!

I've received a letter from school today inviting me to a meeting with the headteacher, class teacher (who is also the SENCO) and the head of the sensory imparement service (not ds's ToD).This is to discuss the "parent/school partnership work to support dsvin class".

Firstly I think the time is a bit odd (8pm) is that likely to be a typo or correct?

Secondly, why is the head of service going to this and not the ToD (although I know the ToD is a waste of space so maybe I shouldn't complain!).

Thirdly, what exactly is this meeting about? If its about discussing the partnership shouldn't ALL the partners be at least invited (so the dietician and the incontinence team as well, not just the deaf team)? Or are they only interested in discussing purely educational aspects of his support (hence no need to invite the others)?

Today I was told to write in his reading book and that we would not be given a home/school communication book. I do have a slight issue with this but I don't really want to rock the boat early on and so I will write in the reading book until they work out that maybe this isn't the best place!

I'm trying to draft what to write back to the school in response to the letter and I don't want to screw it up and come across as unresonable or anything like that. So how does this read?

Thank you for inviting us to the meeting on Monday. We are delighted that you have been able to provide this opportunity to discuss supporting ds. We are not entirely sure what the meeting is about and are wondering if we should invite the other partners in ds's case (incontinence team and dietician) or whether this is a purely educational discussion. Please can you also confirm the time of 8pm as stated in the letter.

So, good or bad to be writting in his reading book?

ds in class not dsvin class.

I agree 8pm does sound a bit of an odd time. Could be a lot of reasons why the ToD isn't attending I suppose - perhaps the Head of dept is available and job remit covers this kind of meeting?

Re letter, I would be tempted to take a bit more control. I know you don't want to appear unreasonable but you don't want to end up being taken by surprise if the suddenly start raising issues that really need input from the services you mention.

so something like "We are delighted that you have been able to provide this opportunity to discuss supporting ds. Please could you clarify the time as the letter states 8pm. Once we have your confirmation, we shall invite a member of the incontinence team and the dietician involved with [DS name] care to the meeting. This is to ensure that all matters arising can be discussed in full and dealt with appropriately."

If they agreed to doing a communication book it seems a bit early to have given up on it. I think I would bring it up at the meeting.

Thank you PolarEyes. That is more what I was after but everytime I wrote it stronger it was too strong. I guess I'll get used to it.

I thought that about the communication book but again I don't know the protocol and I don't want to upset them just yet!

you could be something about having everyone there is more efficient for them as well to soften it a bit iykwim.

"We are conscious that the head teacher and class teacher have numerous other responsibilities beyond our DS. we shall therefore invite a member of the incontinence team and the dietician involved with [DS name] care to the meeting. This is to ensure that all matters arising can be discussed in full and dealt with appropriately and efficiently."

My concern about just using the reading book is that it could turn into just the home part e.g. the school only writing in it to respond to your comments rather than proactively recording things in there IYGWIM?

Thats my concern about the reading book as well. I'm going to by an academic diary at the weekend and take it in on Monday to the meeting and say that I would like to keep his reading book just for reading.

Have you thought about asking for an agenda for the meeting or for copies of any reports they will be writing and presenting on monday? It's not nice to get things sprung on you like this, don't be pushed into agreeing anything on the night, it's perfectly acceptable to ask for thinking time. Otoh they could just want to see you to find out how the settling in is going, would have been nice to let you know the reason though.

just in case you haven't already got it SEN code of practice is a useful resource to batter them over the head with