advice on what i can do for my son with SEN

[kathy79]

Hi,
I currently have a 9 year old son really struggling at school and finding it unbearable resulting in numerous sensory issues being exagerated for which he is seeing an occuaptional therapist. He has a referal to CAMHS from his consultant at the hospital for aspergers syndrome although i havent recieved the appointment yet and he has mild dyspraxia.He suffers from regular bouts of diareaha for no apparent reason, regular headaches and nosebleeds. The explanation is stress by gp and consultant. I have been into the school almost constantly complaining that he is really not coping as he bottles everything up then its hell to pay at home later on.They insist that everything is being done and he is making progress.He has had an assesment done last year by senco and is on school action plus plan. His current levels are Reading 2c Writing 2b Maths 2a. If anyone has any advice please dont hesitate, as i am seriously contemplating moving him to a better school.

Would you consider requesting statutory assessment to get a statement to give him more 1 to 1 support? You can request this, you don't need to wait for the school. Sounds like he could do with it.

What sort of provision is the SA+ giving him? Do you get regular IEPs with SMART targets regularly reviewed?

Have you considered trying gluten free and/or casein free diet? May help stomach probs! Old threads on here re Sunderland Test. Search for more info.

HTH for a start.

Thanks EllenJane1 for your help and advice.Elliot had a learning support assesment done in school on the 9/6/2010. I had the meeting with the LSS Teaching assistant regarding the assesment the 26th september 2010 when i was given the first I.E.P i have seen so far stating that he was on the school action +.I have had no futher contact regarding his I.E.P or a review of the assesment that had been done.On his i.e.p they have set him targets of reading and spelling 12 new high frequency words, avoid reversals of p/q and to remember logical sequences of 6 objects or numbers through visual patterns.The majority of this provision is in class and he has 1 1to1 lesson once a week on a tuesday with another teacher.
To give you an idea of his reading ability he can only read confidently 46 words of all year 1 and 2(90) high frequency words. He suffers from visual confusion and does a lot of guessing.He struggles to keep up in class constantly cannot read of board properly or read what he has copied from boardwork.
Many Thanks for the tip with diet i will research further as we have huge problems in this area.

Your learning support assessment was for support to be given under SA+? If he is not making satisfactory progress then the next stage is statutory assessment for a Statement which could give him lots more support.

I think it would be a good idea for you to read up the Special educational needs Code of Practice which is the guidance to LAs on the law concerning SEN. You can google it, sorry I'm on my phone so can't link. LAs don't generally advertise it's existence but it is essential reading to ensure you know your rights. The new green paper from the coalition is a long way from becoming law.

This should give you a lot more knowledge. Always better to battle from a position of strength.

Many thanks again.

Will start reading up, because things cannot continue the way they are!

Hi, can't stop - just thought it might help if I added the SENCOP link for you. Its here

I always recommend a read through the Direct Gov SEN website as well, as it explains the how the process should work in straightforward terms.

Sorry I have to go to bed now, but will check back tomorrow.

kathy

You certainly need to educate yourself because you can otherwise end up being given the run around. You are your child's best - and only - advocate.

IEP on here also means "Individual Empty Promise".

IEPs also should be reviewed and with you present as well termly so you should have an up to date one. It means very little if there is no real funding behind it. Same with school action plus, fine in theory but its not legally binding (unlike a Statement) and the support offered on it can vary an awful lot in quality.

I would apply for a Statement asap from the LEA in question and move your son to another school. Even with a statement in place it does not look like they are willing or able to help him. What they have done to date is just not meeting his additional support needs.

www.ipsea.org.uk is a good website re the statementing process and there are model letters on there you can use.

Hi many thanks for the reply it was very useful to know that there are people who know what to do. Unfortunatley like you say what they have proposed to do and what they are actually doing are 2 different things.My son had another big blow up this morning and was really upset as he really didint want to go to school and yet another nosebleed.
I will now be looking for a new school and go down the statementing route.
Many thanks for your help