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SN children

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Original poster

My daughter is starting Ballet lessoms next week, should I let the teacher know she has SEN's?

47 replies

mummyloveslucy · 14/05/2011 20:42

Hi, my 6 year old daughter has a developmental delay of 2-3 years. She has poor speech and language skills, retained refexes that make balance and co-ordination difficult for her and she finds it hard to understand and process what is being said to her.
You would never be able to tell by looking at her, she has an almost hoity look about her. People have often commented that she "looks so intellegent" and I know what they mean, this must sound strange, you'd have to meet her.
I'd hate for the teacher to think she was putting it on and being awkward. That would really start things off on the wrong foot.
I have already phoned to ask what day it's on but didn't mention that she has SEN's. Do you think I should phone before she goes and let her know, or do you think it's irrelevant? The only problems she may have are understanding what she's saying, or my DD not understanding what she has to do, or being unable to do it.
I'm hoping it'll help with her co-ordination and ballance and hopefully she'll have fun and make some friends.

OP posts:

EllenJaneisnotmyname · 15/05/2011 18:48

Hi Lougle, I was concerned that the OP sounded like she would find it hard to mention any SN at all to the dance teacher. I thought that if she had some way of talking about it without getting too upset, down playing it would be better than ignoring it completely. In time, if her DD needs more support, I'm sure the OP will discuss it again. Sometimes, gently gently catchee monkey.

dixiechick1975 · 15/05/2011 23:23

Fascinating info about RAD DeWe.

My 5 yr old was born without her arm below elbow and dances with a cosmetic prosthesis. She goes to a ballet class following RAD. Think her first proper exam will be in November this year.

Do you have a link to the change to the RAD marking or a contact?

Lougle · 16/05/2011 00:14

Hi EllenJane,

MLL has posted for a number of years about her DD. A lovely girl with clearly significant and growing needs.

That was my only reason for posting as I did.

EllenJaneisnotmyname · 16/05/2011 00:41

Fair enough, Lougle.

madwomanintheattic · 16/05/2011 17:00

mll, definitely tell her, yes. when we were looking for a ballet class for dd2, i called a lot of schools and discussed her needs with the dance teachers to make sure i was getting the right vibe.

dd2 has cp and has been taking ballet for 3 years now. this year she also started musical theatre and loves it. she won't take exams, but takes part in the recitals/ end of year show.

when she started, she couldn't stand without holding on to something (she could stay upright through momentum lol) but she has no lds. physio have loved the positive effects to her balance and stability.

now she wants to learn to tap dance. i have compromised and told her we can get a pair of second hand taps and a sheet of plywood for the garage. her sister can teach her. i still suspect that balancing on one leg is going to be a major issue...

anyway and glad to hear the rad are slowly becoming more inclusive. i honestly wouldn't expect them to ever change so that dd2 could take exams, though. she loves to dance, and has a complete ball, but her muscle tone means her body will always move in a less controlled way.

and she didn't fall over in any of the six dances of three nights of show! yay! (she did fall over in the dress rehearsal, but we're ignoring that. she was up again quicker than a flash - i was amazed )

hope lucy has as much fun as dd2 does, mml xx

DeWe · 16/05/2011 20:07

Dixiechick, I don't have a link. The first thing I knew about it was dd2's teacher came out of ballet to tell me "Good news that dd2 can now do the exams and won't be marked down." I was a bit as it hadn't occurred to me that she could possibly be marked down.
Just looked on their website to see if it's obvious and it isn't, though in their "Equal opportunities" section it says they "will not create unnecessary barriers to achievement", which I would have thought you could argue insisting on a prosthesis would do.
But dd2 did get a high merit (70 marks) having only used a prosthesis for ballet for 2 terms previously so they must be marking fairly.
Are you a member of REACH? If so then Sue may have more information as she told me that it was one thing Reach had been poking for years.
Madwoman, would your dd fit in size 13 tap shoes? If so I can send you ours. Due to dd1 and dd2 fitting in the same shoe size (grr) I have two to pass on.

DeWe · 16/05/2011 20:15

Just sent an email to RAD querying that statement and asking why a prosthesis is necessary.
I wait their response with interest.

mumslife · 16/05/2011 21:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

madwomanintheattic · 17/05/2011 02:35

dewe, size 13s would be perfect! i've just checked her current school shoes and they are a 12, i know with dd1 we had to go up a size for taps!
can you pm me and let me know how much you want for them/ postage? i can send you a cheque if that's ok? i daren't tell her until they arrive, she won't sleep for excitement!

in hantd there was an sn dance class that i was involved with called 'especially for you'. mostly children with v complex needs. the teacher had worked with an adult ballet class who were mostly women with downs syndrome before. but a local group worked to put on drama/ music and all sorts of accessible activities. dd2 falls between the two schools really. not complex enough to need 'special' dance, but not able enough to take exams. she has a ball though.

we've just adapted a skateboard for her (got a metalsmith to make and attach a blardy great handle - so it's more scooter than skateboard now, but she doesn't care. it's a skateboard as far as she's concerned).

my life pandering to a 7yos every whim, lol.

MrsShrekTheThird · 17/05/2011 02:45

well said, mumslife :)

madwoman, what you need is one like mine which is mainstream and inclusive. It's brilliant fun. And the atmosphere can't be beated.

Oh and btw I wouldn't touch RAD with a bargepole

MrsShrekTheThird · 17/05/2011 02:49

alas at almost 3am my grammar has went gone too
"beated" is obviously a new, cool street word for beaten. Obviously.

I really should have said I wouldn't touch RAD with a ballet barre, had I not been half asleep

madwomanintheattic · 17/05/2011 03:27

i just suggested melatonin on your other thread.

mumslife · 17/05/2011 19:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

dixiechick1975 · 17/05/2011 22:29

Thanks Dewe - yes we are Reach members will see if they have any more info. Will be interested if RAD respond. Congrats to your DD on her excellent mark.

Mumslife that is exactly how my DD's arm is - nice to hear such a positive report of the girl you knew.

geeandfeesmum · 18/05/2011 09:58

MrsShrel are there any exams boards you would recommend. My DD loves to dance but has difficulty joining in a class. She currently doesn't attend dance classes. Maybe one day she will be and when/if that time comes I would like choose a suitable school that uses an inclusive exam board.

I was a dancer for many years and am also a qualified cheerleading coach. I haven't yet fully completed my dance teacher training but would be really interested in etching children like my DD as I really feel there are not many places out there that can give them the right support even if they are patient and polite about there behaviour issues.

geeandfeesmum · 18/05/2011 10:00

Not etching, teaching. My drawing and apparently typing is atrocious!!

stickyj · 18/05/2011 19:44

Just flicked through the thread quickly. I do music sessions with kids 0 - 6 and would be amazed if a parent who had already had a DX didn't speak to me. There's no point in them doing a class if I play loud music and they hate it, they can't sit still and everyone's else's kids are. I need to work out the best class for them, maybe younger age-wise or older, but the best class for them. I have mums that stay with their children because they can work with them, but also because I do have a responsibility to carry on with the other kids, who may be way ahead mentally or physically, or who just "get" things quicker.

I think that if your DD wants to be involved with the class, then maybe you could be a "helper" so that she does whatever everyone else is doing with a bit of help. Children are usually totally empathetic with SN kids, even to the point of being embarrassingly so to adults, but as long as people are aware, they are usually helpful!

MrsShrekTheThird · 18/05/2011 23:23

tbh I can't recommend any of the exam boards, as sad as that is. I use two of them, one mentioned on here and one you won't have heard of, and they are both dreadful when it comes to SEN. The ones I know about but don't use are even worse if reports from colleagues are correct
Can only suggest you go for word of mouth and check out mn local and your other 'local' sources of info, web and news papers etc, to find something perhaps billed more as 'fun' than 'School of Dance'. Exams in dance are far less important than the fun of movement, expression and learning the skills imho. The groups that don't glue themselves to a syllabus are likely to be more enjoyable and more inclusive ime.

paranoid2 · 19/05/2011 10:16

"Do you think I should phone before she goes and let her know, or do you think it's irrelevant? The only problems she may have are understanding what she's saying, or my DD not understanding what she has to do, or being unable to do it".

Sorry but how could not understanding what the teacher says or being unable to do what the teacher says be irrelevant? Surely understanding what she has to do or having someone to help her understand is fundamental If shes to get the most out of the classes then surely its clear that her teacher should be advised of her difficulties. If her teacher doesnt take any notice and doesnt make any allowances for her then she shouldnt be there.

Linda1960 · 19/05/2011 19:56

I teach many Special needs children, I have a ballet class specifically for them I call it Ballet Unique! I really believe any child has the right to dance and I hear time and time again, that children are turned away or excluded from dance schools. I have one little girl Eleanor who is down syndrome, and her mum phoned many dance schools to see if they would take her and we were the only ones she found that would! She is the most loveliest girl, and last year took an award with the I.D.T.A. and passed!
If I were you, I would be up front with your daughters condition, and I wish you both all the luck and I hope she enjoys her dancing. x

dixiechick1975 · 28/01/2012 23:13

Bumping this old thread to say DD passed her RAD pre primary exam with flying colours - received her cetificate today.

She wore her cosmetic prosthesis as she wears this every week for ballet. The teacher just noted her disability (missing left armbelow elbow) on the examination entry.

They must have marked as DeWe said to have got the marks she did.

IndigoBell · 29/01/2012 08:05

Well done little dixie chick! Congratulations.

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