English teacher refusing to acknowledge DS's SEN

[keepingupwiththejoneses]

Title say's it all really. DS2 has severe ADHD, highest level of licensed medication daily, he also has social and communication issues. He has had some small issues since starting secondary, he is now in year 8, all of which have been quickly sorted out. Always seemed to be down to teacher not reading IEP/pupil profile!
His current english teacher is a nightmare. She is refusing to adapt her classes to allow ds to do his work properly, ds has problems processing complicated or vague instructions and really struggles to be able to say when he doesn't understand, he can also only process one instruction at a time. Last week he missed a lesson due to having a 1:1 session, when he went into class the next day all the teacher would say was to carry on with what they where doing the day before, ds said that he wasn't there the day before only for her to reply 'well that's your problem, just get on with it!' DS got very frustrated and ended up swearing which is when the head of year got involved, he rang me and we agreed for ds to go on a progress report to see how he is getting on in his other lessons. That night DS spent all night sobbing that he just couldn't go in to her lesson again and that when he has tried to explain to her he has ADHD and that he doesn't understand she just snaps at him that she doesn't care what he has! I spoke to the head of year the next day and explained that DS was having some problems with her and that I would like him to be moved if possible, he said that should be OK as ds is at the very bottom of the 'set' he is in and could easily move down one, fine I thought and DS was happy with that although it could take a few weeks as they would have to move someone else up.
Today comes and DS gets home after school, looking very quiet, and hands me his report book. English teacher has written in capital letters, in red pen, 'DS did nothing today, no homework, he should find out what homework is if absent, This is not an excuse!' Every other teacher has written in the book, things like 'worked well' or 'good lesson' or even just ' fine today'. I am so annoyed! I have written in big red capitals 'ENGLISH - DS DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN BY THIS TEACHER. SHE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND SHE NEEDS TO ADAPT THESE TO HIS SEN'
I am going to ring the head of year again tomorrow, poor ds is so deflated. He has always loved school but he is really starting to hate is, it is making him ill.

You need to involve the SENCO fully, and keep a paper trail of all communication with the school, setting out your concerns every time there is an incident. If you ring, follow up with an email confirming what was said. Then you have evidence that is dated and undeniable.
You also need to push for him to be removed to a different group with a teacher who is more willing to accommodate his needs, whilst pointing out calmly that the faults are entirely on the teacher's side and that she needs more support and training to do her job properly. He should not have to wait a few weeks. They are going to create a distressed school refuser if they don't respond quickly and appropriately.
Coping with a range of children with SN in a class is not optional, it is what should be expected of all teachers. Do not be fobbed off, go in cold and calm and stomp them.

What Dustinthewind said.

I would be making a further appt with the school SENCO and Head of year following this latest development. This teacher's conduct is unacceptable.

Does your DS have a statement?. If not, I would be looking to apply to the LEA for this asap.

Copy the book or take a picture before it goes back to school.

I have already been in touch with SENCO. To be honest she is all mouth and no action, head of year seems much better. DS doesn't have a statement and wont get one as he is making progress in school. Luckily DS is fine going into school at the moment. I will email too. In fact I might just email as trying to get hold of anyone is a nightmare as they are all teaching as well.
Have posted this in education as well just to get both sides.

that's disability discrimination

google equality act 2010 - I'm no solicitor but that's clearly direct discrimination

I bet you anything she'll be one of those that doesn't believe in ADHD

I am ashamed to admit that my own father is one. (Also a teacher)

My children both have autism. My youngest is undergoing assessment for ADHD. My dad won't have it. His symptoms are part of his autism, most ADHD is 'naughty' kids, and it's "funny how they don't have ADHD in MY lessons"

I agree it is disability discrimination.
Funny thing is I work at my local Parent Partnership (a good one, away from LA) and I can support parents with their kids and give teacher what for when at work, but when it comes to my boys I just can't think straight. I was the same with ds3's AR, was terrified they where going to say he didn't need SS place any more.

just I have seen teacher like that a lot, in fact we went to a school to do an ADHD awareness course for the teachers, we where asked to leave after 1 hour as they decided we where lying and they didn't believe in ADHD , that was a whole school!

was that recently?

I would also get a copy of your school's inclusion policy - make it 2 copies (or more ) and highlight the areas for the english teacher to review at her leisure. She will see quite clearly that she is in breach of her own school's policy.
Ask her if she wants help in finding ways that would be quick and simple for her to implement the policy in regards to your DS - she seriously may not have a clue what is expected of her, particularly if you say that the SENco can only talk the talk.

c0rn that was about 2 years ago.
auntevil Great idea. I will do that. Thing is I have sat and explained everything to her, told her about what he finds difficult and how she needs to approach him, she seemed very interested and like she took it all in. She obviously didn't!

"DS doesn't have a statement and wont get one as he is making progress in school"

Was not unfortunately surprised to read that (this is partly why such a situation has arisen) but you've been fed an untruth here if that point has been made to you. You are both victims of disability discrimination and his learning will become affected markedly by such shenanigans at school.

Apply for the statement yourself now and ignore any naysayers. BTW all the children I know with ADHD in secondary school all have statements. IPSEA's website is very good re statementing www.ipsea.org.uk

A statement if obtained will give your son some legal protection with regards to his educational rights; currently he is being treated the same as a child without any form of additional need and its clearly not working.

Definitely get a copy of that report/comment and any other written comments from this teacher. Ask/Insist on a meeting with the teacher, Head of department, SENCO and deputy/head teacher. Take lots of notes. Put your complaint in writing and send to all of the above plus the governors.

Also I would tread carefully when it comes to moving your son down a set. Being top of a lower set may be better than bottom of a higher set but the move is him changing to suit the teacher/the school's discrimination and isn't the correct response IMO.

I would normally suggest a softly softly work together approach to unsupportive teachers when it come to SEN (I've been a SEN LSA for 4 years) as this has a longer lasting effect on their teaching and attitude but this teacher doesn't sound like she is especially anti SEN just a bit of a cow overall.

I have photocopied the report. His HoY wrote that he would speak to the teacher about explaining things to him better and would write in his diary all homework. DS told me that the english teacher said she had nothing to say as a reply and would speak to him as he should have just told her he doesn't understand her instructions . I couldn't get to speak to anyone today and there only seems to be a general email address.
attila We have no chance of getting a statement any time soon as DS has only ever been on School Action and our LA will only accept request for SA after School Action +. Also our LA very rarely approve statements for kids with ADHD and have won at tribunal when children have been making progress in most subjects. The Girls I work with have offered to come to a meeting with me as I know I will only be seen as a parent.
The whole situation is very scary, this school is a new academy.

I would make it clear to this teacher that if the homework is not written in his diary then your son is not to be held accountable if it is not done (maybe don't tell you son this just in case he starts to hate english and leggit at the end of the lesson, diary clunched in his hot little hand :), although he sounds like a good student with a great attitude so far).

Also, I don't mean this to sound insulting to your son's HOY (who sounds great btw) but unless he is this teacher's line manager/HOD or on the Senior Leadership Team there's a fair chance she won't care what he has to say (again, I worked with SEN kids in mainstream schools for 3 years [plus 1 year in a special school] so I've seen this many times).

Every teacher will have a personal email address. Once you find out the format ([email protected], [email protected] etc) you should be able to get in contact with the HOD, I really recommend this.

I wouldn't get caught up in 'I did tell you I didn't understand'...'No, you didn't' etc. I would give her one more closely monitored chance to shape up. Then go in for the kill.

have no intention in getting caught up in anything like that. I know DS hasn't got the capability to speak up if he doesn't understand something, partly because he doesn't want other kids thinking he is stupid. I will be telling her that he will not be doing any homework if it is not specifically written in his diary, main reason being he just wont remember by the time he has taken 3 steps out of the class room.
Apparently she has told DS, she is going to ring me to talk about it! I will be keeping note as to what she says and if DH is home I will put the call on loud speaker as I can only imagine what she is going to say.
If I don't get anywhere by the end of this week I will be arranging a meeting with the head teacher.

I'm a bit baffled why he wouldn't get a statement just because he's progressing. DS2 is way ahead of most of the children in his year at school in maths and reading, and he has a statement. The school's reasoning is that while he is ahead right now, there are 2 things to consider - 1. he may not stay ahead as work gets more complicated, and 2. if he's ahead when he's struggling to access the curriculum, think of how he could progress if he wasn't struggling. It's really shouldn't be about whether or not he's progressing....it should be whether or not he's progressing to the best of his ability and potential.