Meeting in school later........

[DameHermione]

with healthy minds woman (not actually sure what she is), Educational psychologist and school.

DD doesn't want to be there so I said if she's needed they'll have to fetch her from her lesson.

I'm trying to work out what I will tell them I want. All I can think of is for DD to have a assessment by the Ed psych.

School have decided the best pathway for her to follow in September is the one that will leave her with only 2 or 3 GCSEs and I think she is going to be bored out of her skull (the ones who do this pathway are usually the ones with most special needs. DD has special needs but is academically bright).

So meeting is at 2.30. Then there is an art thing between 5 and 7 (DD1's art thing) then a PTA thing from 7.30. I may just move in.

Yup. ASDAN. Maths, english and science. And something called COPE.

I'm dubious of 'equivelents'.
Still think she'll be bored.

Meeting soon. Will report back.

Head......

Wall.........

Gin.

swiftly miixes a large G&T & hands it over

You OK? what happened

Hope you ok, bad meeting? Or is that an understatement?

wellll.......

Woman from healthy minds.... what can i say....... FUCKING POINTLESS

she hooked on to trying to get DD to sit exams in 2 years time by suggesting everything school have already got in place. Yes exams will be a problem but I'd quite like to start with just gettin D through the bloody door.

Then she demanded school refer us to EWO. despite teacher telling her there was nothing else EWO could offer except staring legal proceedings. (as school have already tried the normal stuff to get DD to go). But HM woman kept bangin on. Do EWO have a magic wand or am I going to look forward to being fined/imprisoned etc? (although teacher said he wouldn't go that route).

Teacher was pretty positive about D doing the proposed pathway. I made my points about her getting bored and he said there are ways to be flexible and stretch her (hmmmm, we'll see).

The Educational Psychologist who was supposed to be there wasn't. no idea why but I'll be chasing that one up tomorrow. Also HM woman is going to chase up some sort of therapy (CBT) for DDs anxiety.

D as come ome in a od mod though and is looking up details of what she want to do after school, which gives e something to encourage her with. No FE college is going to want someone with a 70% attendance rate after all.

I shan't cry tonight DD thinks that is what she wants to do.

I shall bide my time and tell her 'I told you so' when she is 35.

HM woman sounds like the clueless cahms woman who didn't even bother to meet my son - certainly sounds as if she has no AS specific knowledge. Look up her credentials and if my hunch is correct, and she really doesn't have training that differentiates between AS related inability to access school & chavs preferring to laze in bed rather than attend then cut her loose.

When you've calmed down demand an ed pysch assessment before agreeing to the ASDAN option. I just can't see how it addresses any of the social or sensory issues that may be contributing to your daughters school refusal anymore than the academic GCSE route (with perhaps 8 GCSE's instead of 12) would. I remain convinced that it's a way for school to massage the league table exam results, rather than help your child.

Honestly in your shoes I'd be talking to that Interhigh mob and looking at her statement adjusted so the LEA pay the fees.

Have a LARGE G&T and a lot of choccy.

By the weekend I'm sure someone on mumsnet will have a brainwave that'll help you resolve the situation.

it's all so bloody ineffectual and wet. we bumble along from a to b to c. sometimes she's fine, sometimes she isn't.

Does your DD have a statement? Seems really as though school are just going around in circles. You both need support, she should have an EP assessment, keep pushing.

Am not much use but do feel your pain x

no statement - school won't and unless she has one they won't refer to ed psych. but academically she's ok so they won't statement. I know I could do it myself but because much of the time she's ok i don't want to spend the next 2 years fighting.

round and round in circles.

if what is proposed for next year doesn't work I will be most upset.

of course by then it will be too late for her to do anything else..................

:( Dame :(

You will need to prove why this school is not suitable and why the residential school is the only one that will meet her needs, so I think you will need to go to the meeting and listen carefully both to what's said and what isn't. Have you been to see the residential school yet and has dd been for an assessment. If so this might give you some pointers of what that school can provide that your dd needs and the other can't. less will want the cheaper option

Hi dame sounds crappy... this is less useful for now perhaps, but could come in handy for future. i know OU has seemed to be a good option for a number of people... (not plugging them cos they are employer, but should be up front that they are. )

If she wants to look at the sort of stuff they do, materials info exercises etc, Openlearn, (sorry can't do linky thing) has free examples of activities and materials from loads of courses. Also Openings courses are done at your own pace and at home, but count as 10 points (one year full time undergrad course is 120 points) can be done as tasters...

Also I act as NMH (non medical helper) to a student with enduring signficant mental health needs, the support he (appears from my experience) to get as a disabled student is quite good...

You can pick my brain, (if there is any of it left ) over that afore mentioned sticky bun and coffee.

Sorry posted in wrong place.

I would go onto the ipsea. Web site and start to put things in motion yourself for statementing. Even if it doesn't go though it will help clarify things. She isn't accessing the curriculum so it doesn't matter how bright she is

Thought that was a bit getting ahead there mebaas

Sign - coffee after my nights. Definitely.

It might work though. It could if they actually stretch it a bit. I'll keep a very close eye.

Dame - what levels is your DD predicted to get at the end of KS3?

I would be concerned as on the one hand school say your DD is doing ok academically, then on the other they are suggesting she does an ASDAN/Cope course. Which level are they suggesting she will be doing 1 or 2?

Why don't the school think she will be suited to GCSE's? Or is it that she is not suited to 9 GCSE's? Did they give you a reason why they won't accommodate her doing less GCSE's?

Talk to your local college, get their prospectus and work out what your DD could go onto in the future if she took the ASDAN route.

Teachers appear to be split into two camps some enjoy teaching the course and feel the children also enjoy the learning, they also feel that the children are gaining a worthwhile qualification. Others feel ASDAN courses are somewhere to dump disaffected children and/or those with LD's.

EWO's are not just there to take parents to court, part of their job is to work with parents and school to find solutions to truancy. It might be worth giving them a call anonymously to find out what your DD's school should/could be doing to aid her attendance.