What is this . . Enhanced School Action?

[littlelegsmum]

I have spoke to DS's teacher, after school for a catch up. She said he's still acting really strange and has been off the wall today. They have been so good with him and I really can't fault them. He has a great TA working with him and prompting him when he needs it - which I should imagine is alot!

Anyway, they mentioned he was on this enhanced school action and said it's inbetween Action and Action plus. Has anyone heard of this that can shed some light on the subject for me?

They are going to set up an IBP (he doesn't need an IEP as he's academically ok) but i'm just wondering if there's anything I can do at home?

I've ordered some bits off that auction site (not sure if I can mention it) that I feel will benefit him and am just waiting for it to arrive.

Feel like i'm meeting myself coming back, with regards to my DC at the minute.

Anyway, we've got his CAMHS appointment tomorrow so hopefully something will become clearer then

I have no idea what enhanced school action is?

There is SA and SA+ nowhere anywhere I have looked for you mentions any midway enhanced bit!

he may well be academically ok at the moment but it could well slide if he has issues without support. I would say they are avoiding calling in an educational psychologist but I am suspicious by nature and could be wrong.

Surely he has to be one or the other?

Good luck with your camhs appointment.

Nope. It goes School Action, then School Action Plus.
When the Green Paper comes in I understand they are lumping them together , making fewer categories, not more.

Agree - ther's no such thing as Enhanced Schools Action.

IEPs are not just written for academic difficulties. They can be used for other non-academic purposes.

Refuse the IBP and ask for an IEP.

These LAs love making up their own pathetic little 'plans'. If they stuck to those they should such as IEPs they may be able to write them better than they currenty do

DS1 has a broad IEP for social interaction and drinking (water not alcohol). He's only 6. lol
I'm not as knowledgeable as a lot on hear but I do my research and never heard of anything other than SA and SA+

Enhanced is just a sop word to make you feel like he is getting something extra.

There are lots of these equally meaningless words bandied about 'high level of support', 'level 5 provision', 'multi-disciplinary intervention', 'Action plus plus', are all ones I've come across recently.

Enhanced is also just another way of adding an extra stage to slow you down in getting the next level of (generally) more expensive support.

Locally we have enhanced mainstream schools which mean they have specialist teachers on site and who do outreach. There is also an autism outreach team. So whereas to get a statement you used to go mainstream - autism outreach - statement / specialist placement; now you have to go mainstream - autism outreach - EMS outreach - Statement

See they have cleverly made mainstream schools jump through an extra 6-12 months of EMS outreach before they are allowed to apply for a statement.

When the strategies used by the 2 outreach teams are identical.

Its to make parents wait an extra 6-12 months before applying for a statement.

Very cynical.

Do you live in Wales? We have enhanced school action at our school, I'd always assumed it was a Welsh thing as so few people mention it. One of the children in DSs class is on ESA for dyslexia and gets specialist teacher 1:1 help because of it.

This thread has answered a question I did not even know to ask...What did the SA+ on my son's IEP mean in real terms? So there is supposed to be support from other professionals other than the school staf?? Interesting. Would that include employing an existing TA for for more hours to support DS in particualr, or does it mean something more than that?

It means there is an external agency that your child is on the caseload of/involved.

EP or SALT or Outreach or OT for example.

Wow, thank you all so much. I'm glad you thought the same as I did. I've recently done ALOT of research and never heard of it.

I will mention the EP to the school in the next couple of days and see their reaction.

I'm also very cynical (due to my dd's school etc) however, wanted to give Ds's school a chance.

The school have only been involved and been pro-active since the beginning of this year, so not long.

Would you suggest anything else to the school if you were me?

You should get your self a copy of the SEN Code of Practice
A hard copy can be obtained free-of-charge by telephoning 0845 60 222 60 or e-mailing [email protected], quoting reference DCSF 581/2001

then make a point of taking it with you to meetings. Make it look well read and stick a few random post-its on various pages. Then when they mention things you have never heard of ask them to show you the section in the COP!

This is a useful little booklet.

Thank you Agnes and Back

I have actually got a copy of that and as i'm so used to using it for my DD, it's (weirdly) never entered my head to use it with my DS

Hi all

I have just realised I didn't update you yesterday.

The appointment was positive and I took my huge list of DS's 'ways' with me. She also noticed he has tics too (which i've just thought were hm, if you see what I mean). Anyway, she has taken him under her wing, is going out to assess him next week and has made some future appointments for 'play' sessions with him.

Hopefully, we will get somewhere this time. :)

Oh can't believe I almost forgot they suggested the school refer him to EP (as some of you clever people suggested). I mentioned this to them and they've said it will have to wait until the planning meeting (3 weeks into september term) to be discussed with them .

They have been brilliant as I have previously said, however this seems like a really long wait to just be referred, nevermind the actual waiting list, once he's talked about . .

So ask them in wiring why you child, who has been flagged up as needing a referral to an EP, has to wait 4 months before they'll refer.

Ask what the delay is for.

If thy say policy, ask in writing for copy of policy.

Thanks starlight.

I'm really shocked but I've got a feeling it's down to budgets :( however i'll write and ask anyway.

It IS budget, but they can't say that!

Having to respond in writing will make them think twice anyway.

In fact, it was by email that she sent me the initial message so I could ask her officially, and on record. Without it actually looking that way.

I was going to contact the Ep direct myself. Should I suggest this to the school and does it have the same effect on their budgets?

You can contact the EP direct. Most schools have an EP attached to them and the EP visits on a certain day. But you can also self refer. EP is paid centrally, as far as I know it does not affect the school budget

I'll contact them myself then. I shall add that to my 'to-do' for Monday and let the school know.

Can you lot help me out as well. My 3rd child has just been diagnosed with working memory deficit (11th percentile) and he has not been put on any action or action plus, no IEP. What should I be asking for? The EP report I felt was rather nebulous comment ' his working memory is not particularly weak', pseudo scientific mumbo jumbo I'm afraid. I'm going to get further characterisation of his working memory, but Senco has not said a word to me, all conversations with class teacher, who equally has not mentioned IEP or School Action.

Hi Supermum, Well, as you can tell I most certainly am not an expert. However, i'm sure someone else will be along soon to clarigy this for you.

Good Luck :)

Not sure I can help either supermum.
Who has made this diagnosis ?
How has he seen the EP without being on the Code of Practice?
Presumably this affects all school work and a lot else (sorry, never come across this as a diagnosis before), so does this mean your ds is behind with his school work ?
How old is he?
I'm presuming (for you to get him tested) there must have been issues with school work for some time ? If so, what have the school put in place to help him up to now ?