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DS's school report - devastated and furious

18 replies

Shagmundfreud · 13/07/2012 21:20

Some background:
here

DS (year 2) has aspergers - we think, and so does EP after seeing him three times over two years, but no proper assessment or diagnosis yet, despite over 7 months on a waiting list for CAMHS and it being two years since he was first seen by the EP in year 1. I have spoken to a senior doctor at CAMHS who has told us that we can tell the school that we have a working diagnosis of Aspergers (yes - another fucking head fuck - a diagnosis over the phone by a senior doctor from CAMHS of a child she hasn't seen and hasn't read any reports about, based on what I told her the EP has said, and following me complaining to my MP about the appalling waits for CAMHS assessments Sad).

I have told DS's teacher about this working diagnosis. We are going to apply for a statutory assessment. I saw her last week and asked her to make sure she was documenting all his exclusions from the classroom (currently running at a rate of at least 3 a week) and the difficulties she was having with him, with a view to trying to get more support for him when he moves into juniors in September.

It's very clear to me that he cannot properly access the curriculum without one to one support. From his report:

"he gives minimal effort in writing and needs adult intervention to complete any work at all"

He got a 2A for reading and maths, and a 3 for science on his year 2 SATS, but a 1C for writing. He cannot apply himself in a classroom setting when there are other children around to anything he finds challenging - which basically means writing.

Anyway, cut to the chase, nowhere on his report is there any mention of his having special needs, other than to note he is on school action, which is wrong as he is on school action plus. The summary at the end of his report says the following:

"I would like to see him put more effort into his work as without adult support he will often do very little. He sometimes refuses to do work if an adult does not sit with him..... When asked to do something that he may not want to do, he very often sulks and refuses or ignores simple requests. He can become upset and angry over the slightest of things in the hope of seeking attention and avoiding consequences. He often becomes involved in unnecessary arguments and can become aggressive even when unprovoked. He needs to develop the ability to see things from another point of view and think about others' feelings as well as his own."

To me this is similar to putting "xxxx needs to learn how to skip" on the report of a child who is wheelchair bound. I can't believe this report is going on his file, and that it's what he's going to be taking into juniors with him.

I've been crying all afternoon about it (not in front of ds of course). I feel his report just makes him out to be a naughty, unpleasant child who's simply not trying hard enough. I think it's bizarre to write that way about a child with ASD.

I'm going to have to deal with this next week, but don't know where to start. If I just see his class teacher she's going to nod vacantly at me and not do a fucking thing, because after Thursday he's not her problem any more. I'm frightened to take this up with the head on my own because she's a horrible manipulative bully and I'm afraid she'll railroad me on it.

I'm wondering what I should say/do at this point. I can't let that report sit on his file without some official amendment to it.

OP posts:
Ineedalife · 13/07/2012 21:31

Think I would go straight to the HT, you are absolutely right to compare "he needs to learn to see things from anothers pov" to wheelchair skipping.

That report has gone past the HT or at least a memeber of the SMT and I would be asking for an explanation.

Sorry you are having to go through this, it is enough to drive you bonkers.

skewiff · 13/07/2012 21:34

Yes - I am sorry too.

I'm shocked by what I have read. I agree you must go straight to the HT. Try your hardest not to let her rail road you.

Good luck.

feelinchirpier · 13/07/2012 22:02

very similar to my ds report, needs to consider that his outbursts in class distract others, needs to finish work in a given time frame, needs to develop better communication skills towards peers and with adults, peevish towards others.

but then after this year we were expecting something like this hopefully the next teacher will know how to show a little compassion towards my gorgeous, caring, lovable little man, hopefully concentrating more on his positives and less on the negatives. We aren't even going to fill in the slip to acknowledge the report we will file it under bin and see what happens in the next school year.

moosemama · 13/07/2012 22:04

Agree with the others, go to the HT and put your case to them in writing so that your views are also on file.

Is there a parental reply slip on your school's reports at all? (We get to fill in the back page in a sort of response to what the teacher has written.) If so, make sure you fill it in addressing how ridiculous and down right inappropriate the teacher's comments were and pointing out that the report is representative of the school failing to recognise, let alone meet your ds's needs. Make the same points in your letter to the Head. If you don't get a decent response from the Head, take it to the Governors.

So sorry you and your ds are having to deal with this level of ignorance and lack of compassion. Sad

feelinchirpier · 13/07/2012 22:07

sorry ignore me thought you meant another report Blush

lisad123 · 13/07/2012 22:13

Tbh no where on DDs reports does it say about their SN, it's on every other report so not too worried.
As horrible as the report is, it's also helpful for you for accessing support. It's clear they don't understand his needs or able to meet them and now you have it in writing.

bigbaps · 13/07/2012 22:14

Yes,definitely complain. I am cheesed off with ds's one too. We were supposed to have a reply slip but for some reason it's missing Angry

colettemum3 · 13/07/2012 22:27

Similar thing here, no mention of my son's dx's etc but i was expecting a really bad report so it wasn't too bad or may i've developed a thick skin?
My son is yr 3. And i really don't like his teacher at all. So like you hoping for a nicer teacher next year.

Think of it this way more ammo to statement your son if needs be.

Shagmundfreud · 13/07/2012 22:54

The SENCO, who works across both schools, has made it clear to me that ds won't get allocated one to one help next year in y3. Her view was, 'academically he's doing fine', to which my response was 'with a 1C in writing?'

What's also really upset me was clocking an expression of raw dislike on the face of the TA who works with his class, who spent quite a bit of time (supposedly 'supporting' ds this year ('support' which as far as I can see actually consisted of her making sarcastic comments about his lack of work and telling him off a lot), while on a school trip. The school trip which they had threatened to exclude him from until I volunteered to come with him and supervise him. If I hadn't been able to come I don't know what might have happened.

I'm so, so angry, bitter and pissed off with the saga of trying to get support and understanding for ds at this school that I feel a bit mental about it all. I'm dreading next week's leavers assembly for infants - I know I'll be sitting there watching the HT doing her usual smug-a-thon about what a FAB school it is (outstanding OFSTED, massively oversubscribed, new academy) and wanting to shout out 'FUCK THE LOT OF YOU' and storm out weeping.

OP posts:
mariamariam · 14/07/2012 00:12

Gimme a satisfactory school over an outstanding one, any day. Smugness is the biggest barrier to proper provision for SEN dc by far. Resource shortages and even rank discrimination are so much easier to address.

coff33pot · 14/07/2012 00:14

If the senco covers both schools then you are in for the same repeat if you dont put something in writing.

Apart from wanting to write "paramount that the teacher needs SN training in ASD!" (which wont do anyone any favours but hey its true) but I would leave this out.

It IS good that they have put this down in a report no matter how hard it makes reading it. It does show how they have failed and need help. So not all bad if you are going for a statement.

I would write a correction letter though regarding the not SA but SA plus currently awaiting consideration of Statutory Assessment due to his working SN of an ASD.

The rest I wouldnt pick to bits as it is added ammo to copy and send off to the LA when they ask for your parental input. :)

colettemum3 · 14/07/2012 00:23

Don't go to it, simply keep your son home on the final day.
The TA sounds like the teacher my son had this year, it got to the point that at home time i got to the school early enough to park right outside and i just sit in my car now and wait for him to come out.

My son is academically able as well but my LEA won't assess him as basically they hate my guts frankly. As long as a certain person is in charge, he's not going to get one :( So have started to try him on the stuff recommend in the TH thread. I'm waiting until after hubby birthday next week and then going to try and cut out the junk food out. His diet is not to bad but could be a lot better.

I honestly wish i could move boroughs.

Has your son seen the OT??
As honestly he sounds a lot like my son, especially the writing. It turned out that the reason why my son detested writing so much was that he never learnt how to do lower case letters as he was either excluded or on half days when in Infants and he was banned from trips out back then.
His writing is getting better and he managed to get a 3c for it although have got to try and find last year one.

Ofsted is a load of BOLLOCKS!!!
I made the decision last term to pull my eldest daughter out of her special residential school that is OUTSTANDING and she starts at a day special school in September (will be in yr 10).
My LEA are rofl as the school that she will be going to is the one that i fought against, at the time i heard a few negative stories but a couple of younger children go there and they are doing well. Including a lad who was at the residential school but left last year as he hated it.

I pulled my daughter out for a lot of reasons but it boiled down to the fact that we lost trust in them, that they are a bunch of bullies, liars and so on.

My daughter is overjoyed at being home :D

I think the worse report i ever got was when my middle child was 7, she had a statement and it was her annual review/transition from infant to junior school.
Put it this way, i should of know something was up as they waited until the day before to give me the report and it was full of bitchiness etc. Even the caseworker from the LEA felt sorry for me.

Lancelottie · 14/07/2012 07:19

'Smugness is the biggest barrier to proper provision for SEN dc by far.'

Mariamariam, that is very perceptive. I'd say it also goes for bullying ('oh, we don't have a problem with that', to quote DS's first school).

HotheadPaisan · 14/07/2012 07:33

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HotheadPaisan · 14/07/2012 07:38

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cansu · 14/07/2012 08:14

Upsetting as it is tis report should help you get support for your ds as it acknowledges he has difficulties. I would send in a reply highlighting all these difficulties and put it in the context of his likely ASD and his obvious need for more support.

Triggles · 14/07/2012 13:04

Any report, however, that has factual information incorrect should be followed up by you with a letter pointing out that you are in receipt of the report and wanted to bring their attention to the following errors...

And then very simply list the errors with noted corrections (for example that he is listed in report as on SA when he is actually on SA+). Any paperwork you have that might back up your corrections should be copied, so you can attach copies to the letter. Then send a copy of that letter to the person doing the report, as well as anyone that received a copy of it.

SauvignonBlanche · 14/07/2012 13:11

That's terrible, no wonder you're upset.

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