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I am so upset, school and statement related (ranty and long) :(

125 replies

moosemama · 14/10/2012 13:10

Backstory: Last year ds had truly amazing teachers, they 'got' him and went out of their way to make sure he felt happy and confident about his abilities and work.

In the infants maths used to be his absolute favourite subject, he has always been in the top set and got level 3 in the y2 SATs.

In y3 he essentially had a breakdown for the first half and was left to his own devices for the second half (spent the last half of the year reading in the corner). In y4 his teachers just couldn't get to grips with the fact that he can do the work, he just needs longer to process. As a result he completely lost confidence in his ability and stopped working. At the end of the year one teacher wanted to move him down a set - apparently to show him that he was better at maths than the pupils in the other group - Hmm. The other teacher, EP and inclusion teacher disagreed, as did I, saying that would just knock his confidence even more, as he was capable of doing the work - he just needed proper differentiation and reassurance of his abilities.

Last year his maths teacher was adamant that he was in the top set, on the second to top table purely on merit. She reiterated to me regularly throughout the year that he absolutely deserved his place in the class and she worked hard to differentiate and support him. By the end of the year he was doing really well and after all her encouragement and support, finally started to believe in his abilities again. At the end of the year she pushed for a meeting with the Head to insist that he be allowed the extra time for tests and assessments that the EP and OT had suggested. I got the distinct impression she had been pressurised not to do this during the year she taught him. Spoke to her right at the end of term and she said she'd had a meeting with the Head, SENCO and next year's teachers and it was agreed that he should get the extra time. In the meantime I made sure it was written into his statement.

This year he has two teachers who clearly don't believe he has AS. They are obstructive to say the least and have a big thing about 10 year olds being too coddled and needing to be more independent. They include ds in this, despite him clearly presenting as a much younger child in terms of emotional development and maturity.

His maths teacher has not been giving him the extra time for tests and assessments and as a result in less than one half term he is convinced once again that he is no good at maths. His confidence has plummeted and now he has started to make silly mistakes as a result. She has even kept him in at break to finish tests. Sad

We've been through this before with SENCO insisting extra time is only for official tests/assessments and failing to grasp that if they don't allow him the extra time in class as standard he becomes despondent, loses confidence and gives up - resulting in lower grades. He is entitled to the extra time based on the results of his WISC IV and this is clearly stated in the EP report and now also in his statement.

He brought home a test the week before last that was marked in red pen. He had completed 16 out of 22 questions and got 15 correct (the one he got wrong was a silly slip of the pencil type mistake). The teacher had put a big red cross next to every one he hadn't completed, plus obviously the one he got wrong. She then wrote a big red 7 on the bottom of the page. So not only did she not give him enough time to complete the test, instead of encouraging him by marking the ones he got right, she chose to highlight the ones he hadn't completed and mark them as wrong and instead of a mark for the ones he got right at the bottom, she had emphasised the ones he hadn't completed/got right. As a result he was really upset and told me he is rubbish at maths etc - so we are right back to square one, where we were in y4, effectively wiping out a whole year of hard work by last year's teachers.

I had just had a meeting with the SENCO about how they intend to implement his statement, but was not at all happy with their plans and my concerns were borne out within a week - so I added this to my list of issued with the school so far this term (which is now 8 pages long) as I plan to ask for a meeting to address them.

He has just come and told me that last Tuesday his maths teacher told him that she is going to discuss with his class teacher him moving down a group in maths. Angry She said she would speak to his CT about it for her to discuss with us at parent's evening. Angry He is obviously devastated and now sitting sobbing over his maths homework - which is something he could have done easily last year, but now can't do for panic. Sad

Not only are the school not implementing his statement properly in a myriad of ways, by failing to do so they have totally undermined all the good work put in by last year's teachers. Ffs, if the maths teacher had given him the extra time as required, he wouldn't have lost confidence and wouldn't be in the situation he's in now Angry

I have only spoken to his CT twice this year and both times she ended up ranting at me about how ridiculous his statement and extra support is. We get ten minutes at parent's evening, sat elbow to elbow with other parents. I don't want to discuss it at parent's evening, but dh says he does - loudly if necessary.

I want to arrange a meeting to go through the 8 pages of problems we've had so far this year and how badly ds is affected as a result. To find out why the teachers have such a shitty attitude to SEN and what makes them think they are better qualified than a team of over 9 professionals to know what my son's needs are and therefore over-rule a hard won statement.

The problem is that dh has just started a new job and can't come to daytime meetings anymore.

I am all shades of angry about this, sitting here shaking with anger at how upset my ds is because of their incompetence and refusal to give him the support he needs, as set down in his statement.

I feel sick and just want to cry. I have fought so bloody hard and after winning the statement content he needs (with one or two exceptions) he is worse off than he was without one. Sad I can't believe they told him they were going to move him down a group without speaking to me, or at the very least his inclusion teacher first. Poor child has been bottling this up all week without saying a word. I bloody knew something was up because he has started flapping and tic-ing again and is generally a real state as soon as he gets in from school every day.

I spoke to the TA who helps him get organised for the day on Thursday and she insisted that he is doing really well, settled in fine and had no problems. I told her what a state he's been in at home and said it's because he's having to hold himself together at school and she said 'well he's doing a great job at it then'.

I know the school are going to put the blockades up and I have a huge fight on my hands about the useless way the have implemented some of the statement had have clearly completely ignored others. I can't even go to the LEA about it as the Statementing Officer seems to be best buddies with the SENCO and just says it's my problem because I don't have enough trust in the school, so it's for me to sort out with them. Angry

It's not even as if I care about his bloody results fgs, I just want him to be happy and confident and he is the polar opposite of that right now thanks to their spectacular mishandling of him.

A whole year of excellent teaching and support wiped out in 3 weeks (he was on a residential for one week and off sick for another). That has to be an all time record. Angry

Can someone with some perspective please tell me what to do? I feel like no matter what I do nothing will change and ds is going to slide further and further backwards as the year goes on.

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NoHaudinMaWheest · 16/10/2012 19:30

Glad you are getting so help but it is ridiculous that you have to pay for it.

So much for NHS free at the point of need.

And why do so many NHS and educational professionals find it so difficult to look at the whole picture while patronisingly telling you that we have to treat the whole person (reallyHmm)

I feel so sorry for your Ds. I only joined MN about a year ago and had built up a picture of him as generally happy, confident and doing well in school. To have all that destroyed by a couple of people who just can't be bothered must be soul destroying.

thewhistler · 16/10/2012 19:44

As an earlier poster said, Senco is a fuckwit. Reading this makes my blood pressure rise horribly.

Do not be afraid to use bullying and blackmail tactics. Copy any correspondence to the teachers and Senco to the head, write a short note to the head, copied to the chair of governors.

Be completely open that you will or might copy your correspondence to Ofsted, and your local councillor and your MP. Have a letter up your sleeve to send to your local newspaper. Such a shame that moose minor, a potential chess star or astrophysicist in the making, is having a tough time because the school can't get off its arse.

Lots of sympathy.

alison222 · 16/10/2012 22:40

Lots of sympathy about the foot.
It sounds like your DH might be getting somewhere with the head. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. In the meantime I think we both need to be preparing those letters to the legal department at the LEA ( IPSEA advice from a course last week - go to the legal dept they will action it faster).

moosemama · 16/10/2012 22:59

Thanks for your support Thewhistler.

Alison

I've already drafted the letter - just hoping we won't need to print it at the moment.

Thanks for the advice as well. It's useful to know about sending things via the legal department at the LEA. Will definitely bear it in mind.

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mariammma · 16/10/2012 23:55

NHS exceptional cases panel sometimes do agree funding for one-off stuff if the condition is rare. Might even pay your physio's neighbouring NHS service to treat you. Worth a try?

moosemama · 17/10/2012 09:31

Thank you mariamma, I have bookmarked that link, just in case.

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moosemama · 17/10/2012 16:50

It just gets worse and worse.

Apparently they have been doing practice SAT papers this week (this after they told the parents they weren't going to push the SATs or put the pupils under pressure - ds has already told me he has had comments like "that sort of result won't help you pass your SATs" etc Hmm).

Today they made them each read out their score in front of the entire class and the teacher then read out their NC level - again in front of the whole class.

Ds wasn't given any extra time and the test was done butting up to playtime - so he was concerned about missing his job. He got a 4c, when all but one other child got 5b or 5as. He has scored the morning a zero in his feelings diary and says he felt humiliated and ashamed. Sad

Of course they are now going to use this to back up moving him down a set, despite the fact that they didn't give him the right dispensations for him to complete the SAT to his best ability.

Apparently all his teacher said was that 4c is the national average and was fine as a mark. Ffs he's not stupid. He was the only one that got less than a 5 and he knows it, thanks to their stupid competitive way of reading everyone's results aloud. Angry

I have just spent over an hour telling him SATs aren't important and are only for the government to know how good the teaching is at the school and that 4c is a perfectly respectable result, but to no avail. He is so upset and humiliated by both the score and the fact that everyone else knows what he got.

I have told him I don't care what set he is in or what SAT scores he gets, I just want him to be happy and not feel pressurised, stressed and unhappy at school.

I explained that the secondary school will assess him again anyway and will take into consideration lots of things, not just his SAT results and they will get a truer picture of his potential by doing so, so the SAT scores are really irrelevant. Told him that the only people who are bothered by his SAT results are the teachers and Head at this score and they will be forgotten as soon as he moves up a year.

Finally I told him that he is not competing against anyone but himself. It doesn't matter what anyone else gets and as long as he does his best and tries his hardest then whatever result he gets is fine.

Nope, he doesn't want to know. As far as he is concerned, today's maths sat score has proved he is stupid and shown him up in front of the whole of the rest of his class.

Sad Angry

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 17/10/2012 18:10

Moosemama

((((((((((((((((moosemama and moosemama's DS)))))))))))))))). I feel for you both.

Words fail me honestly. I had hoped this school could have stooped no lower but they've really gone and done it this time and this certainly warrants further complaint to this school. My son's junior school was well rubbish but no-one but the teacher knew their SATS scores even when the SATS had actually been done.

I sincerely hope Y7 is far better, I think and hope that Y7 in the different setting of secondary will be the making of him.

(it probably won't help much but please tell him that I am very proud of him).

moosemama · 17/10/2012 18:39

I will tell him. Thank you Attila. Thanks

The thing is they honestly seem to believe that they are doing everything right and bending over backwards to meet his needs. They are clearly deluded. Angry

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neverputasockinatoaster · 17/10/2012 19:04

Oh dear God. Sometimes I want to collect up my fellow teachers and slap them sensless.

moosemama I am so sorry that my profession is treating you and your DS in such a shit fashion. As other posters have sadi the SENCO is obviously a fuckwit and deserves a good slapping.

I have nothing else to say. I can't offer any advice. I'm just so sorry.

moosemama · 17/10/2012 19:13

Thank you neverputasockinatoaster.

I really don't get it. One of these teachers is someone I used to really like and respect. I never expected her to behave like this, but she really seems to have set her jaw against us.

I don't suppose our going to the Head is going to improve relations either. It's not going to be an easy year whatever happens. Sad

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thewhistler · 17/10/2012 19:24

Moose, am about to pm you.

ohmeohmy · 17/10/2012 19:29

Sorry you are having to deal with these idiots. They are failing at every turn with their bloody ignorance. Hang in there.

EllenJaneisstillnotmyname · 17/10/2012 19:52

Giving them all their levels publicly is simply poor teaching, for any child, let alone one with anxiety difficulties. Shock I would be very upset over that alone. What a complete arse! I would think the HT wouldn't be very impressed if he's worth his salt. Really sorry for your DS, it's public humiliation time, thought it had died out decades ago. Angry

NoHaudinMaWheest · 17/10/2012 20:02

That is truly appalling. I want to say I can't believe that any school/teacher would be soooo stupid but unfortunately I can.

Again I'm not sure it will help Ds but you could tell him that my DS did two SATS practice papers, one in school and one at home and still got 5a because when the proper adjustments are in place he and your Ds are able to show their abilities.

Also if he didn't have a breakdown over this in school he deserves a gold medal.

treedelivery · 17/10/2012 20:31

They really are hooligans.

Tell ds all his mummies friends are really pleased with his mark and could not have done better themselves

I'm so sorry Moose.

moosemama · 17/10/2012 20:38

It wasn't even one teacher though. It was his class teacher for literacy and the other y6 teacher for maths, so he went through it twice, in two separate lessons in one morning. Angry

Thanks for the support guys.

I have just had him curled up on my knee sobbing for an hour about a million and one things that are going on at school that are upsetting him. More ignorance and what is tantamount to bullying from his teachers. Total failure to differentiate or implement support they know should be put in place. Struggling to cope with the changing social environment as the other pupils become pre-teen and turn into little bitches and testosterone driven fighting aggressive idiots who want to do nothing but fight each other at playtime and worst of all he's started to notice the other kids laughing at his quirks and (I suspect) his tics. Sad

My log/list of problems document is now up to 11 pages and counting and my heart is breaking for him.

I asked if he would be happier if I taught him at home for a while and he became really distressed, insisting that he wants to stay at school. He says he likes afternoons (ICT, Science, Cricket Club, topic/curriculum work) but dreads and hates every morning (Literacy, maths, verbal reasoning and he's still being removed from guided reading to do handwriting despite the SENCO promising me that would cease as of our meeting three weeks ago Angry). This is being borne out by his feelings diary, which is getting zeros again for the first time since year 4. He never get's higher than a 4 for mornings or lunch these days, but afternoons are often a 10 after he's done a science experiment or been working on something in ICT.

I hate having to wait until next Wednesday to go in there and sort them out. I hate the looks his teachers (and actually other teachers around the school) are giving me when I go to drop off and pick up every day. I just want it all to stop. Sad

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inappropriatelyemployed · 17/10/2012 20:40

Terrible, moose, I am sorry.

What is it with the practice SATS? DS is in a mixed Y5/Y6 class and they ahve been doing them this week, of course, with no mention to me and no extra time etc despite it allowing for this in his statement.

moosemama · 17/10/2012 20:40

I already have Tree! Grin

I think I have just about convinced him his SAT marks were good - for now. No doubt he'll lose faith again as soon as he crosses the school threshold tomorrow morning.

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moosemama · 17/10/2012 20:42

I really don't know IE.

At parents information evening they went on about how they don't make a big deal about the SATs and they wouldn't be working on them until the Spring so not to get all stressed and rush out and buy practice paper yadda, yadda - and then this, with absolutely no warning. Confused

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treedelivery · 17/10/2012 20:44

Could you con him with something? Like needing to stay off because you are all in quaranteen for chicken pox or school shut as the heating broke? Would he know it was rubbish - I reckon I could get away with it with dd but she is only just 8.

Of tell school he is coming in for afternoons and you will cover all the morning work. And if they don't like it - they can see you in a meeting sometime you are free.

Bless you must be ragged.

moosemama · 17/10/2012 20:47

No chance - there's no pulling the wool over his eyes I'm afraid and besides, we live opposite the school, so he'd see everyone going to and from.

I am musing the idea of sending him for afternoons only if I am not satisfied with the answers and solutions they offer, but am worried about the fact that I am completely crap at maths myself. Blush He does mathletics and maths whizz online though and is really good at them both. In fact he made the top 100 uk pupils list on mathletics yesterday due to the amount of points he earned ... and this is the boy that's no good at maths - allegedly. Hmm

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treedelivery · 17/10/2012 20:57

That's it. Afternoons. Until he is healed from this stressful time and until school get themselves sorted.

If he sits about and practices a few times tables he will learn more than he will in his current situation. No meaningful learning can take place under such stress - of this I am 100% certain. Even if it did, at what cost. A half term of missed curriculum maths (as opposed to some essential mathematical concept that no adult can survive without like....er.....well....) will in no way hold him back from a 1st from Oxford in astrophysics. But it might just teach him not to trust a single soul or to trust learning. Which is a big fat worry for kids like ours - as I reckon it will be one if their biggest comforts in life.

Bollocks to it, stay home on the cold mornings and have a good life. I'll stop ranting now Grin

treedelivery · 17/10/2012 20:59

I am sorry for ranting though Blush. I feel I have had an epiphany this year. I read about someone like expat, who's daughter went from diagnosis to loosing the battle in probaby less that a bloody school year. I might be a bit evangelical about it all. SOrry!!! Flowers

moosemama · 17/10/2012 21:12

Rant away Tree. You are absolutely right, I just wish I could get him to see it. How can I possibly take him out of school when he is clinging onto it for dear life. He get's really distressed at the mere suggestion.

I'm not giving up on it totally though, if they don't get their arses into gear I will at the very least insist he only does afternoons and might even refuse permission for him to sit the bloody SATs. (I suggested that to him today as well, but he said he wants to do them because everyone else is. )

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