Just been given an IEP with 'Moderate Learning Difficulties' on the top

[noodlesmummy75]

Background: My daughter is 6, year 2, and a late July baby. She is currently on reading level 5 and manages this well. I am well aware that she isn't at the top of her class but I, and previous teachers, have put this down in part to her being summer born and she is on a par with other summer borns in her class. We had parents evening about 4 weeks ago, and the teacher said that there were a number of children who needed extra support but she didn't seem overly worried and didn't mention SEN or IEP's. Positive comments are always written in her book share book each week.

On Monday this week at pick up, her teacher gestured to me to come into the classroom and handed me two IEP's, with 'Moderate Learning Difficulty' in the header. As she handed it to me she told me that it was "nothing to worry about" and my daughter wasn't the only child getting one, and asked me to sign and return. (I know of at least 2 other children who received one, and there could be more). I took it home and discussed it with my husband and both of us felt unhappy with the way it was delivered to us, (ie, not in a meeting or at parents evening), and the implication that she has a 'Moderate Learning Difficulty' with no specific detail as to what that means for her, (as it seems to be a very broad term which is applicable to children with all sorts of special educational needs).

I welcome extra help if she needs more support with her learning, but I am uncomfortable with her being 'labelled' in this way, (as far as I know they haven't brought in any external agencies to make these assessments).

We have a meeting on Tuesday morning and I want to address this is in a moderate and sensible manner and wondered if any one had experience of a similar IPE scenario or an implication that their child had 'Moderate Learning Difficulties', when they didn't agree? The fact that the teacher told me that 'she isn't the only one' actually worried me more as I am concerned it masks failings in the way they are teaching?

Am I correct in thinking that if a child is considered SEN then the school don't have to include their attainment marks in the schools SATS results? (This is an outstanding school in the leafy suburbs of Surrey).

This is my youngest daughter, oldest in 10, and I have never had any issues like this previously. Many thanks in advance.

She won't be considered officially as SEN unless she has a statement and that sounds some way off, if ever. An IEP can be a temporary measure to work on a specific area and KS1 SATS are a non event anyway. Do point out that the teacher is not qualified to diagnose and therefore it is inappropriate to use such a term without due assessment by a qualified professional having taken place .

thank you for your response Lizs. I feel a little cross that they have used the term of 'Moderate Learning Difficulty' with out any discussion or explanation, and I will ask for further clarification.

No way a teacher is qualified to diagnose MLD!! Your child would have been through a whole battery of tests before a real professional gave a label like that. I would be speaking to the Head teacher about the whole thing!!

Sorry you and your Dd have been treated like that.

Teachers are perfectly able to assess whether children have moderate learning difficulties and are often the first to pick them up, as they work with a vast range of children on a daily basis. I agree that this was tactlessly done. I usually have iep meetings with parents once per term to update on progress and set new targets. But an iep in the first instance is usually there to ensure that children who need extra support are given daily intervention to help them catch up with their peers, which has got to be a good thing as she will get more 1:1 time. I've known children go on and off the iep process when it's necessary, so this won't necessarily be something that sticks unless it is required to support your daughter. It should also say on the iep things you can do at home to support her e.g. activities to reinforce what she's doing in school. What are her targets? This could really help your daughter gain confidence and flourish, if you and the school work together.

Thank you for the responses. My H and I have a meeting with her teacher this morning. We expressed that we were upset with the way this IEP was delivered to us, and asked her to explain the usage of Moderate Learning Difficulty with regards to our daughter. She didn't do well on the phonics test that all year 1 children are given, which is largely where this IEP has come from, and she is a summer born. As I said to the teacher, I have no problem accepting extra help for my DD, I know that she is behind were she needs to be at this stage. As a parent I honestly don't feel she has 'learning difficulties'. In Australia it is common practise to keep summer children back a year apparently, our system is so crude that it does a disservice to summer borns in my opinion.

The teacher has agreed to amend the IEP so that it doesn't state 'Moderate Learning Difficulties' on the top. I do not feel that labels are appropriate for her at this stage. I think there is more that we can do at home to support her, (which we are now doing with gusto!), but if it does appear that she isn't improving with the extra help, or seems to be struggling then of course I would welcome further intervention, and in that scenario I can see how a diagnosis like that could benefit her.

This whole thing makes me feel so sad though, she's a funny, bright, & very artistic little girl and I hate that there is so much pressure already. I had been toying with the idea of getting her a tutor based on this but in my heart I know that wouldn't be the right thing to do, she's too young and I don't want her to feel that her self worth is solely connected with her academic achievement. (climbs off soap box).

What are the IEP targets?

to write phase 2 & 3 phonemes/graphemes, to blend graphemes. to segment words and retell a story etc.

Can I just say that we have had a number of 'story retells' to do and the feedback in her bookshare has always been positive, and has stated that she retold the story well etc, so why is this suddenly a target? Again, I am not being defensive, but I do feel there has been a bit of a break down in communication somewhere. However, onwards and upwards, I need to help her get to where she needs to be.

Does anyone have any links to useful pages or places where I can learn about helping her with her literacy?

How are these targets going to be worked on? Who is going to do it and how will you know they are met?