sa+

[WhenWeMet]

Hi, my Ds is 7 and on sa+. He doesn't seem to be getting on very well.
The class teacher approached me last week and said they had broken down the y3 work the best they could for him but he isn't making enough progress. Their answer to this is to place him in a y2 class for literacy and numeracy.
I have agreed to this in principal but having had some time to think about it and speaking to my local parent partnership, I'm not so sure. Ds seems fine about it and there is another child from his class also doing this and another child from y4!
Has anybody else experienced this? I'm finding this sen business a complete mine field.
We are waiting for him to be seen by an E.P but to be honest from previous experience and other research I can't see what this will achieve?
Any advice please?

To me it would depend how it were being done. If it's "ds going to the Yr2 class" then I wouldn't be happy, but if it's "Yr2 and Yr3 setting for some subjects" and there's several children mixing up for those lessons, then that would be very different.

If his needs are not being met on SA plus then I would apply for a Statement of special needs from the LEA and asap. This would also entail the EP being sent into school.

EP can only make recommendations re additional educational needs, they cannot make any diagnosis.

Seek too independent medical advice from the likes of IPSEA and SOSSEN. Both unlike Parent Partnership are independent and impartial.
IPSEA's website is www.ipsea.org.uk - I would be speaking to them about what the school have proposed as well.

WhenWemet I have a ds on SA+ for 3 +years (sorry he started in yr2 and is now in yr 5).
My initial reaction to this was NOOOOOO but is he going to be going into the yr2 classroom lesson..or is he getting grouped with outside teacher for support group ?

If he is not progressing they need to know WHY ...If it is a classroom setting problem, just changing year groups is not going to solve that .

Ds is progressing very slowly .but can read now due to outside Literacy support lady (specialist?)

If he is on SA+ school has funds for this .

My ds would have been demoralised to have go down a year group class but....loves going out for his "special" lessons .

They need to be working out why and not "sweeping things into the corner" with the progression thing.

Ds had tests which showed in literacy he was 3+years behind but his 1-1 lit support is bringing him up AND giving him confidence which is really important.

I could carry on but I wont !!....But school need to think of something else

Hope you get it sorted soon ....It can be a long battle !

If the school sayhe isn't making progress on sa+ and they can't break it down any more it screams time 'can't meet his needs'. I think you have a good case for statutory assessment.

My eldest was in a mixed years class so would be in with younger kids one year and older kids the next year. But what if this doesn't work? What will they propose then? Staying in that year group? It's not a great long term solution

This totally goes against the principles of Statements. You should ask for Stat assessment. As said before to physically move a child back a year is wrong. Differentiating work is ok though. If the school admit its not working at SA+ then the next step is logically a statement and further action. I went from School action to Statement for Independent school at year 7 - so do not worry about the process. My regret was not knowing earlier that she should have statement.