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SN children

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Original poster

Extra tutoring - should I enforce it?

24 replies

youarekiddingme · 10/01/2015 08:47

DS is in year 6 and 10yo. Waiting for ASD assessment which will start about May time.

He struggles massively with literacy and has a lot of support in school and some work we do at home as part of his reading - IEP target.

However he is a good mathematician. He came home yesterday with a letter saying he's been selected for additional maths lesson after school in higher level mathematics skills. (Top,students in year group are invited) Starts as a 7 week programme.

He is adamant he wasn't want to go. I think he should. Or at least he should give it a go. I don't care about the school getting their SATS results but think it would benefit DS to have so,etching he excels at. Problem is that he doesn't really engage in the whole - "what a privilege" thing!

Would you enforce at least giving it a go or am I blindsided by my proudness that he has been recognised for something positive.

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PolterGoose · 10/01/2015 09:09

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Original poster

youarekiddingme · 10/01/2015 09:44

He does my maths for his homework!

They do differentiate in class. The whole year group is split into 2 and then they are split into ability groups again.

I do think it's for the school to get him doing L6 maths - he did a test paper before Christmas. From what teacher said on phone yesterday it's to teach them things they don't cover within the curriculum in year 6. So extra skills iyswim?
I don't want him to do it for schools results - I do just think it would be good for him to realise he has an ability in something - something positive iyswim? He knows he's good at maths and ICT but I don't think he realises his own potential.

But I am concerned that reaching that potential could have an affect on him emotionally. (Eg too much pressure). There's no way I'd allow that to continue as it's counter productive.

I guess the only real way to know is to give it a try and make it clear to school it's on a basis that I feel it's benefitting DS himself and that he's coping.

I also think the benefits to DS will be realising if you put effort in you can get more out - I'm just not entirely sure he's there yet emotionally iyswim?

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PolterGoose · 10/01/2015 10:25

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AgnesDiPesto · 10/01/2015 12:39

It will be a group for level 6 SATS
Its because they can't get through the level 6 curriculum in class time
My older son did this (not SEN) and was annoyed he had to. He didn't pass the level 6 in the end as the school started it too late and didn't get through enough of the curriculum (and because he wasn't motivated)
He still got a scholarship, a bursary and is in the top 3 of the top set at indi secondary.
I found the level 6 SATS unnecessary pressure - its not just the group they had to do practice papers at home. The only kids who passed it were the ones whose parents did loads at home.It doesn't benefit them at secondary, in fact many schools prefer if haven't done it as only have to do cover same ground all over again in year 7 and obviously most primary teachers are not specialist maths teachers. Many year 7 teachers would rather the kids come in solidly at top level 5 and started level 6 work then.
If you want to stretch him then something like learning an instrument, coding etc
I would ask how much homework there will be / practice papers as tbh it turned into a bit of a burden for me.

Ineedmorepatience · 10/01/2015 12:59

Also beware that the level 6 tests will be done in the afternoon and the non level 6 pupils will be doing something nice! Or even in the case of Dd3's primary sent home after afternoon register!

My friends Aspie Dd was extremely upset about having to stay and felt like she was being punished for being clever!

senvet · 10/01/2015 13:02

I am with you about running with an enthusiasm for maths and ICT.
Some ASD kids (any kids actually) have a problem with praise though. If he is enthusiastic about maths, then he might like it if he gives it a try. If not, there will be lots of ICT/maths stuff he can do at home.

With ASD stuff to work with all day, he may have had enough of class by the time he gets home. That said, the 2ndry class day would be longer so it might be useful for you both to see how a longer day feels.

Would they give you the stuff to try at home? Maybe it is yet-another-class that is putting him off. There are online tutors advertising on Tutor Hunt...

Original poster

youarekiddingme · 10/01/2015 14:00

Thanks all. Lots to think over.

Obviously the schools motives are their level 6 maths targets! They are great with pupils but I know what their biggest motivation is.

My biggest priority is my DS. I want him to have a great skill under his belt and stand out positively in something - but not at the expense of his mental health.

Thanks for explaining why it is they can't cover this curriculum when they are differentiating in class.

He's likely just to scrape a level 3 in literacy - writing!

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Original poster

youarekiddingme · 10/01/2015 14:01

Oh and DS won't care about when the test is and what others are doing. He thinks tests are great because no one is allowed to talk during them.

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Ineedmorepatience · 10/01/2015 14:10

Oh that is fine then, Dd3 is the same tbh unless the alternative is being at home because for her that is always preferable to school!

Original poster

youarekiddingme · 10/01/2015 14:18

Yes, I think if so thought he could be home on minecraft instead it wouldn't appeal at all. However even if school allow students home he won't be because I work FT.

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Ineedmorepatience · 10/01/2015 14:21

Beware with the literacy that they dont over support him to push him upto a 4 so that they dont have a blip in their figures! This happens suprisingly frequently and then the child ends up in the wrong set at secondary!

PolterGoose · 10/01/2015 14:23

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Original poster

youarekiddingme · 10/01/2015 15:09

They are working on his literacy. He has a lot of support within school - on phonics etc and handwriting and sentence structure. I have no fear they'll manage try and push his literacy to a level 4. Despite all the input he's gone from a 2b to a 3c in 3 years and a term! (Although it's more likely he was a true 1a when he started juniors).

He really struggles with the whole writing thing - he also did a 10 week therapeutic story writing group. When we saw physio the other week he said he highly suspects DS has dysgraphia because of all the difficulties and the fact he has hypotonia.

His reading is average. He understands facts etc but does struggle with inference of text.

I'm meeting senco Tuesday with the ed psych for behaviour and learning. I think I'll ask to add this to the agenda - thrash out the benefits for DS against all the possible negatives and have a clear pathway of what we think constitutes success if he does give it a go and what initial flags will be markers to say stop.

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Original poster

youarekiddingme · 10/01/2015 15:11

If he comes out a level 4 in literacy I'll be asking for an external moderation! There is no way DS is capable of that. And his secondary I've applied for do catch up programmes which the receive funding for on top of his sen funding so I don't want any inaccuracies which will result in funding being pulled along with support.

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PolterGoose · 10/01/2015 16:20

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Ineedmorepatience · 10/01/2015 17:35

Keep on top of it youare I am sure you will but they are as slippery as eels!! Dont take your eye off the ball like I did!

marne2 · 10/01/2015 18:46

Dd1 (aspergers) was also selected for the extra maths course ( she calls it maths club ), this involves her going with one other child to the high school, she has been once and really enjoyed it, she's sitting level 6 maths for her SAT's. I have never been a fan of SATs but dd is quite excited because she's actually good at it, most of the kids in her class get awards for sport and swimming and she is useless at these things, she's really pleased that she's sitting the higher papers and gets to go to maths club with her friend.

marne2 · 10/01/2015 18:49

Your DS sounds very similar to my dd, she has hypotonia and dyspraxia too ( which is why sports not her thing ), literacy is her favourite subject though, she is hoping to sit level 6 for this too but most of the literacy is now based on work done in the class rather than a paper.

Original poster

youarekiddingme · 10/01/2015 21:11

DS saw a physio a few weeks ago who said he has probable dysgraphia, fine motor coordination dysfunction, general hypotonia and a dyspraxia symptomology. He said it requires further assessment for full dx. He's a good swimmer (but slow to master strokes) - but sport is not his thing. He slipped when doing apparatus at school on Friday and teacher had to go up and physically lift him out as he got his legs stuck!

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senvet · 10/01/2015 21:42

I have 2 DCs with trouble writing for different reasons - DS is dyslexic and DD is hypermobile.

We were lucky that we had a windfall and could afford independent OT Julia Teretryan (Chelsea Children's Therapy) to get under the analysis of what was going on, what writing exercises etc would help give the neurology a workout for the dyslexia and what physical exercises would help DD. And in both cases she recommended work arounds - the rights chair, pencils with grips, and touch typing.

With ASD in the pipeline it would be worth getting someone who can cover all the sensory stuff as well. Julia doesn't like doing tribunals, but Miri Horovitz Cohen at OT London is fine with them.

Money well spent if you can afford it. Shout if you can't and I'll see what I can think of

Original poster

youarekiddingme · 10/01/2015 21:51

Tanks Senvet I have access to sensory OT through work she gives me suggestions for DS and can do private assessment if I need. I am doing self referral to OT first - I've just shivered you can do this now under our local offer.

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senvet · 10/01/2015 22:14

Great news!

DS (dyslexic/dyspraxic) had a teacher once who said 'I can't think and spell at the same time'.
DS said 'you're lucky. I can't think and write at the same time'.

It is that distraction from the process that lots of people don't get.

It hasn't stopped him thriving since he left school.

Good Luck

Original poster

youarekiddingme · 10/01/2015 22:44

Thanks. The EP suggested laptop for DS as a future consideration. This new information should help reinforce this. The Academy I've applied for are an academy of maths and ICT, very hot on sen and strongly supportive of icts as an education resource.
The senco is ringing me Monday to discuss DS IPA and what he needs support wise.

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senvet · 12/01/2015 00:54

Brilliant. The independent OT you have to hand can really help a willing school get sorted out what to put in fro day 1.

My dad's friend had her DS OT-assessed and he has gone to a similar academy to the one you describe. Everyone has a tablet, so no-one really notices that he has his print size huge, but they are jealous of the fact he can touch type already and they are still plugging away....

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