An honest answer

[sweetteamum]

How can I get an honest answer if a school can meet DS's needs?

LA have suggested a school to us. I'd like to go and visit but unsure of what to ask/look out for. Things do Go over my head and I can generally fall for the 'sales pitch' some SENco's give.

How do I ensure I do the right thing by my DS?

Are there any things that are particular to your DS? Things like intolerance of noise, limited diet, particular phobias? Ask a few pointed questions about how they would deal with things like that. Being specific about something that is tricky for you/him tends to side step the marketing, somewhat.

So basically think of a few examples of his personal identified needs, then ask how they'd deal with those issues?

I'm just so naive at times, like to see the best in people but want the best for my DC's

In my experience it it very difficult because senco's have a tendency towards promising all sorts of things that they actually have no idea if they can provide or not!!

Sorry, that is not very positive!

Are you looking at special schools? I would hope that they might be more honest!

That's my theory too, Ineed!

The LA want us to look at a mainstream with specialist teachers there.

Tbh I'm not convinced about it as DS has already struggled in MS with 121, and they're not offering anything extra, apart from the specialist teachers on site.

Go along with the paperwork, and ask very specific questions. Ask how they would differentiate for DS, how they would support him, and ask specifically about things that are particular to him - e.g. (no idea if this applies or not) can they provide a quiet area for him or somewhere he can go if he needs a bolthole, what are the supervision arrangements during breaks, are they used to providing SALT and OT programmes in class etc. Have a look at this book.

Some of the questions could relate to how many SEN kids like dc they are dealing with.
And crucially what the other SEN kids are like. How many are there? In dc's class, in the school?

Hard facts and figures are hard to argue with.

What are the qualifications of the specialist teachers? What are their hours? How many kids does each teacher have to work with? Can you meet them?

If the SENCo and staff are keen to say they have a lovely break out room which SEN kids can use for calming down, then find out what experience they have of kids needing to use it. Do kids use it when they have a melt down? Or at other times? Is it used for anything else? How many kids are in the school at the moment who use it? what they do when more than one kid melts down at the same time.

Hope this helps

You know your DS best.

When looking round the school, ask yourself what they have that they can offer your DS on his worst day? If he is really anxious, or in the middle of a meltdown, what would they be able to offer him to calm him?

Also, if it is a special school, then peer group is very important.

Good point isabella a friend and I went to look at our nearest secondary resourced provision for our children and when we asked the "senco" what they do if a child has a meltdown, she said "Oh we tell them they are big now and they soon stop doing it!!"

Needless to say we left not long after!!

Ineed

Wow, thank you all for the great suggestions. I really appreciate all your replies. I'll get my questions typed up and hopefully I'll have someone with me who could write the answers down.

I'm feeling very nervous about it but I do need to remember and keep in my head, that I'm doing this all for DS.

Could I just pick your brains again.

I'm not sure what to do.

DS was unable to cope in small mainstream school with full time 121. Not including breaks and lunches as he likes to stay with friends, to save standing out!!

LA have suggested this school, which has just gone into special measures apparently and has about 500 more pupils on roll. And it's a much bigger school.

Yes, they've got specialist teachers but should I go with it or am I right to be concerned.