SENCOS, helpful or Not?

[jenk1]

I am interested to hear experiences of SENCOS.

Right heres mine.

DS- DS parents think he has ASD, I as SENCO do not think he has ASD rather that his troubles have started at home and have now spilled over into school, i dont recommend ANY parent withdrawing their child from school-what about their social skills, its wrong.

DD- DD doesnt have a language delay, its the tests to determine language problems that are wrong NOT DD, this dx that the CDC has given her, i dont agree with one bit, i do not think she is ASD.

And today when i dropped DD off at nursery, usually go straightaway but the manager asked me a question and because i stood there for 30 seconds longer than usual DD went into meltdown, crying and screaming, along comes Mrs SENCO wagging her finger at me and says "She,s doing that because YOU are talking and you have not stuck to her routine"

Stupid Stupid woman.............

.

DS2'S playschool SENCO, nice enough & did lots of 1 to 1 language work which really helped, as for anything else she has a standard response.
"ooh my little one does that" I feel like suggesting she gets him assessed!
When I discuss all the things he struggles with, she says but he's managing to climb & he never has tantrums.... Autistic kids have tantrums, he can't have autism...
Given up asking her opinion now, If it isn't a physical disbility or doesn't seem to fit nicely with a dx she doesn't have a clue.
Even when I gave her copies of the reports from CDC she tutted & said "my little one did that,
they don't know what they are talking about"

Umm, she sounds like the SENCO at DD,s nursery!!!!!

They must all be trained in having the same responses to parents

I have to say that the one at DS1's school is very good. She has always been really helpful, understanding and pro-active.

maybe I'm being a little unfair?? she has been interested in finding out about his CP, perhaps she is just trying to spare my feelings & be positive about any possible further dx.
But being so dismissive makes me feel like a neurotic mother.

as a teacher have worked with horrid sencos who just seem to have no idea.

However in the UK - worked with a brilliant senco - won national teaching award - she was just fab - knew her stuff, very empathic and supportive of families, teachers etc.

For what it's worth....

All Early Years Settings SENCos in the UK are supposed to be supported by an Area SENCo, who is part of the LEA EYDCP.

Every SENCo should be visited once a term by the Area SENCo, who offers advice, support, guidance, training and will also talk to parents, as well as 'model' good practice directly with individual children.

You could try asking your SENCo to ask the Area SENCo to observe your child, during the next visit ( you will need to give written Parental Consent. This does not mean you are 'going over the head of your SENCo', just that you would like another opinion, to rule out anything untoward, IYKWIM!

Hope that helps.

Jenk, AFAIK, SENCOs are trained in being SENCOs, not in special needs. Some are brilliant, some are crap and the rest somewhere in between.

But they know very little about the conditions that they are working with although some try hard to get that knowledge.

Unfortunately the education system gives them very little time to do that - it seems to depend on the motivation of the individual.

The SENCO at ds1's school is excellent and seems to really know her stuff. Ds1's IEPs are always well-written and his progress is monitored.

I think it helps if a SENCO doesn't have to teach as well as doing the SEN-related stuff. Being willing and able to keep up via courses etc also helps. As usual though it will often come down to funding.

SENCO was pointless in our situation.
Had no interest in the position, and was also the Deputy Head, so had no time to spend on the role.