Do we have a school report support thread?

[elliejjtiny]

3 dc at school. DS1who has aspergers syndrome had a great school report. DS2 who has physical disabilities got "working towards" in pe but the rest of it was good. DS3 has a hearing impairment. His report was full of criticism from the teacher saying he doesn't listen, he writes too slow and he doesn't join in.

It's all a bit depressing and of course facebook is full of proud parents all saying how wonderful their dc's reports were.

Thinking about it ds1's was much the same as I would have written about his school. Could do better! Hopefully, both will have a more productive year next time although given he is now onto his fourth HT in as many years somehow I doubt it.

Both my DC firmly in the 'developing towards' (ie lowest) band. DS who is off to special school managed to cobble together a couple of ticks in the middle band unlike allegedly neurotypical DD. Except that she did mainly OK in the computing section. good to know those furtive midnight hours on her kindle under the bedclothes weren't entirely pointless. In light of which I find her teacher's comment that she is 'joy to teach' [who has been taught nothing] and a 'happy and engaged learner' [who has learned nothing] rather infuriating.

My DD is just finishing reception and has ASD. Her report was all emerging, which doesn't really reflect the fact that she's had a great year and made loads of progress.

I was ok about it until I logged in brag-book and then I felt a bit shit. Comparison is the thief of joy!

Ds1 has Aspergers and enjoys school even though he struggles. His report was pretty good although the comment from his Drama teacher about needing to "put himself in other people's shoes" made me roll my eyes somewhat. Also lots of stuff about needing to start quicker and stay focused...well they stopped him sucking his thumb which he used to helped him focus...still who listens to me?

DS2 was actually better than expected (ADHD and ASD) but I dispute the idea that a child hiding under desks, running away and having problems every break time with friendships is "working at expected level" in PSHE. His teacher is lovely but I think she was trying to make me feel better.

reports just show hoew the school did. obviously your dc3's report shows how little understanding the school have of your child.

Thankyou, I knew you would understand. Dc3's ticks in boxes aren't too bad considering but this teacher seems to think he has his SN on purpose to annoy her. With a bit of extra effort he does really well but she doesn't seem to want to make the extra effort.

DS2 has just finished reception, ASD and significant speech delay/disorder. He has had a great year and come so far, had expected in 7 areas and emerging in 10. Last and overall comment "not achieving good level of development"

Ds last report as he is leaving primary school (mainstream) Below expected standard . I'm seriously considering not going to the leavers assembly as I have endured 7 years of listening to weekly assemblies praising the "always children". Something my child could never achieve

Just read an article about how hearing impairment can affect behaviour and school. Suddenly DC3's behaviour at school makes sense, the tiredness, getting frustrated and sensory seeking. I've been telling the teacher that I thought his behaviour was linked to his hearing but she won't listen.

ellie yes it most definitely does. It's mostly known as "listening fatigue" does your ds have an EHCP? And do they have a ToD, because your ToD needs to be getting into school and training ds' teachers.
"Doesn't listen" and "doesn't join in" are very obvious signs (and now written evidence) that his hearing needs are not being met by his school.

No EHCP. TBH after trying to get one for my dc4 who is 4 but is developing at 2 years behind his actual age and being laughed at by some of his professionals then I hadn't considered it for dc3. No ToD either. He was meant to be getting hearing aids but audiology and ent couldn't agree on whether his hearing was bad enough.

I looked at his school books he brought home and was quite shocked at how bad his hearing must be. When he tries to spell words he doesn't know he does it phonetically as lots of children his age do. But he's made a lot of weird mistakes, got a and I muddled a lot because to him they sound the same.

The test with the headphones and the beeping show his hearing is 20 decibels (0-20 is normal, 100 is profoundly deaf) but when the ent dr sat behind him and asked DC to repeat the numbers he said then DC's response indicated a much more severe hearing impairment. I'm wondering if there is some other problem as well as the hearing like dyslexia/dyspraxia and he is more severely affected by a mild hearing loss.

His writing book and school reports are full of comments from the teacher about how he has to have instructions repeated to him several times or he won't do anything. He does his homework really well but only when I give him my full attention and don't try and supervise all 3 boys at once.

His new year 2 teacher seems really enthusiastic about him but I'm worried that if he doesn't get some help then the new teacher will get fed up with him too.

Do you think maybe some kind of auditory processing disorder? This is what I am wondering about my DS 9. For instance he will say instead of Aston Martin 'Aston Morton' [in a very pronounced way]. I guess if they are not processing what they hear accurately (or conventionally) to the extent that they don't say it right (conventionally) then understandable that it could badly affect reading and writing.

So his Audi results show hearing in the beep test as around 20dbs, (is that across all the frequencies?) do you remember did they test each ear individually or together.
But in speech discrimination (by ENT) he's scoring very low.

To me it does look like there is something else going on. Like the ent and Audi haven't joined up all the dots.
shy's suggestion of auditory processing, or ANSD could be a possibility.

I would suggest contacting the NDCS, they have a wealth of knowledge, and have most definitely come across situations like your ds' before.

Also google the "ling sounds" (there's loads of exercises you can do to help him recognise them in what he is hearing) but if he's not hearing them, then I think you would have a case for getting him hearing aids, at least on a trial basis to see whether they help. You may want to consider PALS involvement if the 2 departments can't agree and he's speech/hearing/learning is suffering as a result of something not happening that should be happening.

I immediately thought audio processing disorder too.

I've learnt to use school reports as evidence of unmet need and a starting point to ask schools what they are doing about x y and z.

I've also learnt not to take them to heart but rather ask the school if they think it's appropriate to point out dc struggle with ...... at the end of year having not a) mentioned it to parents before or b) put in support