Mainstream versus special school

[Sunnyd1234]

Hi All,
My daughter has always been at the bottom of the class and behind since about 1 1/2years old. At MS primary her teachers have said at the end of the year 1 that's she hadn't really accessed the curriculum and won't in year two. She has real trouble writing letters and can just about read the letters of the alphabet and basic words like 'it'.
Until now they have said not to worry and there were four kids in the intervention group in her year. She was the last to get a spelling book but only by 3 weeks. Now suddenly they are saying she won't catch up and it would be kinder to go to special school though they will do their best if she stays. They say she needs a smaller class size. Currently 31 in class. She has no consistent friends at school -basically- she's not wanted but one good friend out of school who is a year younger. She is kind and caring but a bit bossy. I am wondering whether to try a small mainstream school (there are some with places) or look at special school. The school have been told to do six weeks assess cycles for possible EHCP but I feel they have exaggerated issues in the report. She has AEN funding but they say they won't do anything different. I think they can't cope with 4 children with issues in the class even with a full time TA.
Any thoughts?
Sunny

I'd want to know more about what SEN, she has -

1. general learning disabilities - like moderate or severe

1. specific learning difficulties - like any combination of autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, speech and/or language disorder, ADHD or what?

For instance, if DD has severe language disorder and maybe dyslexia, then I would be looking for specialist speech and language provision, such as a language unit (at primary)?

If DD has moderate learning disability (MLD), then I would be looking at the special schools for MLD - because she should not be put in a severe learning disability school!

Likewise, if she has severe learning disability (SLD), then I would be looking for a special SLD school; not a MLD school.

Its a case of horses for courses - or at least the best fit in the circumstances!

First thing, I would be asking for is assessments for an EHC plan, by:

1. an educational psychologist (to see what her cognitive level is such as within the "normal" intelligence range or MLD or SLD; memory, processing, reading, writing, spelling and maths)
2. a speech and language therapist (to look at her language)
3. an occupational therapist (to look at her gross and fine motor skills in particular)

She would need an EHC plan to get into a special school anyway.

I am surprised they are talking about special school before having requested assessment for an ehcp. From what you have said I would want the ehcp within the mainstream setting to see how she is with 1 to 1 support. I would also say it might not be the right mainstream school (but get your ehcp before you move). My son has moderate learning disability and at nearly 9 is at a 3/4 year old level. He has had 25hrs 1 to 1 support in a small rural school that have been incredibly positive and proactive. He has learnt a great deal socially but is now moving to special school as the gap is just too big and I think he will benefit from learning life skills. I don’t think I would look at ss with a delay of 1.5years until the school have put in appropriate support and just so long as she is happy. All the best

It's a tough one but it does become clearer as they get older. I moved my son from MS to SS this year, year 5, and am happy with my decision. I should imagine he has moderate learning disability. He's 10 and I'm only just beginning to feel that he will eventually be able to read properly (writing and maths still at square one). I would've thought you would need an EHCP for SS anyway. And yes the school should try 1 to 1 first - the local authority would probably require them to anyway - although with my son I found it made little difference academically.

What hedgey said.

At this point I wokld focus on getting an EHCP in place and/or moving to a more supportive special school.

Ds is just coming to the end of year 3. Plodded for reception and year 1 got an EHCP in place for the start of year 2 which met his needs at that point, we are now at the point of getting it changed because we know for next year he will need much more support to keep on accessing the curriculum.

As he gets older the gap certainly gets much bigger, it is pretty universally accepted that he won’t be able to access mainstream for secondary but we are trying everything to make it work for the rest of primary (obviously knowing that cojld change!)

Thanks for your thoughts. I was a bit surprised that they started hinting without having had an ed psych assessment. She apparently has some 1 to 1 but we have recently had extra tutoring for an hour a week outside school which have made a huge difference to her attitude to learning so I feel the school aren't really doing enough.
I have found 2 small schools local ish.
Thanks will let you know how we go!