Transition - SEN support question

[overripebanana]

So, yesterday I was asked to go into school this morning to meet the Head and my child's teacher re support with transition into Y2. DS has missed lots of school due to chronic illness and has displayed some challenging behaviour this year, some hitting (mostly in retaliation to hitting/ unkindness but also 2 random incidents), saying no to adults (refusing initially to work with others, not stopping silly play when told to first time etc). He also needs lots of support in curriculum time.

We thought, with lots of support from us/ the school... that things had improved but we were told today he had a really bad week last week and they want to put support in place for next year. I know his class teacher, who is very negative with my DS, has pushed for this and I'm worried about their agenda. They want us to sign a document which they say is to give permission for DS to be taken out of class twice a week for 1-1 with a SEN LSA. I'm really not sure what to do and am worried about signing documents and 'sending my child down the SEN SEMH route' aged 6. Any thoughts or support very much welcome. I feel really ambushed and worried about what is best to do for my child. Please help if you can I feel so confused. DS is really looking forward to Y2 and I am heartbroken for him.

I say if the school are offering support take it!
But I would want to be clear on what outcomes they are hoping to achieve with the LSA support. So you can monitor it.
Lots of children are offered LSA support - it's not a negative thing at all.

You have identified he has areas he is finding harder for whatever reason, School have identified the same and are wanting to provide support early on - I would say bite their hand off!

Also, if he was struggling with handwriting or maths you would expect school to put support in to help him - it's no difficult when it comes to emotional / communication development. Some children just need a bit of extra support.

Thanks, I've got the letter they referred to in the meeting and it is to work with a learning mentor not an L S A. So would this mean looking at support with just SEMH not learning and cognitive too? Why do I have to sign a letter? Will this put my D'S on the register and stay on his school record? (We are hoping to move). Sorry for all the questions.

I think you need to ask the school to clarify what the learning mentor will be doing with your DS - and if they don't know ask if you can chat directly to them (I have tracked down many an LA professional in the past to do this as schools don't always know!).
I think it's fine to do that before you sign anything.
I think you have to sign to agree to anyone external working with your DC.
Again I think you need to ask school if your DS is on the SEN register, but even if he is try not to see it as a negative. All it means is they have identified he needs a bit of extra support at the moment.
That could all change by this time next year.

This will be to try and address the challenging behaviour. A learning mentor will give him emotional support so that he is in a better place to learn.

Why will it matter if it goes on your son's record?

I guess I am worried it will affect his chances of being accepted into a new school, competition is high where we are hoping to move to. Also the Head said the learning mentor was employed by the school, so that is why I'm confused about the signing. Ellie I am not ashamed of my son's needs or intending to show prejudice here, I just want what is best for him.

Yes I'm not sure why they need you to sign . Have you asked why?

Really you are going to have to be upfront with any school you want to move to. If he needs support in the school he is already in, he is going to need support in any other school, especially in the early days, when everything is new and strange.

You are right Ellie. Thank you I will ask.

One of the things we signed when we started school was a generic permission for any kinds of intervention groups - everyone in the school has agreed to it - and most kids go out to do something or other over the course of a week - from motor skills to speaking and listening or social skills work. Both my kids go for some intervention or other - with my very high achieving one it's social skills and my other one is - well a shopping list!

Signing may also have been to consent to information being shared, especially if it is someone they are buying in.

I had to sign consent a few weeks for ds to be discussed at an ed psych group meeting the senco was attending

Thanks so much, you have really set my mind at ease. I know DS is lucky to get any support - I've taken the advice in the thread and we are meeting to discuss shared outcomes in Sept. I really appreciate the answers above. Thanks so much all round.

My NT child also is out for transition support at the moment as well - forgot that one (changes in year group really don't affect her well - she gets incredibly bonded to her teachers - mind you this year I'm very fond of her teacher as well and planning on sticking around in that class helping out!)

We've also had to sign to have dd2 discussed with the ed psych - nowt ever came from it.

Thank you very much. That's good to know.