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Teacher covering up the truth

9 replies

lighthouse26 · 28/02/2025 05:58

Morning all.

My 10 year old son has been having difficulties at school. He is in mainstream, diagnosed ASD, he has hypermobility in his hands, knees, hips and ankles. He struggles with physical activity- gross and fine motor. He cannot catch/throw a ball.

He has OT exercises 3 x week. This has been for 5 years now.

I raised issues in October around his pain, fatigue and he was telling us he was finding work difficult. He used to use a laptop for long writing tasks in y3 due to the stability in his hand but this stopped for some reason.

His OT assessed him in November. She picked up quite a lot of new issues such as intention tremor when doing fine motor and his writing speed was significantly below age, she picked up that his work in his books was incomplete. He struggled with copying from the board and lost his place constantly. She wrote a report with recommedations; including using a laptop for writing tasks.

In January, I had issues getting him to school due to sensory issues so I spoke to his teacher. They then raised that his learning has dropped massively and he is really struggling. I asked whether the recommendations had been put in place. I was told they never received the report. The OT and I both sent it and I also emailed a copy in November. That same day I took in another copy and they said they already had it.

I had several calls with the senco discussing the recommendations and she assured me they were all in place, My son was still struggling and said they were not in place. Mainly the laptop to support with his work and he was adamant he had not used one.

I called a meeting with the senco early January. She said to me that my son isn't telling the truth. She has seen with her own eyes several times he is using one and has been for a long time, I asked to look through his school books and was refused. We discussed his iEP, I was assured there was one several times. We haven't seen one in 2 years. My son came home the day of our meeting telling us all about the laptop he used for the first time and he completed a writing task.

We requested a SAR. Upon collection we were shown school books. There was no printed work until the day after our meeting. The member of staff then told us there wasn't anything previously because the laptop wouldn't print, they couldn't email from it either. There wasn't much in the SAR apart from an old IEP.

I called a meeting with the headteacher which we had this week. She apologised for the cover up that staff have made regarding the laptop and that it wasn't in place until after my meeting in January.

I'm so upset with all the teacher involved in the lying. I'm cross that they accused my son of lying. I'm not entirely sure how to approach this next. There have so many issues over the years and his seen needs are not supported unless I raise it.

OP posts:
lighthouse26 · 28/02/2025 06:03

I forgot to add that in the headteacher meeting she showed me his progress has dropped a lot in reading, maths and writing. Every school year he was at expected progress apart from writing and pe was working towards. She said he has taken a huge dip when they assessed in November so they will put him in an intervention group,

OP posts:
Luddite26 · 28/02/2025 06:18

I'm really sorry to read your post @lighthouse26 it's really sad.
The positive part is the head has been supportive.
And they seem to be correcting their cover up?
Is your son ok about going to school now?

What are your thoughts about moving forward?

lighthouse26 · 28/02/2025 06:25

@Luddite26

Thank you for your reply.

The head was so helpful and she did say she wasn't aware of everything going on but will be from now on.

The senco accused us of not believing the school in the meeting 😵‍💫

I don't think there will be an apology from anyone else involved.

My son has been a little better going in. We ended up trying about 10 different pairs of trousers to find a pain he would wear. He now has compression shorts underneath which seems to have helped with the sensory issues.

I feel an IEP should be in place going forward and I have asked to be notified of any changes in learning straight away

OP posts:
Luddite26 · 28/02/2025 06:44

I hope going forward your DS can feel happier at school and his learning can improve.
I can't imagine an apology will be forthcoming.

Many people may disagree but I would at this point trying and keep it going ok and keep on top of it as long as your son is happy going in to school.

Changing schools or EBSA would be a nightmare right now and detrimental to his learning.

It is awful when your child is blamed and called a liar at school though.

My GS6 has sensory issues. He's home ed only managed a term in Reception at school.

But you seem to have all your DS's needs in place to get what he needs at school.

Luddite26 · 28/02/2025 06:45

Is your DS year 5 or year 6?

lighthouse26 · 28/02/2025 07:11

He is y5

I have considered home schooling but was worried about the step into secondary school would be too much with a gap.

I'm hoping they keep everything in place for him and he can improve.

OP posts:
Luddite26 · 28/02/2025 11:40

I would keep going with what you have got at the moment unless any further problems arise. Hopefully DS improves with what should have been in place now being implemented. I would be cross and upset but speaking out right now won't help with the head on your side.
Glad he's year 5 it gives him more chance to gain his confidence before the transition.

I wouldn't think about home ed while he is happy going. And while he is getting his needs met. Hope things improve quickly for him.💐

Luddite26 · 28/02/2025 11:49

By no means Di I mean anything is acceptable as to what your son has gone through.
My attitude of maintaining the status quo and seeing how the ings go is because the alternatives at the moment are pretty dire.
And while he is willingly going to school it's better to keep the familiar going. And I really hope he improves.
But the whole lying about your son's work is shocking and awful. It's only because of the head's attitude that I think you are better keeping going. I don't think saying anything further right now will help. But I would be upset.

StrivingForSleep · 28/02/2025 14:12

Follow up any verbal conversations/meetings with email so you have a paper trail as evidence.

If you requested all data as part of the SAR, you should complain that the disclosure wasn’t complete.

Does DS have an EHCP?

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