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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

Please help me before I lose temper at school!!

10 replies

tipsycat · 19/10/2008 11:57

I'm new to Mumsnet and have already posted a message on Special Educational Needs but thought i'd try here too. My 7 y/o ASD son moved into juniors in Sept and i'm having a problem with the way they're applying his support. He has a statement which gives him 25hrs per week, and in the infants this gave him a 1 to 1 who worked with him, either on his own or in small groups with other children. The 1 to 1 moved with him into juniors, but is spending much less time with him. The class teacher has created a group of SN kids within the class and they do work on the same topic but at a lower level than the rest of the children. There is only one TA working with this group, and it is not always the same person. My son is the only one in the group who has a statement, and i think that school are using him to fund a TA for this whole group. He has poor attention and needs constant prompting to keep him on task. I think that he should work within this group, but with a TA leading the group and 1 to 1 support for him. He is 1 to 2 years behind his peers in most subject areas and spends 30 mins per day working on IEP targets with his 1 to 1, but i think this should be more as there isn't enough time to cover all his SALT and educational targets. His 1 to 1 agrees with me but teacher and head insist that this is correct method for supporting in juniors. I don't want to move schools but don't know how to make them see sense!!!

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 19/10/2008 12:17

I would try and talk to either IPSEA www.ipsea.org.uk and or SOS:SEN tomorrow in the first instance as they have also likely seen such scenarios before.

Is there a SENCO (special needs coordinator) in school, if so what is their comment on this?.

I would then talk to your LEA about this matter. Think the teacher and Head need more training on such issues along with them addressing staffing levels properly.

The school's failure to provide adequate staffing levels may well also be seen as discriminatory. The school are treading on very shaky ground here legally.

castlesintheair · 19/10/2008 12:28

Does it specify in your DS's statement that he should have 1:1 support? If so, the school are not adhering to a legal document. If this isn't the case, then I would contact the SEN case officer and/or the school senco to ensure the provision your DS receives is clearly documented in the statement (probably this will have to be done at the next review). For example, 5 hours of SALT, 15 hours of 1:1, 2 hours of OT a week etc.

I think what is happening at your DS's school is quite common. It happens with my DS who has a statement entitling him to 20 hours of support a week.

tipsycat · 19/10/2008 13:07

Thanks for your messages. The SENCO is also the Head (conflict of interest?!)and its a tiny school, only 2 classes (infants & juniors) with mixed age children in both. Everything worked really well in infants, and his 1 to 1 worked really hard to adapt the curriculum to DS needs. Didn't realize this would happen in juniors, no one bothered to tell us the regime would be different. The class teacher sees herself as an expert in special needs as she's worked with special needs before qualifying as a teacher, but everything I've seen so far, indicates that she's no idea. We have an IEP review meeting on Thur, and I've asked Parent Partnership to come because school just won't budge. Why should my son fund the whole SN group? He needs the support that we had to fight so hard for!!!

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 19/10/2008 13:17

Headteacher and SENCO combined as a role rarely works well in my experience.

With regards to PP, you'll actually do just as well to also get the LEA case officer involved. I would also get independent advice from IPSEA and or SOS:SEN.

I'd also ask for his annual review to be moved to an earlier date.

Tclanger · 19/10/2008 14:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tipsycat · 19/10/2008 15:30

I became a school governor myself last year, before this dispute started, and I know the special needs governor (who is also the chair of governors) basically does whatever the headteacher says!!! I'm thinking of resigning as a governor myself because of this situation. Thanks anyway. I will continue to fight and will contact IPSEA. My poor boy has gone back to bedwetting every night since he started in this class.

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 19/10/2008 16:51

tipsycat,

This situation is intolerable, I feel for your DS.

IPSEA are very hard to get a hold of on the phone but I would call them as soon as their phone lines open (I think its 10am but their website will confirm). They also have an e-mail facility - it may well be worth your while writing to them as well.

Also SOS;SEN are very good. You certainly need to speak to an independent organisation rather than just Parent Partnership and the LEA.

tipsycat · 19/10/2008 18:41

Thanks Attila. Will get on to them in the morning. Have already left a message on NAS Education line, and still waiting for a call....but they did say it could take 9 days!

OP posts:
mooog · 19/10/2008 19:30

My sister had a very similar problem with her daughters one to one getting taken over with other kids joining in, in the end it was the education authority who sorted that out. Good luck!!!

Kazann · 19/10/2008 21:16

Really feel for you having simiar problems with my DD AT School it's a constant battle to get the help that they need is'nt it you get over one hurdle and another one seems to appear. Just keep at it till your happy with the result, that is what i am trying to do at the moment as i have come to realise in the past few weeks you have to shout loud and clear and get as many people involved as you can before school takes you seriously

Thinking of you.

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