what to expect at a CAF meeting?

[bunny3]

We have one on Tuesday (if it isnt cancelled by school for the third time). It is for ds,8. Looking at the Gov website, it looks like a CAF meeting can involve other agencies and assesses homelife as well as educational needs. I am slightly alarmed that our familiy life might be under scrutiny.

Thank s for those links, I have looked at them. I dont understand why this route would be approriate for ds, he is happy and healthy, there shouldnt be any concerns at all about his home life. His problem is to do with concentration / attention in school. I really dont like the idea of personal information about our familiy being kept on file. specially with this Govs useless attemps to keep information safe.

Thanks again TC, your concerns echo mine. I do not like the idea of personal information about ds being held on file for a large number of people to have access too (inc charity workers???. This government is obssessed with information-gathering and I am vociferously against it.

Are the school trying to poin the blame for ds' education issues on us? )

I dont want to appear defensive - we dont have anything to hide - but I still resent the intrusion into our family life. The document does seem to emphasise home life / children at risk etc and is bound to make hackles rise. I want to do what is best for our ds but am very apprehensive about this.

One of my concerns is that the school is very successful in academic terms, best SATs locally etc. Ds is very bright but not in an academic or conventional way. Becasue he doesnt fit into their neatly defined box of what is acceptable, are they trying to pin the blame on his home life rather than acknowledging they are failing a student who falls outside the norm?

Thanks for all your responses TC, I am glad you understand where I am coming from. Dh is going to spk to head teach tomorrow, he is able to keep a cool head and remain rational whereas I tend to lose it! He is going to establish why a CAF was suggested and what the school intend to do to help ds. We have had lots of meetings over the years and they are still no further along in answering his needs.

Snow, that's really interesting. The usual outside agencies (Ed Psych, Developmental Paed, SALT, OT) have all been involved. As well as his developmental / learning needs there are several medical conditions (eczema, food allergies) which I think are unrelated to his education. He is a happy and well-adjusted boy who enjoys school and has some good friends. His difficulties lie with his inability to concentrate in the classroom (though he can concentrate very well at home doing lego for instance) and processing verbal instruction. He needs lots of support from the TA to help him keep up with the lesson. These, in a nutshell, are his school's concerns. I am not underestimating how damaging these problems may be and I am desperate for school to put into place a program that will help ds. I just dont think a CAT meeting is relevant to us. The SENCO wont even be there.

The cynic in me thinks maybe school have targets ie so many CAFs to do per annum to satisfy Government requirements. Possible yes?

The paranoid in me thinks the school blame us for the problems ds faces and this will lead to unwanted prying by SS.

OMG, Snow, so a CAF precedes major intervention / SS. But why???? We have nothing to hide but I do not trust this Gov or SS at all. There are many cases of irrelevant action being taken (Fran Lyons for instance). Crikey, we are not perfect, far from it, but our children are very loved, well taken care of, brought up with approriate boundaries in place, homework is done, they are well-nourised. Dh and I love each other, we dont fight or scream at each other. What the fuck can their agenda be?

I'm getting in a bit of a state here! The SENCO wont be attending because she has 8 other CAFs to do and has delegated ours to another member of staff . The fact that they seem to be on a bit of a CAF-bender this term is what made me think of targets/quotas.

I really cant imagine why on earth they would want to involve SS or another outside agency. I am racking my brains to think of an explanation.

thanks 4 link, will read it now.

havent read all of link but it says if we dont attend, they can engage child protection.

I think they have all been on a course and are keen to demonstrate their new form-filling skills. If I wasnt so anxious about it, it would be funny.

posts crossed. Thank you for your responses, they have been helpful. I am in a panic but absolutely determined to clear this up tomorrow morning. I dont think the school know what they are doing with spcial needs children. As I said before, it is a very academic school and even the paediatrician we saw last term said if ds attended a normal ie (non-faith) school, they wouldnt bat an eyelid at his needs but would have plenty of ideas on how to help him.