no big deal

[madsadlibrarian]

But I need to get this off my chest - I don't know why this bothers me so much as it is largely good news.

Just had a conversation with SENCO about my child who is on school action plus - I admit problems aren't severe and they tell me he is is responding well to the help he gets - in fact as far as i can see he has largely already met the targets for the IEP. When i did question this and fact IEP didn't reflect advice in reports they have had - I got told:

He is not a high priority,as his needs aren't severe enough to warrant a statement

Just because an external professional makes recommendations, senco isn't going to suddenly change what she is doing

She does not deem it necessary to fill in the parents/carer part of IEP and doesn't seem to want to hear about what I have been doing at home.

And 15 minutes into the meeting the secretary interrupts to say the next lot of parents have arrived

I know I should be pleased he is doing well, but I just feel deflated by the whole experience of talking to this woman.

I know I haven't really got a leg to stand on as far as complaining goes in real life, so I'm sorry you guys have got to put up with me moaining

can fully see why you are pissed off. surely the IEP should be dynamic - in that if it supposedly is stuff he can easily do, they should move him on a stage. how annoying that senco sounds to be so pigheaded. is class teacher any nicer?

that's v.sweet of you. Yes whole school is v. caring and they are supporting him and it's working. I just seem to have got off on wrong foot with this woman big time. this isn't the first time she has seen fit to point out that without a statement they can do what they like - but I guess I should be glad he doesn't warrant a statement and stop whining

Starting to feel a bit better now -I;m v.tempted to do a detailed note of the meeting in an email to her though "just for the record" .

bumping for the ladies more knowledgeable about statement. basically - don't take school's word as gospel - if you don't think school are able to provide enough support then seriously consider applying for a statement. www.ipsea.org.uk has lots of info/model letters etc.

I do get what you mean about broadly having faith in the what the school are doing - atm DS school is a good environment for him, as they are used to boosting kids language (it's a school in deprived area, so used to low attainment on entry) but I do feel they don't take his language problems seriously enough as he's very good at blagging in a structured environment!

I think with DS's school it's partly because pre-school intervention is so lacking, that school have got used to picking up the pieces and doign things their own way iyswim.

the senco may "not deem it necessary" to allow you to have your say, but if she was inspected, she would be heavily criticised for not allowing you to have your say. she is most definitely in the wrong. you have an invaluable contribution to make to your child's education and she should acknowledge this.

AH - I thought parent contribution bit was to tell me what I needed to do at home - duh - if it is supposed to be for how much I input into this IEp, then leaving it blank is entirely appropriate!
thanks for all your replies - as I say, he is steadily improving, so I guess they are right in a way to concentrate their efforts on the kids with complex /severe needs.

so thanks again *& take care

to be brutally frank - there's no guarantee that any resources/time not directed at our kids do go to those who are more deserving - senco may well have as bad an attitude to the parents of kids with complex needs! tbh as parents we are the only ones who give a damn about our kids. If you are happy with the way he is progressing, then fair enough not to rock the boat - I've not rocked the boat this year at all, but plan to start "agitating" from start of summer term to talk through what happens next year. But don't be guilted by the professionals - or feel that you and your kid don't deserve consideration just because his problems aren't the most serious.

I really don't think you should shrug it off. If he has met most of the targets on his IEP then it is time for a review and new targets to be set.

He may be improving due to the extra intervention and so it is even more important that is is up to date and continues.

Is the senco drawing up the IEP alone? Has the ed psych had an imput?