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SN children

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

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Original poster

SN Children Inclusion OR School Bloopers?

20 replies

WednesdaysChild · 26/07/2009 16:16

Think we parents of SN children accept that they are, in one way or another, different from many of their mainstream peers. But we also hope that society is moving / has moved into the realms of acceptance and inclusion.... You know, It's Good To Be Different - we all are.

So come tell me your tails of your experiences of politically INcorrect gaffs made by staff in your childs school and how you reacted or resolved it? The ones that really made you or

I really am asking for good reason - want to put together a guide of some sort on acceptable inclusion strategy or really What Not To Do To My Child If You Wish To Avoid The Wrath of Mum.

OP posts:

flyingmum · 26/07/2009 17:20

Being approached at church by a teacher at his mainstream primary who said to me 'someone's told me you're a teacher too. It must have been awful for you to you have such a badly handicapped child' I was pretty f pissed off and of course couldn't think what to say - I think I stiffly said 'at home he isn't handicapped at all and is just our little boy' (he has dyspraxia, dyslexia, S&L, auditory processing, some ASD, visual processing - we only knew about the dyspraxia - very very obvious and the asperger's then when he was 7). Now he's a big strapping 14 yr old. Still with issues but is intent on clearing my garden for me, does my hoovering, is kind and funny, a cool dude and is going to do his mile swim this weekend. He's also just passed his GCSE Entry Level Spanish exam (done in year 9 in one year), is doing some GCSEs and has achieved level 3s and some 4s in most subjects (not brilliant I know but pretty good without readers and scribes). Bloody woman. I know he does have difficulties but they are not in the severe, or profound categories which she she seemed to be indicating with her tone and deep sympathy (and I do, to be fair realise she was trying to be pleasant and he was fairly bonkers at school when he was 7) why should it make any difference whether I was a teacher or not and I found it disrespectful to people who do have those types of difficulties.

I work in SEN by the way. I've heard some horror stories during annual reviews. One primary school teacher drove one child we now have to severe self harm. Another chap spent years in primary curled up crying. In one year in mainstream secondary we've got him achieving level 4s. Start sharpening your knives but do it with a smile!

Original poster

WednesdaysChild · 26/07/2009 18:32

Really - Thank You! Just the sort of thing that I'm looking for.

How about making the SN child wear hi-vis jackets at playtime in a very securely enclosed playground. Just to be sure that they stood out from their peers. (Memories of the old style dunce's hat?)

OP posts:

Original poster

WednesdaysChild · 26/07/2009 18:35

By the way, I get p-d off when people ask me if his sibling is normal in the why risk it if it's in your genes sort of way. (Sib is very much mainstream actually, so why ask).

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daisy5678 · 26/07/2009 19:50

Pretending to the parents of the child that you're going to tell the other children about your child's disability (autism) and explain it so that they understand it better and then actually tell the children that he has behavioural problems and to put their hand up if they feel it's unfair because he gets away with more than them because otherwise his mum complains

bullet123 · 26/07/2009 20:16

Please tell me this didn't actually happen givemesleeporgivemechocolate?! .

asdx2 · 26/07/2009 20:32

I was told that ds couldn't possibly have come top in the maths assessment because he has SEN and they assumed he'd cheated.
He has autism and is in fact mathematically gifted and has just achieved level 8 in his year 9 SATs at his autism resource.
Was told by a teacher that she didn't want to draw attention to Lucy's needs so wouldn't use the visual prompts as detailed in her statement becuase she felt Lucy 6 would be embarrassed.
Funnily enough teacher wasn't embarrassed to send Lucy out bleeding when she self harmed due to stress

daisy5678 · 26/07/2009 20:33

Oh yes, it did!

This is the same headteacher who told me, bearing in mind that J is a runner and an escaper when it all gets too much, and his new classroom in the juniors was right by the always-open gates, that "it might be inconvenient for you if he gets run over, but it would be far more inconvenient for us to keep the gates shut and locked" ...and in front of witnesses!

Also the same man who rang up the local EBD school and tried to arrange a place for J, behind my back, when J had been there fore 5 weeks, and forced J's teacher to lie about the progress J was making!

A lot has come out recently about that man's regime. You will see why I am not sad that he has not been in school for months, and is not likely to be back for a while...

daisy5678 · 26/07/2009 20:34

for

Original poster

WednesdaysChild · 27/07/2009 20:29

Hi - Sorry for going AWOL on this one. But...

GMSOGMC: OMG! You hit the nail on the head with this sort of thing! Just what I was looking for. (It's really not the first time I heard of this sort of thing either).

It's the examples of teachers going over the top on disability or just not recognising when they are being discriminatory to the extent of the unacceptable. This is what I really want to show.

OP posts:

Original poster

WednesdaysChild · 27/07/2009 20:33

Another one that I heard was about the HFA child who made very good friends with an NT classmate - both in and out of school.

The HFA child gave the NT child a way out from the normal playground and home pressures and the HFA child learned about what's cool and how to be a friend.

School end of year? TA & Class teacher gave an "award" to the NT child for being such a good friend to the HFA child, which was announced to the whole class. What happened to equality and inclusion?

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whatreally · 27/07/2009 20:45

That happened to me!!!! NT friend got a comment in her school report on how she had a "special friend" she was really supportive too. My DD got "relies rather too much on her friends" WTF. This is the same "friend" who has been going round telling the whole class that my DD has "learning problems" Which just proves lots of truth in "keep your friends close but your enemies even closer". Good grief they're 7. I stomp down the road cursing this child on a regular basis.

Original poster

WednesdaysChild · 27/07/2009 20:59

WR: Did you attempt to discuss this with the school? How did they change?

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whatreally · 27/07/2009 21:10

Alas, only found out about the telling of learning problems after term ended. Any repeat of this however & the school will know the full weight of my incandescent fury . Can't wait. Bring on September.

whatreally · 27/07/2009 21:21

Doh! Should also have said that again was told contents of "gifted & talented" friend's report after term ended. Am regretting end of term presents already. Not that I'm bitter or anything.

SirSupportman · 27/07/2009 22:23

Givemesleeporgivemechocolate

Original poster

WednesdaysChild · 28/07/2009 11:32

Givemesleep: Did you make a complaint about the headteacher? Did you take it any further?

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daisy5678 · 28/07/2009 13:19

At the time, my priority was more getting him to accept J would be staying at the school. However, the SEN people at the council all knew about it and were shocked but unsurprised. He's not got the greatest reputation with SEN kids. I guess the fact that he's been off work for months headed off what would have eventually been a complaint.

Oddly, he's not a horrible man as a person- just very very blinkered and obsessed with only having 'perfect' kids at his school!

Original poster

WednesdaysChild · 28/07/2009 13:42

The league tables! He must protect his standing! Unfortunately for him, I hear that OFSTED are making changes to include SEN figures too. But not sure how they'll work it.

I sometimes wonder if teachers who can't cope with a change from the norm in pupils are actually on the spectrum themselves with the Rigidity in thinking and liking for routine....mmmmm?

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bigcar · 28/07/2009 14:33

Ds1 has very mild ld in the grand scheme of things, his teacher last year wrote an honest report, participates well in this, enjoys that, struggles with most things involving reading and writing, you get the picture. Headteachers comment, ds must try harder next year. Yeah right, cos that will solve everything

Original poster

WednesdaysChild · 28/07/2009 15:06

Mainstream school really can be a great place and the right place for SEN children.

Society got over loads of other barriers to inclusion for race, gender etc. But it all started in schools. If our children are to be accepted and included as being of equal value then school staff need to change first.

PC stuff to one side, they have a right to be there, the Govt & LEA's put them there but then they, it would seem, abdicate responsibility for specialist training and for the culture of their employees.

OP posts:

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