special schools and IEPs

[staryeyed]

Ds is 4.6 ASD and started reception at a special school at the end of September. We now have his IEP and Im a bit concerned about it. It doesn't seem to expect much from him. If I explain he has a good interest in numbers, letters, shapes. can draw shapes, a face and a sort of body and a house (but not consistently). He has next to no self help skills cant dress himself barely at all is not toilet trained can not use an open cup without spilling cant use a spoon etc. His behaviour is good and his attention span is good if doing the right activity. His IEP is mainly concentrating on self help skills and 'mark making' with some number matching which DS was able to do from over 2 years ago. When I raised my concerns with the teacher she said that they have not seen him do some of these things ( a generalisation problem I guess or possibly getting used to the school environment). Anyway she also said they will not even teach any letters because they don't believe any of the children in the class are ready. They did say when he meets his targets he will be moved on but his IEP wont be reviewed until April. I dont think they are exploring his potential properly but Im not a SN teacher so I dont really know if that's how they do things. Im already in battle about the use of PECS in school so they think Im a difficult parent. Should I challenge his IEP?

sorry should have paragraphed

What are his goals academically?

to match numbers and use scissors and take part in pe independently and something to do with mark making(I dont have it in front of me at the moment).

most NT 4.6 don't learn any letters until the second half of year 1. thats the way it is over here. also dont you think that it would be better for him to learn to feed and drink without a mess than learn the alphabet. Knowing all this letters, numbers and shapes is not gonna give him independent life skills. dont mean to sound rude- but thats just my way of thinking

I think you could argue maybe for a compromise ? It seems that he does need help with life skills but can you show them examples of what he can draw at home and maybe see if they would move on the drawing expectation?

I can understand though, that when you see your DC struggle so much with what comes naturally to NT children, you would want them to be able to shine in what they are good at.

Stary, give it a little time. Perhaps those things are not on his IEP because he is beyond what is expected for his age.

My DS is 3.8, ASD and in the nursery of a mainstream school. He has an IEP and I have to actually sign it to agree - do you not have to sign it as well? Also, my DS's IEP is reviewed far more frequently than that. I think he has them for about 2 months, then they get reviewed (can't look at latest one as teacher has just done it and I haven't got it). If you think the targets are no good, could you ask for the review date to be brought forward - that would allow the IEP to be updated and give your DS the chance to demonstrate the skills you know he has?

my ds is at pre-school, his IEPs are every 6-8 weeks, I attend the meeting and sign. i would have thought IEPS should be about the life skills especially at this stage. Could you ask to discuss them with SEN.

Thnak you all.

No the IEP was presented to us at parents evening. I did sign because didn't really know what to expect he is my first child I dont know what to expect and Im still trying to work out whether the school is right for him.

Why the three monkeys? I absolutely know how important it is for him to learn self help skills those things are going to take place at certain times of the day- pe swimming lunch etc there will be no special self help lessons. I did not say that I dont want him to learn self help skills, just that I dont want there to be not much expected from his other areas.

I will definitely ask why it is so long until the IEP is reviewed.

Remember too that he won't be limited to only doing what's on the IEP! - in my experience there are so many staff at sn school that the kids get lots of help to progress in lots of areas throughout the day.

Its also worth remembering that settling in a new school with new routines is a huge step for a young child so they will not want to overload him at first.

However with good communication between you and the school you will probably find that they will adjust the IEP as he gets through it, well before April. Thats what happened in our case.

Hope it goes well.

yes i know stary and i was just thinking (thats what the was for) that the schools aims for him in the near future are his life skills. im surehope that academics will also be included, but there aims would be the basic's. i thought i was coming across as being rude- sorry

my dd is in the same situation at a special school, unfortunatly she is very delayed academically and also with her basic life skills, she cant even count to 3! and doesnt know what a letter is! so in my situation i would much rather her learn to feed, dress and toliet herself, of course i would love her to be able to read write and count, but think basic life skills are much more inportant. she is 5.6 and asd.

i always come across wrong on here, probably why im ignored so much. again im sorry for sounding rude

Dont worry three monkeys I read your message in the wrong tone- problem with internet I guess .

DS is completely non verbal and doesn't understand much language at all. So learning anything for him is very difficult because he cant understand anything that is explained only things that are shown to him.