So, DD is classed as MLD, then.

[lou031205]

Our paed has only ever said 'special eduacational needs' or 'learning difficulties' to us. But has always said 'whatever this is (unspecified genetic condition) is fairly mild in that she can walk and talk'.

She has a place in a MLD school starting Sept, but Paed's opinion was that mainstream would be appropriate.

Today, I saw a referral letter to another department:

"she has moderate learning difficulties"

Thanks for telling us.

oh lord lou don't really know what to say. it's bad enough seeing this sort of stuff in black and white at the best of times, never mind when it's something you didn't expect.

tell you one thing then say another dont they, would like to know the definitions of mild and what they class as moderate. did se get a statement?

tell you one thing then say another dont they, would like to know the definitions of mild and what they class as moderate. did se get a statement?

Yes, she has a statement, and has a place at the special school starting in September.

But the paed has always said that he feels that DD should go to mainstream with support.

Hi Lou

It's hard to see the dx written in black and white.

Basically - ignore the Paed. very few of them have any understanding of the SEN COP and how a child's dx translates into educational needs - there are specialists that do have that knowledge and they are the Ed Pyschs. paeds should stick to medicine and stop making pronouncements about areas they have little to no knowledge of. Try asking the Paed what his recommendations for Part 3 would be and I expect you'd be met with a blank stare.

Believe me, specilaist placements are so scarce and expensive that no ed Pysch is going to recommend it and no LA is going to agree to a spcialist placment where it is not necessary.

Best wishes

Thank you, wetAugust - I think that is exactly what I needed to hear.

My son was older when his Dx changed from that catch all but nonspecific phrase of delay to m/sld and it was quite upsetting, as I had thought in terms of mild LD. He started in MS and transferred after a very difficult couple of years to MLD. It is my feeling that although mixing with ms children helped his language aquisition he would probably ( based on observation of children educated in specialist provision earlier) have done better overall in sns earlier. Early support is so important.
Our paed also said ds would manage in ms and said he did not need a statement - so I agree paeds are not the best people to advise on educational needs.
I had an uplifting experience this week. Ds is in year 5 - coming up to transition. We visited a lovely MLD secondary school where the year 11s were preparing for work experience and some for GCSEs and generally turning into lovely semi independent happy adults.