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What are school up to?

10 replies

debs40 · 18/06/2010 16:47

Ok, so we've had the fairly useless EP Consultation Record through (i.e. an observation) and the OT report.

DS's teacher asks to see me on pick up today.

She wants to go through the EP's report.

DS (who is dreaming about the Match Attax stickers I promised him) gets progressively more irate and ends up having a tantrum. To which the teacher says 'this is very instructive for me as he never acts like this in school'.

I say 'well it always makes me feel like I'm being blamed when I hear things like that' and she was at pains to say ' no, no, I think you're fantastic to soak up all that pressure'.

I had to point out I did have a control sample in DS2 who did not behave like that - ever - even though he is only 4.

Anyway, we couldn't focus on doing the EP report but her comment was 'we're doing all this anyway'.

I just thought 'here we go'. Clearly, even even the most rudimentary suggestions are just going to fall by the wayside.

We agreed to meet Monday when I asked if we would talk about the OT's report too. To which she said 'oh we have been doing the recommendations but he can do all the hand exercises so we stopped'. They are supposed to be done on a continuous basis to strengthen his hands. They're clearly thinking - we're not doing that.

The EP had said she was going to do some training on sensory issues but is she really the right person? And just sensory issues? What about the rest of the spectrum related issues.

The thing is this teacher never offers to talk and I had written to SENCO and Head in the week asking for a meeting to discuss provision to which I have not yet had a response. They're clearly hardening their line now.

The teacher who is doing the transition work was full of crap about how artiuculate he was about last year's tarnsition and I had to say 'but it turned out a nightmare'.

I am so sick of everything. Do I really want to sit through years of shit and watch him freak when he goes to Junior school to prove me right. But he seems happy there and has friends and I just feel it is mainly me that gets stressed by it all. Life would be so much easier if I HEd - it really would.

You see, I don't think they're a bad school. They just lack understanding of him as an ASD child. They are nice to him. They don't shout at him. They encourage and praise him and really try to help getting him involved in the class. But when you make this progress, when you get them to shift ground, they forget how far they've come from doing nothing at all.

Like last year's transition work which actually ended up with him under the table or me in the class for the first few weeks. The teacher was so blase about it (oh it's not that different in Junior school), I ended up saying, well let's hope it all works then as otherwise he'll be outside the class.

She was also telling me how great he was at the social skill stuff they were doing. Undoubtedly true, but this is probably because they're not focusing on the stuff he does need help with.

I'm so pissed off today. I'm really getting depressed. I feel really trapped by everything. I know school aren't even that bad really and they're better than most. They can only go on what they see and DS doesn't tantrum etc in front of them and is doing well academically so they think what's the problem. It's not like the EP says 'oh you better do x,y and z, she says bollox all.

I've had DS2 off nursery for the last two days so I;ve not been able to work - again. I know this dx report is going to be full of shit. I'm sick of being on my own with the kids until 7 every bloody night.

Now I've just told DS1 off for embarrassing me and I'm screaming at the kids.

Should I write to the EP and set out all thnhe things she failed to look at? Or am I going mad??

OP posts:
moosemama · 18/06/2010 18:15

Oh, I'm sure someone who is much better than me at this will be along shortly, but I didn't want you to go unanswered when you are feeling so low.

First things first

Secondly, if you are going mad, then so am I.

I have been where you are today, many, many times and feel like I have a permanent bruise on my forehead from banging it against a brick wall so often. I have also lost count of the times my head banging has resulted in me being a grumpy shouty Mummy whilst at the same time having the confused notion in my mind that its fighting for them that got me into this state in the first place, so why am I now shouting at them when I obviously love them so much?

Like you, I don't think the school is bad (in fact its considered to be a very good school and in lots of ways has been great). Like your school they are lovely to ds and really do try, but they are clueless regarding his AS and don't see the importance of doing certaint things with/for him that are 'really important'. He however is happy there, has a nice little group of very tolerant and understanding friends and absolutely doesn't want to go anywhere else. Its so hard when your head and heart are pulling you in opposite directions as your child is (for the most part) happy at school, but you know things aren't 'right' for him.

I dread transition every year and find we just manage to start getting somewhere with the teacher each year by the end of the summer term, when we are just about to go through the whole thing all over again.

You sound like you have major overload to me. Is there any way you could jot down some thoughts re the EP on a notepad, then close the pad and try to have one weekend without thinking about it all and just being a family? You can always pick up the notepad again on Sunday night (if you absolutely have to) so that you can write a letter to the EP then ready for posting first thing on Monday.

Hope I said something helpful anyway.

debs40 · 18/06/2010 18:42

Thank you. That was helpful! And the wine helped more!

It is just so soul-destroying because you have to push them every step of the way and just for once, some time, it would be nice to have a bit of willingness shown.

You know, I asked about ensuring that next year's teacher is able to tell DS it's ok to be worried and that he understands etc.

The reply, 'oh well Mrs X the TA deals with worries while teacher, teachers'. Great. No offer for me to meet the new teacher so we don't have a repeat of last year with me chasing every little thing.

Oh well. Got to go back to blardy school for a football party now - DS really wants to fgo

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claw3 · 18/06/2010 18:52

Hi Debs, 'oh he never acts this way in school' you should have replied 'well, you have broken his routine we usually go and x after school' Cheeky mare!

Sounds like they are going down the 'he displays this behaviour at home and not at school route' therefore its a home problem.

Is he making progress there Debs?

If you are going to request SA, you will have write to EP about the things you disagree with.

Sorry you are having such a shit day.

debs40 · 18/06/2010 18:57

I did say that Claw!

I'm glad I also said DS2 isn't like that so I know it's not my problem.

It's like I battle and get things done and persuade them to do stuff and then when they do and he's happier, it's like 'what's the problem'.

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moosemama · 18/06/2010 18:58

I asked the question about whether or not ds1 will have Mr X for his teacher next year because they have already had a run-in this year and I have a gut feeling Mr X is of the 'AS? Rubbish, they just need to be disciplined more' camp. All his current teacher would say is, well there is going to be a bit of a move around next year, but she wouldn't say whether or not that meant ds1 won't have this guy.

Surely the school knows which teacher is taking which class next year by now. Why is it so difficult for them to give us this information early enough for us to prepare our dcs properly for the transition? Somehow it always feels like some sort of state secret that has to be revealed at the last possible moment.

Hope the party is bearable - thankfully neither of my boys likes football so we have been spared most of the World Cup torture. Excluding that is, the amount of stuff they've done at school on it!

moosemama · 18/06/2010 19:01

I found myself telling ds1's teacher yesterday that "I'm sure I'm not an over-anxious or pushy parent, as I don't have the same (or in fact any) concerns about my other two dcs".

To be fair she hadn't said I was either of those things, but somehow school meetings always end up making me feel like I need to justify myself.

claw3 · 18/06/2010 19:06

Good for you, sounds like you put her in her place!

Do the school every report difficulties to you?

StarOfValkyrie · 18/06/2010 20:40

Hi debs Just a quick response for now. You're not going mad. As you know the system is crap, and people don't know that they just don't know the half of it, and any attempt to show them is met with a 'look' and a 'sigh' because they have been told that they are the professionals.

I don't know what to suggest except to keep going, and unpick things one by one. A good (hard won probably) statement should sort it all out but I guess you know by now what that journey will look like and it is enough to make anyone depressed. However, you have a lot of aces for 'knowing' in advance. I hope too that you are recording and producing evidence like crazy.

Also, you say the school is better than many, and the staff are nice right? but that does not give it or them a right to fail your ds just because they don't know they are doing it.

StarOfValkyrie · 18/06/2010 20:41

And yes, write to the EP and keep writing to everyone about everything. You need to show you have raised the issues!

debs40 · 18/06/2010 21:45

Thanks guys. Just come back from the rubbish English game and a couple of cans of cider! The latter made me feel a bit better anyway!

DS was running around being bonkers with his pals, buying a massive bag of crisps to share with them and hugging them. The really accept his overly-tactile, giggly ways and are just a really chummy bunch.

I have got good, normal pals at the school too who are supportive and see passed all the 'outstanding' school malarky.

I had a good chat with a current governor (been there since the school opened about 7 years ago) about me being a governor and she was really supportive and gave me a bit of insight into how things are 'behind the scenes'.

It did make me feel better. I think because school see he's happy (most of the time) they get very touchy about me pointing things out and keeping on their back about provision. So it is a question of keeping them onside while making your point. But it is exhausting.

Maybe two cans of cider is the answer!!!!!!!!

I'm just so stressed about the dx this week. We've waited so long and it's agony thinking some people who don't even know DS know what has been decided.

Star would be right in analysing my control freakery here!

Wish you guys were all down the road to go for a beer with occasionally!

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