Help calm me for my meeting at school!!

[debs40]

Several weeks ago, I asked for a meeting with Head and Senco (Senco isn't here next term) to discuss applying for a Stat Ass.

We have it today and she has arranged for

2 teachers from this year
2 TAs from this year
teacher for next year
TA for next year to be there

8 members of staff - and on a day when I have told them DH can't make it -just to tell me they agree DS needs a Stat Assessment I'm sure!

It all seems a tad heavy handed.

Oh and given the timing of the meeting I have 45 minutes before pick up to resolve everything too.

Must repeat the mantra 'we can set targets and measure outcomes if we don't understand his needs and you don't understand his needs'

Debs

It certainly does seem heavy handed particularly as you are seemingly going to tell them you are applying for the Statement anyway.

I don't actually think much of this school Debs; even if your DS does get a Statement I would still wonder whether this school are actually up to implimenting it properly. They seem to have a complete lack of understanding.

I agree Attila and to think they are regarded as the most ASD friendly in the area - by the LA of course.

I now translate that as the school most likely to deal with an ASD child 'in house' and least likely to bother the LA by asking for a statement!

We need to move areas so we are going to stay with it until this happens as to be honest, and this is sad, my experience of other schools in this small snobby place (personal and from other ASD parents) is that there isn't a great deal better out there.

Oh, I also like them to think we're staying put forever too. The last child who had ASD who went there was 9, had been HE for two years before attending and came to class in the mornings only before his parents pulled him out and then got a statement with schools support as they wanted him to go to special school.

They had lots of good things to say about the school but I think that school were happy to support him as he was never going to stay there very long and the moment he joined the SENCO was suggesting special school to his mum!

Mmmm, so as far as they know we're in it for the long haul and I want to be a governor.

Did I tell you I was appointed and then had my appointment handily rescinded within two days?? A couple of parents had said they hadn't had time to apply and there was a mix up on the nomination papers. Fair enough but very handy and head was delighted to be able to tell me I could apply again and what would happen'if you ever become a governor'

Hmm all sounds very dodgy re the rescinded nomination as well.

You potentially becoming a governor would give this school a good kick up its backside (which is what it needs!) but whether you could actually make any headway in changing ingrained attitudes at all is debateable. Not suggesting you should not have applied for it but I think you could be hitting your head against a brick wall here - your talents may well be better applied to being a governor at a hopefully more understanding school.

I think so too. I just kind of knew it would wind the head up. Silly I know!

Let us know how it went - fingers crossed (we met new school yesterday)

Oh sounds like all of my meetings at old school, class teacher (who had been ds's class teacher for 1 month), 3 TA's, SENCO, Learning Mentor (who had never seen ds) all to harp on about how ds had no difficulties and was doing fine. Then the Head Teacher would also attend, to dominate the whole meeting and talk over the top of me, tut and eye roll every time i spoke!

How is your application for SA coming along, have you started it yet?

I have it drafted and will show it to the guy who is coming with me today (a fellow committee member from our NAS group).

I wanted to be able to tell the head - this is the appication, this why I'm making it, I would like you to support me?

She won't but then I can say I tried and off it goes.

Good luck Debs. Just stand your ground and show you mean business. Guy going with you should be a great help.Let us know how it goes.

The only problem i can see by showing to Head, is if they decided not to back your request, the information they then have to supply to the LA could be biased as they know what you are claiming/proposing and trying to cover their backs.

With old school, AFTER i applied for SA (didnt show them a copy), i received 2 IEP's in one month dated January, February, which had obviously only just been written. Also received another in May dated April. Ds has suddenly started to meet targets!

It has worked in my favour, but just another thing to have to explain to LA and made things more complicated than need be.

I would just make this meeting about gathering more evidence for SA. Plan your questions, to get the answers you want with regard to SA.

Good luck, im sure you will be fine. You know more about SN's and the processes than the school do. You will run circles around them!

Thank thee wise ladies!

I won't show the specific application. I will simply say I am making it as we need to get a full picture of his needs and teachers are not able to do this alone, it needs expert intervention. This has been said by the dx report.

I am hoping bringing the parental advocate along will give me time to sit and listen and in 45 mins, the only thing we can do, is let them talk about what is needed next year and say thanks we'll get back to you after thinking about it but SA is in the post!

Let us know how it went Debs, when you have a minute.