Karen A
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Posts posted by Karen A
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Hi Peppa,
No, your instincts are right, the wording is very woolly. If the statement doesn't describe exactly what your son is entitled to receive it's not worth the paper it's written on. Regarding your last point, there is case law somewhere that says LA's should decide what provision is needed and not leave it up to someone else to decide in the future. I'll see if I can dig it up
K x
Hi Peppa.
I also wanted to add my pennyworth to what Kathryn has said.
We obtained a Statement about six years ago which was updated for secondary school three years ago.Lots of access to and advice for.We are now preparing for a year 9 tansition review and find that access to and advice for amounts to a comitment to do very little in practice.Times and budgets have changed and lots of things that were provided although over and above what was documented we find we are having to fight to get back.Although it is not impossible it is far easier to have provision quantified and qualified in the first place if you have good evidence than to get it put in later.
Karen.
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Why is Ben having a transition review at 13 and a half?? Is he at middle school??
Hi.
It is the year 9 transition review in the COP.Planning ahead for post sixteen and adulthood.
We are looking at GCSE options and also planning ahead for a possible move post sixteen.A local sixth form provision has a wider range of courses for post sixteen in subjects like photography,graphics and other visual arts.Ben may be happier to do this rather than A levels.Although he could probably do A levels I am not sure where it will lead.
We are unlikely to win at tribunal.Ben is doing very well academically.He is finding some things in school very difficult but these are whole school issues.An independent school is not an option because it would need to be residential , Ben is very happy at home with us and I believe his right to a family life currently outweighs any gains to be made by a move to residential.
Also a close friend has a son with profound ASD and the family are at the end of being able to manage due to the need for twenty four hour support.They have been attempting to obtain residential placement since the summer and have not obtained agreement yet.Ben is about as far towards the oppposite end of the ASD spectrum as one could imagine.I don't think we would have a case.
Karen.
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Hi Karen, good to see you! Ben's problems sound so familiar. Wish I knew the answers! What help does he get at the moment with organisation?
K x
Hi.
Currently as far as I can gather.Ben has two periods per week which he spends with the SENCO or her PA.He misses drama and PAL for these which is fine by him.These periods are used for a mix of help with planning for exams,dealing with problems with teachers which occur on a frequent basis.Usually because Ben tells a teacher in less than diplomatic fashion that their facts are wrong or lesson planning inadequate,or for support with dealing with issues with other pupils.
Ben has TA support in some lessons but it is difficult to judge how much he uses it.He uses a laptop for an increasing number of lessons because his handwriting is not in line with his output of work.This works well but there is currently no system for transfering work into books or folders.Work done on sheets comes home in a muddle and Ben then throws it out at periodic intervals when it gets too much.Up to now this has not been such a problem because most classes are mixed ability and he appears to pass tests without revision.
I spend a fair amount of time each week Emailing teachers to find out when exams are,deal with problems as they occur.I anticipate it will be a little better once Ben is doing options that he enjoys however I am currently fulfilling the role of a PA I suppose.The problem is that Ben could have more help but is reluctant to accept it.He tells the SENCO not to worry about printing things he will just Email them to dad at work.
Ben also gets very stressed out about exams.He does fine in them generally but ends up anxious all day.He ends up looking exhausted.The ASD outreach teacher has suggested flexible days around exams but it is something wel will need to think about.As Ben is very able there is pressure for him to sit some GCSES a year early.I also know with J who is in year 11 that exams or controlled assessments appear to happen frequently from year 10.It may be that we need to push for Ben to do fewer options than he is capable of.
Ben does not have any SALT or ASD outreach input specified in his Statement.SALT discharged him just before christmas as he had had no input for a year.I had extremely strong words with the senior SALT for the NHS trust as I had mild concussion at the time......but it appears there is no SALT provision in our area for mainstream pupils who have Social Communication Difficulties without other speech and language needs.
If we insist we can probably get ASD outreach input specified however we still have the age old problem that that would use up curriculum time.The SENCO has suggested that Ben stays at homework club next year with an allocted TA to help him out but we have not broached that idea with him yet.The school reduced the school day and they now finish at 1500 which does not allow for lunch time activities.
Karen.
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Thank you Kathryn for your timely and helpful information which I am hoping I will not require personally.
Karen.
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I just wanted to say Hi.
I popped in today for some advice.It is great to know that at last things are going better.
Karen.
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Hello to all.
Nice new Forum I hardly recognise it.
I have not been an active Forum member for many months and my life is busy as ever with more things than before [alas none of which I am payed for]
so I will not be back on a regular basis.However I need some specific advice and wonder if anyone has any ideas.Ben is 13 and a half, doing very well academically and socially although not without continued input from myself.We have a tranistion review in early February and are also looking at GCSE options.Ben is currently at level 7 in most subjects and 8 in one or two.However he still appears to have major problems with organisation and has been getting along to this point because he could remember things well.He has access to ICT written into his Statement and we are anticipating he will be given extra time in exams and will use a different room.
Any thoughts regarding where we can obtain some other ideas about appropriate support with GCSES.Ben is at a mainstream comprehensive and although the ASD outreach team are helpful I suspect that support for very able pupils with AS/DCD is probably an area more familiar to some of the Specialist Residential Provision.
We are thinking about asking for an EP to come along to the AR but any ideas or pointers to books would be appreciated.
Thanks Karen.
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Suze.
Please don't bother to do any more.
I have had enough of this place.
I came back for four weeks and gave it a go but it is not worth wasting my time on.
I have not read Baddads comments because I don't intend to.
But if others think it is funny when I was awake half the night then that says it all.
Just do one thing for me.
If you do close this thread then please leave it on Forum.
I think it needs to be seen.
There are some people here who are just like unruly children in the playground.
One last footnote.
Anyone interested may like to look up google on an episode of Suppernanny in America.
She apparently got remarkable results working with anothrr professional who used similar methods to ABA.
http://education.ucsb.edu/autism/specialevents.html
Yes Mumble it is for real unfortunately.One of the problems here is that with Baddad nobody would know what is for real and what is not.It is called manipulation and it is very unpleasant.
Karen.
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Baddad.
I have not read any of your posts on this thread since I reported your post the other day.
I am open to learn from JF even though I do not like her programme.
I watched an exchange between JF and a little boy who was a cheerleader on Wedensdays programme.
She was excellent in demonstrating clear simple communication at a level that he could understand.
The boy was a cheerleader who was being bullied at school because of his being a cheerleader.
Being a cheerleader was his passion but some people thought he was girly and poked fun at him because he had different ideas to them.
Mum thought being a cheerleader was fine.
Dad thought it was for girls and was not being supportive.
The boy was being bullied at school because he engaged in an activity thought to be for girls.
JF explained to the boy that he should not be afraid of what he liked to do if he enjoyed it.
He should stick up for his views and not listen to those who bullied him because he liked cheerleading.
I have learned from this very helpful exchange.
You use the bits of JFs brand that you wish to use to continue to bully.
If JF is a person of inegrity who has the best intentions for the people she works with she would deplore her programme and work being used as a battering ram to hit the people she works with, a method of entertainment to belittle them and to be used to abuse other parents on a Forum such as this.
Perhaps I will send her an Email and see what she thinks.
The other thread is just as bad.
She can then decide for herself what she thinks about the way her product is being used here..
It is great to see JF demonstrate something I believe very strongly.
We now have seven pages of you using JF and the other programme to force through your views.For over seven days.When there are a hundred and one issues that people might be concerned about or need positive help or reasurance.
I will never again read any post of yours or respond to it.
I suggest that any parent or anyone else that feels the same way does likewise.
Like Kathryn I too am on holiday now.
I will decide while I am away whether I even want to come back.
I do not know whether this is thev best use of my time.
I had said myself previously that I often deal with minor iritations by not giving the child any attention.
However like you and certainly JF I believe that there is a time to put a clear boundary in place as an adult and state that a behaviour is simply not acceptable.
For all of the issues I might have with JF she does want to empower parents.To help them deal with their children more effectively.To give them confidence.
All I have read in your posts in the last year is a wish to judge parents , be critical of what you see as their limitations and rant about your own agenda.
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Another wish to put down those you see as unworthy of diagnosis.
First on all of the other areas of the Forum and now even in off topic.
It is extremely sad that a person who once appeared to be such a positive influence here appears now to feel so frustrated and angry.
JF is a firm believer in children taking time out to think about their actions and the impact they have on other people.
.
Karen.
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But she did nannying for 15 years before replying to that ad - that must count for something?
I don't resent her for having the guts to do what she does and get paid for it at all - we live in brand society and she's definitely made herself a brand - but a brand that does something useful instead of just posing for the next aftershave or beauty product...
I don't see why she makes you so angry tbh - the advice she's giving is free and its up to people whether they watch it, or take that advice or completely disregard it isn't it?
If you read the whole of that post.
If you want to know. The main reason I am feeling angry is that people who have worked for charity organisations and parent partnership providing excellent specialist advice on Education for years are being made redundant.Whilst JF is making millions and talking about educational issues at a very superficial level.
One of those people happens to be the person that taught me most of what I now know about ASD and education over many years and a person that I have a vast amount of respect for.
There are many other reasons.But if you have not figured them out by now I am tired of explaining.
I have come across lots of people who can provide people who will talk about instant cures for lots of things.Usually this is because people are being influenced or asked leading questions which JF is an expert at.After all she is a trained actress.
The reviews on her latest book are very mixed.Apparently as very evident in the programmes I have seen a lot of information which is very basic and has already been covered by others.
Edited to add.If JF is a person of inegrity who has the best intentions for the people she works with she would deplore her programme and work being used as a battering ram to hit the people she works with, a method of entertainment to belittle them and to be used to abuse other parents on a Forum such as this.
Perhaps I will send her an Email and see what she thinks.
The other thread is just as bad.
She can then decide for herself what she thinks about the way her product is being used here.
Karen.
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hi there Liam goes in on the 25th of august all help very much appreciated
Anna
Hi.
I am fighting with two teenagers for the PC today but here is one for a start.
I found it on a blogg but pressume the person intended it to be used to help others.
http://www.extremeparenthood.com/2009/08/preparing-autistic-child-for.html
Carol Gray includes some templates in her books if you have some money to spend.
Karen.
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hi there I took Liam to the day surgery unit yesterday and we met the staff and spent time on the ward and discussed any worries that I had and Liam was given an oxygen mask as a visual prompt for when he goes to the unit, they were really friendly and helpful with both of us, not sure on how to do a social story sorry if that sounds stupid as head is swimming at the moment and confused about many things. Anna A and A
When is it ?
I will try and do some research today if I get a few minutes and see if I can can find one.There will be one either on the web or as a book that you could adapt if needed.
Karen.
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Hi.
I was not in exactly the same situation but may still be able to help.
Ben has a diagnosis of AS now.
When he was in reception at primary school before we knew he had AS he put a dry popcorn kernel in his ear.
He became really agitated when A and E and ENT doctor attempted to get it out.
He went in and had a GA as a day case in the end.
Exactly the same type of procedure as tooth extraction.
He was a bit drunk and stroppy when he first woke up.
He did not like having to fast in the morning either.
But it was not too bad really.
Worse for us than him.
Less stressful than two broken arms since.
It would be worth talking to the team ahead of time to see if they have ideas you could use to help prepare.
Paeds teams are usually excellent especially if they know a child has ASD.
Karen.
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I intend to take no further part in this thread.
I realise that by even taking part in this thread as the topic appears to be as I can best gather I am now providing publicity for an individual professional and business venture all be it one I do not agree with.
If this was a professional in education or ASD offering services this would not be allowed by Forum rules.
The programme is simply the publicity arm for a writing career that makes millions.
So I will have no further part in any debate.
Karen.
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Post just arrived with the appointment letter for Finn's assessment. He is seeing the consultant paediatrician at the Tier 2 Communication Clinic. Just as case of wait and see now.
Do you have to wait long ?
Just wondered.
Karen.
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Oooh, there's an idea. We should ask the forum administrators to add a little 'paypal' box to the corner of all our profiles and whenever someone takes our advice/suggestion and finds it useful, they can make a donation.
Of course, it may also need a 'debit' option...
Perhaps you should suggest it to the mods.
There are plenty of people that used to be payed to work for official charity organisations and within parent partnership who would love to be payed now by whoever would pay them.
Anyone who knows the current situation in Education and the vast majority of charity organisations will know that it is increasingly parents or other volunteers who are providing free advice.That is why people feel cross.
David Cameron is at the forefront of a strategy to transfer large sectors of provision that was previously Statutary Provision to the voluntary sector where it is done by volunteers who are comitted enough to the people they serve to do it for nothing.Many will get payed nothing for work they were previously employed to do.
As there are so limited Statuary Services left and as much of the legislation protecting people is being removed people have very few options.
I think that most people would resent the fact that an individual is making millions on the back of this situation.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8591345/Supernanny-rides-again-Jo-Frost-interview.html
Big Society via reality television – now that's one for David Cameron to ponder
Says it all really.
I didn't know that JFs background is as a nanny to a celebrity who then answered an advertisement to film a series which is what is documented in this interview.
A person trained as an actress who decided to be a nanny and was then a nanny for a celebrity..She then embarked on a media career on ''Supernanny''.She has made millions on the back of this career and thinks she can advise parents living in poverty who have very few choices due to current economic climate how to have quality time with their children.
The fact that she is single would not bother me a bit in comparison with this.
Karen.
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I discovered yesterday that JF is looking for participants for a new series around children getting into trouble in school.
A wonderful oppurtunity for any parents who cannot in the current climate obtain help from ACE,parent partnership,CAMHS,school or the LA due to cut backs.
You too can have an assessment in a shopping centre carried out by an individual with no qualifications filmed for TV which promises magic results based mainly on your own work.At no cost to you and with no follow through at all if the results don't work.
You could even have your efforts on the programme peer reviewed here if you wish.
Different production company to the current series.My word JF is busy.One programme on air and already looking for another opurtunity.
Karen
I realised I had made a mistake after I posted but have only just got back to correct it.
You could even have your efforts on the programme peer reviewed here if you wish.
Should read.
Please bear in mind that you will have your efforts on the programme peer reviewed here or anywhere else in the public domain whether you wish it or not.
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I discovered yesterday that JF is looking for participants for a new series around children getting into trouble in school.
A wonderful oppurtunity for any parents who cannot in the current climate obtain help from ACE,parent partnership,CAMHS,school or the LA due to cut backs.
You too can have an assessment in a shopping centre carried out by an individual with no qualifications filmed for TV which promises magic results based mainly on your own work.At no cost to you and with no follow through at all if the results don't work.
You could even have your efforts on the programme peer reviewed here if you wish.
Different production company to the current series.My word JF is busy.One programme on air and already looking for another opurtunity.
Karen.
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Having just been on the supernanny web site I thought I would clarify something.
Apart from calling the naughty step the naughty step...I prefer Time Out myself .I have absolutely no problem with the information given on the web site on the naughty step.As described it is the method used with both of our lads.
They are both settled in secondary school and doing extremely well.So I have no problem with this strategy as described.
Whilst the programme for anyone in doubt I have a few issues with.
In any case it is on tonight for anyone interested.
As it is up against top gear and Sherlock I don't rate my chances too highly of seing the programme with three blokes in the house unless I put them all on a naughty step under false pretenses.
Karen.
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Sorry there are no mods around Karen but I can only speak for myself. Having just been made redundant, I'm sure you'll appreciate that looking for another job takes priority over nannying the forum at the moment. I'll be around when I can. In the meantime perhaps you or anyone else who has a problem would like to direct it to one of the other mods via pm.(except Tally who is taking a break at the moment) Failing that, feel free to pm me and I'll do my best to respond when I have a free moment, but I just want to emphasise that it's way down my priority list- right now- nothing personal.
Now let's get back to the topic- whatever that is!
K x
No.
I won't be sending you any pms as I do not need you to nanny me anymore.
<'> Would not dream of bothering Tally at the minute and have realised I can look after myself.
Please all have a break.I thought it very unusual no one was around.
It has taken too long for you to put yourself first.I will learn from your excellent example as ever.
XXX
Karen.
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Oh well, we got to 4 pages before the inevitable shall happen...
Where's the shakes head in despair emoticon?
I shall save my pent up frustration for Sunday's sock rat.
Feel free to vent whatever frustration you have.
It is just unfortunate that there appear to be no mods around.
I am out of this thread now.
I just needed to post here as I could not think of another option.
There again if you do happen to see a rat on Sunday sock or better still real feel free to hit him very hard.
The police came to search the flower beds at the front of the house on the estate yesterday for drugs
I had to warn them to watch wear the rummaged.
Karen.
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Well, I look forward to hearing more from you Karen cuz I found your views interesting - I appreciate I used a bad example and will bear this in mind in future - but I really did find what you were saying earlier interesting because it provided another side to the discussion and I think that adds to the variety of things.
No.
You can use whatever example you like and don't need to worry about bearing anything in mind.
I am not a sensitive person and don't care how bad your examples are.
I have only ever in all my time on the Forum had an issue with one person posting anything that offended me with regard to personal information and it will now be very clear that that person is not you.
It is just very unfortunate that you have been upsett by something that has absolutely nothing to do with you.
Karen.
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Hi Karen the bit you quoted was just me trying to clarify an earlier statement that bd questioned.
I don't mind how you read the posts and I have enjoyed talking about everything within this post with you. I'm not after any advice or help at all and if you have more to say you can completely disregard my personal experience (I was just justifying where some of my view comes from) because I couldn't think of another way of explaining without relating it to an actual example
Believe me that I am not aiming my comment of confusion at you - or anyone in particular really - after all, it's me getting confused and that's not your fault at all
I am perfectly fine with your views and was only questioning them to see what I think in my own mind - you raised some very relevant points I thought and I don't believe that everyone has to agree - it'd be pretty boring if they did all the time!
I am sorry if my personal experience was the wrong thing to say.
Good luck with el ratto
Best
Darkshine
I may well be around elswhere on the Forum as I get about... perhaps after taking a breather.
The rat has not been seen today......perhaps he can smell the poison.
Karen.
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Hi Karen the bit you quoted was just me trying to clarify an earlier statement that bd questioned.
I don't mind how you read the posts and I have enjoyed talking about everything within this post with you. I'm not after any advice or help at all and if you have more to say you can completely disregard my personal experience (I was just justifying where some of my view comes from) because I couldn't think of another way of explaining without relating it to an actual example
Believe me that I am not aiming my comment of confusion at you - or anyone in particular really - after all, it's me getting confused and that's not your fault at all
I am perfectly fine with your views and was only questioning them to see what I think in my own mind - you raised some very relevant points I thought and I don't believe that everyone has to agree - it'd be pretty boring if they did all the time!
I am sorry if my personal experience was the wrong thing to say.
Good luck with el ratto
Best
Darkshine
I have come back in because I am a person of integrity and have no issue with you.
You have nothing to apologise for.
Your personal experience did not upsett me at all.
It takes a lot to upsett me.
Please don't blame yourself for being confused.
I can think of many many reasons for you being confused which have nothing to do with you at all.
Not least the fact that many of us have taken this thread here,there and everywhere [including rats] because it is in ''off topic'' which is not intended for in depth coverage of personal issues.
The bottom line is that this is a debate about a TV programme which some people love and some hate.
There are not supposed to be right or wrong opinions.
Nobody should have to apologise for any view as long as it is within Forum rules.
<'> <'> <'> Even if you are confused that is nothing to need to apologise for.
I have in the past posted an awful lot.You will not know me very well because I had a sabatical.
However people who have read my thousands of posts would know I would never think badly of a person that is confused.
<'> <'> Karen.
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Thanks Karen - I guess the question is whether the CAMHS doctor is not writing the letter, because she does not agree or because she has not had time.
Perhaps if things are quieter in the summer holidays, it would be worth another phone call Sally?
Best Wishes
Julie
Yes.That would be my feeling exactly.
Karen.
Children's Comisioner Report Exclusions
in Education
Posted · Edited by Karen A · Report reply
Interesting report out today.
I have included the main relevant point regarding SEN.However the report also includes recomendations that all mainstream teachers should have training in SEN as part of basic qualifications,
http://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/content/publications/content_561
It is our judgement that it is unreasonable for any school to unilaterally permanently exclude a child
who has the school named as specified provision on a statement of SEN. That is not to say the
school cannot exclude the child at all. The school should have to make a proposal that the child
be excluded which should trigger a review of the child’s statement. It would be for all professionals
involved in the statementing process, including the school, to decide collectively whether a
permanent exclusion was appropriate. Reviews of this type must, by law, already include the child
and their parents or carers in reaching decisions. A review regarding a potential exclusion should
be no exception.
Where it is decided that exclusion is appropriate, the statement would need to be amended to
reflect the new arrangements being made for the continuing education of that child.
Where it is decided that exclusion is inappropriate, the statement should be amended to
reflect the additional support needed by the school to continue to manage the behaviour of the
individual, in order to prevent continued disruption to their own learning and that of others