Supplementing state education

[Elanor]

My son, nearly 13 and AS, goes to a very average state school in South Yorkshire. There isn't a better school for him to go to - in my area only 2 of the state schools are above national average achievement.

 

He's getting a poor education - its more crowd-control than teaching. He doesn't like disruption, and he's very bright - so he's either bored or distracted in class. The teachers don't really care - because he's getting good grades, but he could do so much better.

 

I can't afford private school - so what can I do to improve his education? How do I find private tutors, or small private weekend classes (ICT and maths), or really good software?

 

I've been looking on the itnernet, but it's really hit and miss.

 

Any good ideas?

 

Elanor

[JsMum]

I would say that many are beginning to give up with our state education,

It's terrible that parents Alike feel so helpless and devalued because the choice of private school isnt there.

 

Its scarey to think where will we be in five years time, parents alike are turning their homes into mini tutorials and turning into home educaters because the lack of beliefe in the system of our state education.

 

Many home educators are carers of special needs children, left in over stretched recources in school our children are lost and never found again because things dont change fast enough to benefit our children.

 

Some state schools do get it right but the onces who get it wrong the costs are far more than the plastic card, our beloved pennies but it deeper than that when it comes to children drowdning in our state education.

 

I think thats when we come desperate and we ask other than private school what can we do, it wont be long before we are asked to contribute to our childrens education, in some ways we are paying, throw the damage it causes our children, when we see them struggle, and the deep dark circles draw you into a world of caos of todays classrooms where we are expecting our children to learn, in noise and over crowded classrooms.

 

I would maybe look into a more suitatble enviorment of what could help support your son learn in an enviroment that could take into account his difficulties, the things that distress him and will support his learning.

 

I know that is why I am already looking into spercific school for children with SN.

 

High school is already a very difficult place to learn but add on a special need then it will be more of a challenge.

 

It maybe a school that is spersific to AS may be more beneficial.

 

Some private schools do give support for high achiever students it could be may meet scolership?

 

One question to ask though to give the benefit of the daught to your sons school have you talked to the schools senco, and had a meeting and see if there is any extra support for him, or a unit within the school that could minimise the number of pupils he is with throw the lessons.

 

it could be he also needs to be assessed for a statement, and provide him with a personalised educational programme for the things he is finding difficult, and his ability may be that his lessons need to be more challenging which is why computers are so successful for some children who are bright.

 

private tutors are as expensive as sending your child to private school, I looked into this and it was a wopping 25 an hour, add in special needs and its doubled.

 

Its so hard to provide our children the support when it comes down to money, however the first thing I would recommend is look into schools that cater for ASD pupils and also ask the senco for a meeting and discuss the concerns you have with the presant school he is in.

 

School is hard for anyone, with ASD/special needs its a real challenge and that will need support and extra resources and the goverment should provide that for him.

 

JsMum

Edited January 28, 2007 by JsMum

[Elanor]

Thanks J's Mum

 

We've been through the SN education loop for years - and I know we don't have a chance at a statement (we have an IEP, but the truth is that it's nothing but lip service), or of being referred to a specialist school. We're looking at scholarships - although there's only a handful of local private schools, and few have any scholarships.

 

I really do take your point about how abysmal state education is - I guess I'm just being pragmatic about it - trying to make the best of bad job, and I can afford to pay for some private tuition (even though it is ridiculous that I shoudl have to).

 

The school's SENCO knows us well, and I don't really have a complaint with him - we have persuaded them to provide decent pastoral care, but the school is basically 'bog standard'. I asked about extra tuition or gifted/talented programmes (he is clever enough) - after 3 months the school got back to us to say that their gifted talented prgramme is only for kids who're good at music and drama

 

At heart, the school can't provide a good academic standard - just a basic one, and I'm sorry, but that isn't good enough. My son has got good brains, and I want him to make the best of these - God knows he has enough AS-related other problems with socialisation and stress, we want him to make the best of the skills he's got.

 

Trouble is, I don't know where to find extra help - let alone persuade him to do it!

 

Elanor

[Deedee]

Hi Elanor we have a private 'tutor' for our son.She is a LSA at his school and is absolutely wonderful with special kids.I mentioned to her we were looking for extra help for M (we have known each other for years) and she offered to tutor him at home and we settled on �25 an hour,for 1 hour once a week.Its not an awful lot of time but he packs more into that hour than he does at school all week!

Would you be able to approach any of the LSA's at your school?? Our school know he has a tutor but its between us and LSA who it actually is just in case it causes friction...

[LittleRae]

Hi Elanor

 

I would challenge your school about what they said about the G&T program. Not from the UK, but just watched a very interesting program on Teachers TV last week. UK schools are being encouraged by the government to name the top 5% of kids and provide enrichment programs for them. See here for guidelines http://publications.teachernet.gov.uk/eOrd...-04071-2006.pdf

[Canopus]

I'm not familiar with South Yorkshire so I don't know what the situation is like regarding private tutors. A possibility might exist that they are thin on the ground as I have been verbally informed a number of times by the HE community that private tutors are more commonplace in London and affluent parts of the south, and are difficult to come by in less prosperous parts of the north, although there are a few exceptions either way. Private tutors usually advertise in local newspapers and magazines so check out the jobs pages. Also, try to track down any local HE groups as they are often more than happy to offer help and advice with supplementary education.

 

What actually are you and your son trying to achieve? Is it just extra education in maths and ICT or are you planning on entering him in for GCSEs as a private candidate?

 

The school's SENCO knows us well, and I don't really have a complaint with him - we have persuaded them to provide decent pastoral care, but the school is basically 'bog standard'. I asked about extra tuition or gifted/talented programmes (he is clever enough) - after 3 months the school got back to us to say that their gifted talented prgramme is only for kids who're good at music and drama.

 

This is usually the case with most secondary schools. G&T rarely applies to other subjects and schools just want kids to progress at the rate at which they are teaching, rather than offer additional services to kids of high intelligence.

 

I would say that many are beginning to give up with our state education,

It's terrible that parents Alike feel so helpless and devalued because the choice of private school isnt there.

 

Its scarey to think where will we be in five years time, parents alike are turning their homes into mini tutorials and turning into home educaters because the lack of beliefe in the system of our state education.

 

Absolutely. I myself hold the view that the state education system is set to go into decline both in terms of quality and as a mechanism of providing education to kids. I know many other people who hold the same views including the governors of a local secondary school who believes that trying to reform the state education system is like re-arranging the deckchairs on a sinking ship.

 

Expect to see an increasing number of parents taking education into their own hands over the next 10 years and an uprising of privately run community schools and education services, and online schools. Some community schools will be located in living rooms but others will take over the buildings of closed down state schools.

 

I think thats when we come desperate and we ask other than private school what can we do, it wont be long before we are asked to contribute to our childrens education, in some ways we are paying, throw the damage it causes our children, when we see them struggle, and the deep dark circles draw you into a world of caos of todays classrooms where we are expecting our children to learn, in noise and over crowded classrooms.

 

An increasing number of parents are getting the message that if they want to give their kids a good education then they have to get off their backside and put in effort rather than expect state schools to provide on a plate. In this world you generally get what you pay for and cheap often means low quality. The existing system of private schools is not a solution because they don't have the capacity to absorb everyone let down by state schools, fees are too expensive, and many have unappealing traditions and cultures. The only solution left is to establish a new system of inexpensive private schools and education services aimed at the mass market.

[Elanor]

Thanks everyone, it really helps to read your ideas.

 

Canopus - I really want to help my son reach his potential, and the schooling he's getting won't achieve this. It's not really about his special needs - I just think he could be learning more and enjoying learning.

 

I'll certainly have a look in the papers - maybe the Times Ed as well.

 

D's Mum - you're right about the G&T - and I will challenge them, because I like being awkward, but not because I think it'll get us anywhere. I'll use that link.

 

Elanor

[JsMum]

Thanks everyone, it really helps to read your ideas.

 

Canopus - I really want to help my son reach his potential, and the schooling he's getting won't achieve this. It's not really about his special needs - I just think he could be learning more and enjoying learning.

 

I'll certainly have a look in the papers - maybe the Times Ed as well.

 

D's Mum - you're right about the G&T - and I will challenge them, because I like being awkward, but not because I think it'll get us anywhere. I'll use that link.

 

Elanor

 

G&T programme doesnt stand for Gin and Tonic does it,

 

what about the TES paper they might have private tutors, advertised in the back.

 

also I had the idea of maybe going to your local Jobcentre and place a post for a tutor, and then you can have your own specifications and what you want from the teacher,

obvously you would have to ensure he has a CIB and cocher but the Jobcentre could advice you more and you could then also set your own rate of pay.

 

Also what about aproaching your local Teaching University who may do some tutering along side their studies.

 

Local papers under private tutors, or tutors.

 

You could also advertise yourself that you are requesting a tutor in your local ad under posts wanted.

 

another one was ring a few of the better schools and ask how you go about searching for a private tutor and if they had any staff that might be interested you just never know, many private tutors do work as a teacher as well.

 

Just a few ideas, hun.

 

JsMum

Edited January 29, 2007 by JsMum

[LittleRae]

Elanor

 

Something else I just thought of. I'm in Ireland, but my DS does Saturday & summer holiday classess for gifted children. I think the UK gifted Association does the same: http://www.nagty.ac.uk/index.aspx

 

These classes are not school subjects, but he just loves them especially Marine Biology, Archaeology & Chemistry.

 

I also find that if I buy Educational software or even download free trials from the internet, he learns so much - doesn't seem to pick up much at school. Did you try the BBC websites -

 

A

Edited January 31, 2007 by D's Mum

[Canopus]

Canopus - I really want to help my son reach his potential, and the schooling he's getting won't achieve this. It's not really about his special needs - I just think he could be learning more and enjoying learning.

 

It appears to be more of a conventional supplementary education issue rather than a SEN issue.

 

The best plan in the meantime would be to buy some good textbooks and educational software. I'm not sure off hand what the best textbooks are but some time later this year I will be checking out textbooks in certain subjects as part of the home / supplementary education project I am setting up. Learning textbooks are usually more enjoyable to read than revision textbooks although you often have to go to better bookshops than WH Smith to find them such as Blackwells http://bookshop.blackwell.co.uk

 

Will your son be taking the exams at school, or will he be taking them elsewhere? The reason I'm asking is because it's important to identify which exam board he will be taking them with. Once the exam board is identified then download the syllabus, past papers, and marking schemes from the exam board website.

[Elanor]

Thanks everyone - I guess I'll be busy now trying to follow up all your ideas. The BBC website is great, and I'm going to try some of your suggestions to find a tutor locally.

 

Thanks

 

Elanor

[Canopus]

I'm considering becoming a private tutor. Can anybody provide information on what they would like from a tutor?