Where do we stand

[mum22boys]

Hi,

 

I need some advice but not really sure where to begin.

 

M is nearly 7 (in year 2). He was diagnosed a couple of weeks ago with ASD and possible ADHD (needs to be seperately assessed for this). Now it has taken almost 2 years to get to this stage so school have known about M's problems since he was in Reception. School have always given me the impression they think i am a neurotic mother and I have had to fight all the way to where we are today. I fought to get him an IEP, get him referred to the AA teacher and outreach support, yes at the time he wasn't diagnosed and all the Head said was' I don't think we will be sucessful'. We were and he has had an AA teacher who drops in to the school when they can be bothered to arrange it for a year now. She has been to the school twice now. M can barely read and write, we have given up hope with the school and pay for him to have private 1-1 tuition after school twice a week. In Feb school finally admitted he was behind!!! and gave him 15 minutes 3 times a week 1-1. Not too impressed that was all he was to get but it was better than nothing.

 

The school have always fobbed me off with 'we can't do anything until he is diagnosed' I have spent 2 years hearing that, along with 'he's not the only child we believe to be on the spectrum' . I don't care about the others only mine IYGWIM.

 

Things hit a low point in January and we wrote a letter of complaint to the school, the governors and the education director. We got no where. The school twisted the letter to look like I had implied the teachers weren't doing their job, in fact the only one who wasn't doing her job was the Head who is also SENCO. Parent partnership came in to a meeting with us at the school and as usual the Head talked a good story. She never followed through anything she said she would do.

 

Now M has a diagnosis his consultant has said she will come into the school and meet with us, the Head, AA teacher and Ed Psych. I don't know when this will be though. i am pinning all hopes on this meeting.

 

Anyway since just before Easter the school eventually agreed to write in a message book at the end of the school day anything that had happened. Since then it is almost a daily occurance with M losing his temper, losing Golden time, being kept in (then he just runs out anyway) and generally getting very distressed. Today I have another page full of problems. I am worried, things are getting worse and they seem to have no idea of how to deal with him. I believe if he had 1-1 with a familiar face who gets to know him well a lot of this can be dealt with. M like many others with ASD has no concept of waiting, yesterday he got in trouble for losing his patience about waiting for the teacher to get him a rubber (she told him to wait while she finished with another child).

 

It worries me he goes into juniors in Sept. no teaching assistant only a teacher and who knows how he will cope. I think our only route to take is to apply for a statement. He has been on school action plus for almost two years now, surely there is a time scale when the school realise this isn't working and seek to get a statement?

 

Any thoughts on this would really be appreciated. I admire anyone who actually reads the whole lot, sorry to have gone on and on.........

 

mum22boys

[pumpkinpie]

I think you should apply yourself for a statement which will make the lea have to do something. Be prepared though for an inital no to an assessment as this seems to be a regualar postponing practice to try and put us off

 

You say the head has not followed through with what was agreed previously. Well maybe you need to put this in writing and ask what has happened and what is being done. If he has an iep now this should be reviewed regularly, the code of practice says you should have input regarding this and meeting to review it should be on a regular basis(cant remember if it says termly basis)

Alternatively you can start to speak to the autistic team yourself on a regular basis when you have concerns and ask them what they advice. Professional often listen to each other rather than us as parents.

 

What is the school doing regarding your sons behaviour, does he have a behaviour plan, has the outreach team done any training with staff?

 

I think the school is failing to make reasonable adjustments for your son. But to prove this you will need to keep a record of what has been said and put things in writing so you have proof. Is the paediatrition liasing with school to mmet or is he expecting school to arrange it - keep an eye on this because you will need to be clear with them that this is what you want and your son needs.

[JsMum]

Hi, I would send all the kind of diffculties that your son has in education directly to your areas councils special educational needs support service, and explain all your concerns via a letter, or email, or ask for an interview with her/him.

 

you could also seek advice from IPSEA, NETWORK 81 AND NAS Educational helpline.

 

you can also request the assessment, it could be turned down but then appeal.

 

there is a lot of evidence to proove that your son is failing in school throw learning, socially and defo emotionally.

 

the process is long drawn out but its does make things a lot better for your child.

 

the children who are worser than your child where once ignored like you are been now, they wait until the child can bearly cope and then take flimsy action, I mean 15 mins a day, that is soo shocking! if you where successful in a statement it would defo be more than this so do challenge them.

 

before statement J was getting 1/2 hour a week 1-1 specialist support thats with Diangosis of ADHD/ODD Dyslexia ect....and after 3 years of School Action Plus and severly behind his peers in all areas of development.

 

after statement he was given over 16 hours a week 1-1 plus social groups, dyslexia support and other things as well.

 

Keep a log of all the people you email, or write to and copy everything, dont give real copies as they loose them.

 

I think the signs are very clear that your son is not been supported that give a relation to his SEN and he is reacting to it throw destress and I wouldnt hesitate at all to get the process of requesting a statatory assessment as the parent.

 

JsMum

[mum22boys]

Thanks for replies so far.

 

No there is no behaviour plan. He has a target on his recent IEP with regards to behaviour it reads:

 

At times M needs support with managing frustration & anger

 

Target: To develop skills to cope with these situations.

 

Action: Monitor incidents in chart to note any common triggers

Allow M time to calm down

Discuss incident together and attempt to resolve

Peer mediation.

 

So no, they are not helping him deal with it more trying to stop the outbursts.

 

His IEP was due for review at easter. If I don't chase them up it will be JUly!

 

I have just noticed the school is holding a meeting next week on special needs ( they like to make out they are good at helping these kids) the teacher who is in charge of SEN for key stage 1 will be there. i will ask for a meeting with her.

 

I know i also need to think on the lines of statementing but not sure if the school will back me or not. I think not, she hates being told to do anything and she only likes the kids that achieve!

 

Am at support group tonight so will seek more advice.

 

Thanks.

 

mum22boys

[cmuir]

Hi

 

I intially had a bit of a battle to ensure my son got a LA when he started mainstream school last summer. In Edinburgh certainly, it turns out that the Neighbourhood Support Coordinator and Educational Psychologist as well as HT assess a child's needs. Every quarter PAG group meetings are held to flag up to the education department that there are children that may need X, Y and Z. Those are extremely important meetings because it's there that budgets are allocated to schools. I've only recently been made aware that the NSC allocates a pot of money to each school trying to take into account how many special needs children there are. It's then the school/HT that allocates that money for employing LAs. Interesting! Again, in Edinburgh there's a Parent and Pupil Support Manager who deals with these types of situations. Enquire are an informative organisation to contact - ask for their brochure.

 

That should definitely help that your consultant is willing to attend a school review meeting and that you now have a diagnosis.

 

I've found that I've made myself very unpopular because I actually have a voice. What school want is a parent that couldn't care less and sits and nods like a nodding dog. At each review meeting, I make a point of making no apologies for asking lots of questions and insisting on proper answers and making notes on who said what and when. Insist someone takes minutes - I found they didn't like me taking minutes because I was biased. Once minutes are received, check them and insist changes are made if found to be inaccurate.

 

Pester power/persistence usually pay off. Try not to worry too much (much easier said than done) about school meeting.

 

Best wishes.

 

Caroline.

[pingu]

Hi

 

I intially had a bit of a battle to ensure my son got a LA when he started mainstream school last summer. In Edinburgh certainly, it turns out that the Neighbourhood Support Coordinator and Educational Psychologist as well as HT assess a child's needs. Every quarter PAG group meetings are held to flag up to the education department that there are children that may need X, Y and Z. Those are extremely important meetings because it's there that budgets are allocated to schools. I've only recently been made aware that the NSC allocates a pot of money to each school trying to take into account how many special needs children there are. It's then the school/HT that allocates that money for employing LAs. Interesting! Again, in Edinburgh there's a Parent and Pupil Support Manager who deals with these types of situations. Enquire are an informative organisation to contact - ask for their brochure.

 

That should definitely help that your consultant is willing to attend a school review meeting and that you now have a diagnosis.

 

I've found that I've made myself very unpopular because I actually have a voice. What school want is a parent that couldn't care less and sits and nods like a nodding dog. At each review meeting, I make a point of making no apologies for asking lots of questions and insisting on proper answers and making notes on who said what and when. Insist someone takes minutes - I found they didn't like me taking minutes because I was biased. Once minutes are received, check them and insist changes are made if found to be inaccurate.

 

Pester power/persistence usually pay off. Try not to worry too much (much easier said than done) about school meeting.

 

Best wishes.

 

Caroline.

 

 

Perfect answer caroline. ill second all that, Can i also say Mum22boys - i know what you are going through (as im sure most people here will), we have an identical situation here right now, today the school finally got back to me (after a fortnight of badgering) and said an intrim meeting was to be held on the 3rd may. they have finially agreed to back us (albeit the enthusiasm is very lame) but its taken years to get to this point - we started asking about Statutary assessment when he was in reception class, hes now in year 3.

 

But one good thing is he went swimming today with the school and i was there to witness him been perfectly calm (even though water is his biggest love) he flapped a bit but followed every order and request in near silence. I was astounded how different he is at school to when hes at home.

 

take care

shaz