oxgirl Report post Posted June 18, 2008 School say that Jay needs a laptop in class and to do coursewok and homework on. They're saying that we need to pay the first �250 towards it, but it will then only be on loan to him and it would be better if we just bought one ourselves for his use. Anyone heard of this? I was surprised, I thought if he needed one then it would be provided, but it seems like we have to provide it for him! I'm confused! ~ Mel ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
justamum Report post Posted June 18, 2008 So the school craftily want you to buy them computer equipment then? I have never heard of a parent having to pay for part of of equipment if it's not a private school. The school are saying he needs one then they should supply one. Also �250...you can buy your own one near enough for that price and get to keep it, not have it on loan. If I were you I'd make a quick call to the Education Dept regarding the school trying extract money from you by use of emotional blackmail Cheeky devils Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flora Report post Posted June 18, 2008 Mel, I've never heard of this! In fact after Bill had his stat assessment he was going to be assessed by the SEN IT team (can't remember their official title but I'll dig out the information for you), they never said anything about payment, I got the clear impression that his IT needs would be assessed and he'd be provided from either school budget or funding via his statement. I think this is a swiz! I'll dig out the info and pm you later today or early tomorrow; we're in the same county so it must be the same service. Flora x Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oxgirl Report post Posted June 18, 2008 Thanks both of you. Flora, the unit said they'd discussed it with the IT guy and that this is what he'd said. They said he said he couldn't help Jay and he hasn't been to see him, it's the Unit suggesting I buy one myself, I really don't understand what they mean by this. ~ Mel ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bagpuss Report post Posted June 18, 2008 Doesn't sound right to me Mel. I'd refuse to pay it, cheeky so and so's! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
puffin Report post Posted June 18, 2008 Thanks both of you. Flora, the unit said they'd discussed it with the IT guy and that this is what he'd said. They said he said he couldn't help Jay and he hasn't been to see him, it's the Unit suggesting I buy one myself, I really don't understand what they mean by this. ~ Mel ~ This sounds all ver suspicious: I could understand the school saying - you buy your own laptop but they seem to be saying - you buy it but it will be our property???? I don't understand how that works. Most likely the school are trying to pass the cost that they will be charged by the IT department to provide the equipment to you directly rather than paying for this out of the School SEN budget. However I've never heard of parents having to pay for lap-tops and Alphasmarts - either the school provide them on loan - or sometimes if the school can't provide it parents buy one anyway. I think that you should check with the LEA - as having identified that he needs a laptop to support learning I'm not sure how they can justify making you pay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baddad Report post Posted June 18, 2008 Hi mel - bit of an odd one this - not because the school aren't going to provide it, but the 'shared ownership reverting to them' bit... There used to be a thing called CAP (communication aid project) where you could apply for provision of a laptop, but at best this was a bit of a 'catch 22' because if the need was specific enough (i.e. written into statement) then why weren't the LEA/School providing it, and if it wasn't why should CAP? In practice, the school (or parent) had to show that all other avenues had been pursued, which would put the school concerned into direct conflict with their LEA, because the funding would have to come from the 'top up' budget for a specific, statemented child rather than the schools usual SEN budget, and schools often didin't like drawing that much scrutiny to their SEN budgets! All a bit of a moot point now, as CAP got scrapped a year or so ago, i think... One of the biggest problems with buying your own (and i don't think - but may be wrong - the school has any obligation to provide one, only to give access when needed, which they would probably say they already do if push came to shove and you asked them to pay for it) is the software licensing. If you intend for him to use education specific programmes (Kar2ouche/Maths & Number shark etc), in school AND at home it would be illegal for the school to install this on a PC that didn't belong to them, and you buying the programmes (even home versions) independently would cost an arm and a leg. This may have something to do with the schools 'you buy/we keep' suggestion, but it seems pretty extreme if it is... If it's just for stuff like word, and you have the software already the best solution would be to buy the cheapest/no frills 2nd hand one you can that'll do the job (the school might even have an old junker they can 'loan' on this basis - ben had this for a while but then his writing got just about fast/good enough, so we don't bother any more). Spending money on something that might get dropped or left lying around forgotten (bearing in mind anything HE takes into school won't be covered by their insurance) would just seem too risky Hope that helps, and don't quote me on any of it, but my own experience was school provided 'dedicated to one student' laptops for use between home and school with school grade software pre-installed wasn't on the cards however hard I pushed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
purplehaze Report post Posted June 18, 2008 Hi, my son has to use a laptop due to handwriting difficulties and the school provide them and it is stated on his statement. Also the family fund gave my son a laptop so he had one at home. Hope this helps X Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stella63 Report post Posted June 18, 2008 Hi OJ when he was in year 6 was tested by the SENICT, which in our case was Surrey CC who because of his handwriting difficulties and Tourettes was given a laptap (on loan by County). He used it when he started secondary as we had no idea how he would cope with extended writing activities. He has recently given it up as is coping really well and as soon as my SENCO phoned the SENICT lady she was there like a shot to collect it (which shows the shortage and demand for them!). It is up to the school to request a test (if he is statemented) not sure how it works without the statement. Hope this helps Stella x Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jools Report post Posted June 18, 2008 G used to have an alphasmart and then last year was given a laptop. in both cases the school had to pay something, i think about �200 and the lea paid the rest. it will go to his secondary school with him in september. i think the school might be pulling a fast one because they don't want to cough up! would be interesting to see what your LEA say Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kathryn Report post Posted June 18, 2008 �250 sounds steep to me if you are effectively only renting the thing. Different schools do different things - I can only add my experience. L was given a laptop for use at school only - she had to sign it out and in. She was offered it without a fuss at a time when she didn't have a statement or even a dx, but her high school happened to be a designated school for pupils with physical impairments so they may have had a bigger budget for laptops - they seemed to have quite a lot of them. K x Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bid Report post Posted June 19, 2008 At the end of my DS' time in mainstream secondary he had the use of a laptop. He just collected it each day from the learning support room. Sounds abut odd to me, Oxgirl Just a point worth noting: make sure that he gets support to transfer/print off the work he does on the laptop. Nobody did this with my DS, so the laptop wasn't really of any help, as his work wasn't integrated into his files, etc, so he was in just as much of a muddle as before Bid Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mum23 Report post Posted June 19, 2008 Hi, I wander if it is something to do with the payment the school would have to make if they callled in the SEN ICT team! I know in our area the schools have to pay for some one to come out and do the assesment. Can you ask the LEA about this maybe they would like to know about this little money maker. Or maybe contact the SEN ICT team yourself. This does make me cross though, cos my kids school is a specialist ICT school but they have always told me I had to supply my kids laptops, yes kids all 3 have physical difficulties and proccessing problems, and it was recommended by both paed. and physio. that they need to use a laptop or have use of a scribe, but I ended up paying out for 3 note pad type laptops, cos school had NO funding for them! Ha HA now one of my kids has a Statment that says he must have access to IT equipment or a scribe at all times. Anna Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oxgirl Report post Posted June 19, 2008 I'm totally confuzzled now! Thanks for the input everyone, BD, thanks for info. The teacher did tell me that if we got one then they would install a programme on it, something to do with if he presses a 'p' then he'll get lots of optional 'p' words pop up that he can choose from. He can't even type at the mo tho', hasn't got the patience and won't write either, so we're really stuck, he has a scribe but it can't go on forever, he'll have to crack one or other of them. I have asked her to clarify what she said to me in an email, so I'll be interested to see what she replies. It doesn't seem like the IT guy has come to assess him, although I was told that he would be asked to come, so watch this space! ~ Mel ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Canopus Report post Posted June 19, 2008 School say that Jay needs a laptop in class and to do coursewok and homework on. They're saying that we need to pay the first �250 towards it, but it will then only be on loan to him and it would be better if we just bought one ourselves for his use. Anyone heard of this? I was surprised, I thought if he needed one then it would be provided, but it seems like we have to provide it for him! I'm confused! ~ Mel ~ This sounds very sinister. Are you sure the �250 isn't a refundable deposit? I have heard of a few cases of parents having to hand money to the school, but it is in the form of a deposit that is refunded when the laptop is handed back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oxgirl Report post Posted June 19, 2008 (edited) This sounds very sinister. Are you sure the �250 isn't a refundable deposit? I have heard of a few cases of parents having to hand money to the school, but it is in the form of a deposit that is refunded when the laptop is handed back. I'll tell you pretty much exactly what she said, I have a good memory for conversations: "The (IT guy) said that he couldn't help, Jay. Basically, he needs a laptop. They said, and I can't remember actually, if they said the school or the family, needed to pay the first �250 towards a laptop, but it would still only be on loan to Jay and he'd have to give it back afterwards. You could get a new one for �350 and then it would belong to Jay exclusively, etc. etc." As far as I know, the IT guy hasn't even come to assess Jay, the teacher hadn't spoken to him either, she got this from an email from him! Also, the bit about her not being able to remember if it was the SCHOOL or the PARENTS who had to pay!! Erm, it makes quite a difference to us, that! Still confuzzled! I'm waiting for her to confirm in writing. ~ Mel ~ Edited June 19, 2008 by oxgirl Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Canopus Report post Posted June 19, 2008 What particular software will Jay need? Have you found out about this yet? If there happens to be any education specific software, then will the school give it him if he provides his own laptop? I have encountered instances of schools refusing to give kids software for use on their own laptops. Something to do with having a site licence for the software package that prohibits installation on computers that the school doesn't own. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oxgirl Report post Posted June 19, 2008 What particular software will Jay need? Have you found out about this yet? If there happens to be any education specific software, then will the school give it him if he provides his own laptop? I have encountered instances of schools refusing to give kids software for use on their own laptops. Something to do with having a site licence for the software package that prohibits installation on computers that the school doesn't own. Yep, that's what BD was saying. School said they'd install a programme where if Jay types a 'p', for exmple, then up pops a list of 'p' words for him to choose from, dunno what it's called. Other than that, I don't know what he'll need on it. It's just as an alternative to writing really, although, he's just as reluctant to type, so who knows if will be any better or not. It might end up flying across the room! ~ Mel ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
justamum Report post Posted June 19, 2008 Also, the bit about her not being able to remember if it was the SCHOOL or the PARENTS who had to pay Oh I expect she can, but if she can con a parent into paying up all the better! Get her to confirm who should pay up, and if she says parent make a nice little phone call the the LEA explaining the 'distress' this causing you and financial hardship..bet they say this is incorrect Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cmuir Report post Posted June 19, 2008 Hi It's been suggested that my son uses a laptop in class. When I enquired as to who would assess him for suitabiity and where it would come from, I was advised that there is a team called the E-team who are part of Visiting Teacher Services/Education Department (were in Edinburgh so it may be different elsewhere). I don't think it's reasonable that you should be asked to put your hand in your pocket for a laptop that will be used at school - it's an essential piece of equipment that would assist your child to work. Caroline. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oxgirl Report post Posted June 20, 2008 Well, I sent her an email yesterday saying I was a bit 'confused' and could she clarify. Got one back saying she thinks she's a bit confused as well and will be in touch when she's spoken to the IT guy, so I'll wait and see what she comes up with. ~ Mel ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
justamum Report post Posted June 20, 2008 Got one back saying she thinks she's a bit confused as well They very often do get confused when you question something that you don't believe is correct Even more so if you quote chapter and verse, which undoubtedly they already knew about! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oxgirl Report post Posted June 20, 2008 She called me today and said it was the SCHOOL that had to pay the first �250 towards the laptop! I'm going to work with Jay in the hols to try and improve on his typing and the IT guy will then assess him in September. If there's been an improvement then they will provide a laptop for his use for the rest of the time he is there. He's also going to phone me to recommend some learn-to-type programmes. ~ Mel ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baddad Report post Posted June 20, 2008 Seeeeeeee.... Nice to hear a happy ending Typing programme - There are a couple of freeware ones available specifically for kids. There's one where there's a driving game, and another where they have to 'shoot' at flying letters to play a tune (the letters 'pop' with different notes). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oxgirl Report post Posted June 20, 2008 Seeeeeeee.... Nice to hear a happy ending Typing programme - There are a couple of freeware ones available specifically for kids. There's one where there's a driving game, and another where they have to 'shoot' at flying letters to play a tune (the letters 'pop' with different notes). Cheers, BD. They both sound good, do you know the names of them? It needs to be something that will hold his interest otherwise he'll just get bored and stroppy and won't cooperate. They've got a really boring one at school where you just have to repeat the same letters over and over again for lines and he gets so frustrated he ends up throwing a wobbly and it's totally counterproductive. ~ Mel ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baddad Report post Posted June 20, 2008 Hi Mel - have PM'd you with link Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smiley Report post Posted June 20, 2008 Mel - can you PM me the link.. We have a spongebob one, but he's getting bored of that now. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deedee Report post Posted June 20, 2008 There are loads of free typing programmes online you can download to encourage him..my eldest loved The Typing of the Dead,it's quite a gross typing game with Zombies etc but he's the fastest typist I've ever seen now! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oxgirl Report post Posted June 25, 2008 Hi Mel - have PM'd you with link Cheers BD. ~ Mel ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oxgirl Report post Posted June 25, 2008 Mel - can you PM me the link.. We have a spongebob one, but he's getting bored of that now. Sorry, just seen this, I'm on it. ~ Mel ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oxgirl Report post Posted June 25, 2008 There are loads of free typing programmes online you can download to encourage him..my eldest loved The Typing of the Dead,it's quite a gross typing game with Zombies etc but he's the fastest typist I've ever seen now! Cheers Deedee, The IT guy emailed me three pages worth of links, but I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed, toooooooo much info! I just wanna know which one is best really, it'll take me ages to go through all those. ~ Mel ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BusyLizzie100 Report post Posted June 25, 2008 Hi Mel, My son's Ot suggested a good typing programme you can use at home on a PC,to get him up to speed when it comes to using the laptop for schoolwork. Don't know if I'm allowed to mention it openly, so will PM you!! Lizzie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oxgirl Report post Posted June 25, 2008 Hi Mel, My son's Ot suggested a good typing programme you can use at home on a PC,to get him up to speed when it comes to using the laptop for schoolwork. Don't know if I'm allowed to mention it openly, so will PM you!! Lizzie Cheers Lizzie. ~ Mel ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
