bikergal Report post Posted July 4, 2006 I would really appreciate some advice especially points in law regarding a child being taught and given work appropriate to their ability. I have my hands full at the moment trying to sort transport for September and house move prob next week but intend to write a strong letter during hols to give to Senco and head teacher in September. Dd1 is in yr 7 and last year got level 5 English, 4 in science, 3 in maths. At transfer to high school she was put in group 3 for all subjects couldn't cope with the noisy ill disciplined classes and now works away from them in the inclusion unit. She finds much of the work far too easy and finishes early then reads. Having read her report it is obvious that she has not made any progress this year and may well have regressed. Despite her problems with comprehension, inference and working short term memory she is a bright child. I asked Senco if she could go in set 1 for english as she is particularly strong in this area. Her reply was that all the top sets are full and we can't take one child out and put dd1 in because their parents wouldn't like it! Well excuse me I don't like it that my daughter is not being taught at her ability level and as I can't express myself verbally I have to write a letter (autistic traits myself). I am fed up with being fobbed off , the Lsa's are meant to give her the top set work in several subjects but this just isn't happening. I won't let this continue for another year. I don't like to rock the boat but this is my child's education. The senco is meant to be putting in a request for statutory assessment before the summer hols. Sorry to go on...I find it difficult to express myself even on a computer...I am trembling just writing this...Anything anyone can suggest would be great...but preferably not involving talking as I don't communicate well that way. Thanks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pumpkinpie Report post Posted July 4, 2006 Hi Sorry to hear school are playing games with you, A few questions Does your lass have an iep? She should have, and on it should be the targets for this year. Has the school been providing them for her? If they havent it looks like they may be in breach of sect 317(1)a of the 1996 education act which says the governing body ...shall ...use their best endeavours in exercising their functions in relation to the school, to secure that if any registered child has special educational needs the special educational provision whcih his learning difficulty calls for is made. The code of practice says a child with sen should have their needs met It seems to me you need to show what she was doing last year ie her reports etc, the agreement if you have it which said she should be in the topp group and the example now of her report and how she is regressing. School have a duty here to support your child and they aint doing it! Frget next school year write a letter now. Im sure they guys on this forum will give you some good iddeas. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Karen A Report post Posted July 4, 2006 I think you may be best to push for Stat asessment.Otherwise you could put lots of work into writing letters which be repeated during assessment anyway.Who decided re possible assessment? Was it school or you.If it was school then you could write yourself requesting an assessment[ see previous posts on this during the last couplle of weeks]Ben has recently been through assessment and we are waiting for the draft statement.He is extremely talented in some areas.The EP included the need for him to be able to experience academic success at his appropriate level in her submission.So we will have documented recommendations enableing us to challenge school if it is not done.Hope this helps. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PinkSapphireAngel Report post Posted July 4, 2006 Ben has recently been through assessment and we are waiting for the draft statement. Hi can I just ask, did they notify you after the assessment that they had DEFINATELY decided on giving a statement? As you say you are waiting for a draft statement (rather than waiting to see whether it is a note in lieu) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Karen A Report post Posted July 4, 2006 No.They have not said formally.The 10 week time limit date was last Fri and we have not had confirmation.Spoke to our caseworker at the LEA .She said that in our borough all of the submissions go to the EP who does a draft which goes to panel to agree the draft then we will here.The specialist salt has said she has not known a stsatement to not be issued in our area once it has got this far.But we will still be happy once we see it and see if it is any good Karen .I am trying to take some time to have a breather as I anticipate a lot of work once we get the draft and little time to end of term. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bikergal Report post Posted July 4, 2006 Dd1 is on school action plus though I haven't seen an iep. The senco should be putting a request for statutory assessment this week I pushed for it and school and ed pysch supported me. I wonder if they're waiting for the assessment then because they are too busy to bother with the educational stuff I have asked about... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PinkSapphireAngel Report post Posted July 4, 2006 Thanks Karen, our 10 week deadline was last TUESDAY. My dh rang an SEN officer at our LEA as our so called casework officer has not bothered to ever answer a single email etc from me and the ONLY contact we ever had from them was the letter saying they were following SENDISTs order to do the assessment. Anyway when dh phoned they told him we would either recieve a proposed statement or a note in lieu in the post BY July 11th (next Tuesday!) They would not even tell him which it would be or anything at all! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anneuk Report post Posted July 4, 2006 Aw Biker Gal you have so much on your plate at the moment. It seems that some schools prefer children to be very average so that they don't have to put any extra effort in, it's funny how they take the credit when our kids do well though isn't it... At our school no children are 'streamed' until year 8 so all classes are mixed ability and we haven't yet been told where are kids are going in September... My daughter is bright in English too level 7's in several assessments, but they won't give her any extra work to keep her occupied and at that level , in fact when the Senco heard my daughter talking about having just finished Romeo & Juliet and Of Mice and Men, I was told she shouldn't be reading exam texts at this stage becuase it will put them in a difficult poition later on!!! It breaks my heart to see all of us fighting so hard to get our children educated properly.... Anne Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Karen A Report post Posted July 4, 2006 Thanks Karen, our 10 week deadline was last TUESDAY. My dh rang an SEN officer at our LEA as our so called casework officer has not bothered to ever answer a single email etc from me and the ONLY contact we ever had from them was the letter saying they were following SENDISTs order to do the assessment. Anyway when dh phoned they told him we would either recieve a proposed statement or a note in lieu in the post BY July 11th (next Tuesday!) They would not even tell him which it would be or anything at all! Looks like we will both be waiting for the post next week then. <'> <'> Karen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Karen A Report post Posted July 4, 2006 (edited) Aw Biker Gal you have so much on your plate at the moment. It seems that some schools prefer children to be very average so that they don't have to put any extra effort in, it's funny how they take the credit when our kids do well though isn't it... At our school no children are 'streamed' until year 8 so all classes are mixed ability and we haven't yet been told where are kids are going in September... My daughter is bright in English too level 7's in several assessments, but they won't give her any extra work to keep her occupied and at that level , in fact when the Senco heard my daughter talking about having just finished Romeo & Juliet and Of Mice and Men, I was told she shouldn't be reading exam texts at this stage becuase it will put them in a difficult poition later on!!! It breaks my heart to see all of us fighting so hard to get our children educated properly.... Anne No they like children who do well and get good SATS. Just not the ones like ours who also have SEN and don't fit into a tidy box.SEN=lower ability in their minds as this fits into the system.Karen Edited July 4, 2006 by Karen A Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PinkSapphireAngel Report post Posted July 4, 2006 Yeah and I am going to give them HELL if I have not heard from them by next Tuesday with the way they have treated me in this. I was NEVER asked for or advised on parental contributions !! They are pathetic as they are obviously being this way because they were made to do the assessment by SENDIST after we took them there for refusing it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Karen A Report post Posted July 4, 2006 I thought parental contributions were a legal requirement under the code of practice.You have reason to appeal without having got stat assess on grounds they have not followed procedure surely ? Karen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PinkSapphireAngel Report post Posted July 4, 2006 I sent mine in anyway, pages and pages of it and also further copies of reports I felt important and also a questionaire Luke filled in for me as well as a piece of writing he did at home off his own back saying how he feels about school and feeling happier at home. If we have to go back to SENDIST (if they refuse statement or give a rubbish one etc) I will be diting the unprofessional way they have behaved. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Karen A Report post Posted July 4, 2006 <'> Yes you do that Karen <'> Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LKS Report post Posted July 4, 2006 bikergal <'> I think what the senco said about all the sets being full is a load of rubbish. I have asked on here before if there is a maximum number of children you can have in a secondary class and apparently there is not. My ds who is statemented is in a top set maths class with 38 children I know this doesn't help much with your problem all round but perhaps it might be something to think about Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kazzen161 Report post Posted July 4, 2006 Do you know how the children are streamed? My Twins school stream by maths, english and science ability individually- so they coudl be in top for science and bottom for english. Some schools set by the average of maths, science and english - so could then end up in too high a group for english and too low a group for maths. Generally the groups should be quite flexible - ours seem to have more children in top groups as they need less individual help. There should also be times when the groupings are revised. Karen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
