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Advice/Experiences: How to get school plan adjusted Autistic/Dyspraxic Son yr 10 GCSE

Happy

Hello To Everyone & a Huge Thanks for Being Here - 

As brief as I can... My son is 14 and in his 1st term of yr 10 in mainstream highschool. He was diagnosed dyspraxic in primary and struggled academically, particularly writing and maths. He has always disliked sport. He has continued to struggle in highschool and his empotional and social development also declined. Family and friends urged me to consult school and request a referral to Physch Ed for full assessment. We were worried that my son was autistic. The SENCO always dismissed my concerns and told me repeatedly that my son was just lazy, manipulative and she chasticed me for my "soft" parenting  approach stating it reinforced my sons negative behaviours. Long story short, I bypassed school and went to my GP. He was eventually seen by a specialist, assessed and was diagnosed ASD in May this year.

I was given the news in May 2012 during an appointment with the Consultant Peadiatrician who informed me he would write up his report for the GP, myself and school. He gave me some advice and suggested I contact school to discuss a way forward. I informed school by email and letter and requested a meeting with the SENCO to discuss the implications... this request was ignored as were emails and messages. An urgent meeting was called over my sons attendence so I used this to adress his ADS..The SENCO dismissed me again, she implied I was lieing as there had been nothing written, that she knew that consultant and knew full well he wouldn't diagnose my son ADS - she said she was absolutely certain he was not ASD and that perhaps I had heard what I wanted to hear. The written report eventually arrived a week before the academic year. I went in to see SENCO and she flippantly told me it was too late to do anything this year and that she was retiring. She agreed to refer my boy to physch ed and I signed the forms. The SENCO had previously told me and my Son that he was part of a group who would be doing day release to college.. My son had been in 2 or 3 meetings with a support staff to discuss the plan of this etc. I am telling you this background to give you a sense of schools committment. 

We all had a great summer break and my Son went back to school happy and enthusiastic... he was starting in year 10 and had chosen his GCSE. He was also excited about college. I made contact with the new SENCO and asked to meet and discuss an interim support plan until the Physch Ed assessment was complete. I have now been  informed the previous SENCO hadn't made the referral, one has now been made but I have been told not to build my hopes up as their workload is huge and my Son isn't a priority! The new SENCO has told me that pushing for a statement is not good idea because it is essentially for younger children to help choose the right school. My Son never did get included in the college group and is now sinking slowly under the huge burden of workload expected of him for the GCSE's

My boy is already loosing his enthusiasm, he has been set the same amount of work and homework and no adjustments have been made to help him thrive or cope.

He is really really struggling to keep up and rarely does homework. He then gets detention, he refuses and then gets internal exclusion...he walks out of this and then get externally excluded. He then has to go back and do the inclusion....punishment can not help or make him do more work or keep up.

QUESTION - What reasonable adjusments can school make??? What are your experiences??? 

I want to ask school if he can drop 1 or 2 of his none compulsory GCSE subjects and use the time to concentrate on the subjects he is enjoying and his compulsory subjects that he really struggles with...maths, english. He could use those subject slots to work in the support unit where he can do his homework with support form staff... A real problem is Geography, he cannot maintain the pace or concentration. He is predicted togain an F in his GSCE and is already way behing half way through this 1st term. 

Thank you to aybody who has been patient enough to read that lot...I guess there is a lot of waffle but if you have any advice or experience of schools types of support at GCSE levels...then please let me know... 

:)

  • Good for you happy, remember schools can be a bit naughty and not give you the full story, they tell you what they want you to know. If you have a written record of what they say you can hold them to account. Keep copies of what you send them too.

    Your son should be given every opportunity to reach his full potential.

    Keep up the fight. Keep me posted  as to how you are getting on Smile x

     

     

  • Hello Happy Days :)O...love your profile name

    I am really grateful for the time you have taken to read and then reply to my post, I am extremely grateful that you shared quite personal things in respect of your children as it is very helpful to relate to others in the position as my Boy...

    I have took several pieces of your advice and am just about to write a letter to be hand delivered with my Son on his 1st day back at school tomorrow. 

    I am also going to email the authority this evening to instigate the statement process. I found it very dismissive to be told there would be no point having an assessment for my boy at this age. The SENCO and others at school have assumed that my Boy will not continue in higher education, or aim for University. I believe a statement of his needs will be critical to carry him through lifelong learning... I will not have him written off.

    Many Thanks again and good luck with your girl. Please do not hesitate to contact if i can be of any help to you and yours :)O xxx

  • Hi happy i have a daughter age 14 under assessment for asd. we are also having problems as the school is not so forth coming in giving support as no diagnosis. I know its extremley difficult and frustrating but try not to let them fob you off. I have other children diagnosed asd and in my experience the schools dont do anything unless they have to. You mention that your special needs coordinator said that a statement is for younger children to help choose a school. I think she has been rather selective with the information she has given you, Actually a statement can be given to all ages at school and is a document which states a childs difficulties and what help and support will be given. The school must meet the statement. The school does not need to initiate this you can request an assessment yourself from the authority. I requested one for my youngest daughter who was home ed for years before she went into school. she now has a statement and her needs are being met. 

    All of my corespondance with my eldest daughters school is in written form usually e mail so i have proof that i have informed the school about anything i think is relevant and made the school aware of specific difficulties my daughter encounters and that i have  asked them to accommodate them,  where i have been to meetings action plans are drawn up and signed by everyone there. I learned a while ago that schools often say they were not told about something so now i dont give them the opportunity.

    If you feel that the school is continually ignoring the needs of your child i think that you should probably write a letter to your authority and state your concerns they will have to give a written response. 

    As far as the GCSE thing goes i believe that it is not actually a legal requirement to sit any  GCSEs i believe them to be a voluntary examination which schools automatically enter children into, i also believe that it is only a  requirement to study core subjects although even this does not have to be following the curriculum. Im not entirely sure where this will leave you with the school but i thought you could take some advice on this then approach the school. I believe the website IPSEA could be quite usefull to you they have a contact us section where you could ask for advice. 

    sorry cant be more helpfull as i said im also stuck in the fight, i really wish i had a magic wand. Good luck x