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School SEN support

NAS36985

Hi, my 5 year old daughter recently had an ASD diagnosis. She is high functioning and ahead of many of her peers academically.  At school she is well behaved. However, her diagnosis report highlighted her difficulties in having a two way conversation, her lack of understanding of friendship, her odd use of language (although it was complex) and her inability to recognise emotions from pictures. There were other things too.  

I gave the report to the school but they seem disinterested.  They said they were surprised at her diagnosis. They said I would probably meet with the Senco to see if there was anything they could do at school.  My feeling is that there are things they could do to help with her social interaction that it is very difficult for me to work on at home with her on her own.

Can the school refuse to put her on the SEN register if they don’t see any problems at school? (there will be problems but on the surface it doesn’t always look like it).  Do I have a right to SEN provision for her or is this something they decide based on the needs they think she has (as opppsed to her consultant).

I would appreciate some advice as next term I want to push for a meeting as it’s been a few weeks now and I’ve had nothing from the Senco.

thanks in advance

Parents

  • I am a school SENCo and have been for the last 12 years. I am surprised that the school seem disinterested in your daughter's diagnosis. May I ask was it a private assessment or NHS? 

    NAS24448 mentions an EHCP. These are the equivalent to the old Statement and are usually provided for children with significant difficulties accessing the school curriculum without additional support. The funding that they provide for the school is usually used to provide a 1:1 support assistant for a child to help them access lessons if they are behind academically or if they struggle with their behaviour perhaps for sensory reasons. 

    If your daughter's school are not seeing problems at school then it is unlikely that she would need an EHCP. However as I said these are usually needed by children with the most significant difficulties, the school should be offering support and provision for many pupils who have special needs but do not require additional funding to meet those needs.

    For example, the school could put a visual timetable in place to help a child with transitions. They could ensure prior warning of changes to routine are explained. They could ensure the child is sat away from distractions or is given a special working area to use. These would not require the school to have additional funding. In your daughter's case I would be expecting the school to provide support for her social difficulties. This might be in the form of social stories helping her to understand playground games for example. Or it might be inclusion in a social skills group to help develop the skills she is lacking. 

    I have worked in both independent and state primary schools and I would immediately be putting support of this kind in place if we had a child with these types of difficulties. 

    Do try to see the SENCo after half term and discuss what times of support your daughter would benefit from. 

  • in reply to Silverdale

    Thanks for the replies. She had an NHS assessment - she has had a consultant for the past two years or so due to her difficulties.  The school did say that they didn’t think she had ASD before her assessment, which worries me slightly.  I agree, I don’t think she would need an EHCP as her difficulties in school are not severe enough.  It’s good to know however, that she should still qualify for some provision within school.  

    It is really the social communication difficulties that she requires help with. I have looked for private social skills groups but they seem to only offer them to adults in my area.  I think, as you suggest, social stories may be good too. 

    I will ask to meet the Senco after half term and try to get a plan in place.  I know funding is tight in schools but at the same time the support she needs is essential to her development.  

    Thanks again for your help and advice.  

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  • in reply to Silverdale

    Thanks for the replies. She had an NHS assessment - she has had a consultant for the past two years or so due to her difficulties.  The school did say that they didn’t think she had ASD before her assessment, which worries me slightly.  I agree, I don’t think she would need an EHCP as her difficulties in school are not severe enough.  It’s good to know however, that she should still qualify for some provision within school.  

    It is really the social communication difficulties that she requires help with. I have looked for private social skills groups but they seem to only offer them to adults in my area.  I think, as you suggest, social stories may be good too. 

    I will ask to meet the Senco after half term and try to get a plan in place.  I know funding is tight in schools but at the same time the support she needs is essential to her development.  

    Thanks again for your help and advice.  

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