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Recent diagnosis and support for imminent GCSEs

NAS62061

My son was recently diagnosed with autism. He is 15 and will be starting his GCSEs very soon.

My wife and I contacted the school to arrange a meeting with the SENCO to find out what support can be arranged for his exams. They are refusing to talk about it until we have the official diagnosis report.

Are they being unreasonable? Aren't there things we could do before the report is available?

Parents

  • I would suggest speaking to the special educational needs department at your local education authority and ask for their advice. I found mine incredibly helpful, after my 2 year old had her section 23 referral, in terms of advising me what support she would be entitled to at Nursery. I know your son is older but they would still be able to advise on what you should expect.

  • in reply to Kitsune

    That's because of section 23 referral. That only works in early years, when referrals are fast tracked and prioritised. It is under the NHS and they want to identify children with high needs as early as possible. LA deals with them because they are likely high needs and will need EHCPs. At this age only children with substantial needs would be noticed and diagnosed. This early years fast track door closed at 6 I think, and you are on the long journey through all the circles of the SEN support.

    At 15 the LA are the last people to talk to. They would tell to talk to senco anyay. The LA has no business with exam arrangements anyay. It is between the school and JCQ. Senco is the person, but getting some advice from those charities first would help.

Reply
  • in reply to Kitsune

    That's because of section 23 referral. That only works in early years, when referrals are fast tracked and prioritised. It is under the NHS and they want to identify children with high needs as early as possible. LA deals with them because they are likely high needs and will need EHCPs. At this age only children with substantial needs would be noticed and diagnosed. This early years fast track door closed at 6 I think, and you are on the long journey through all the circles of the SEN support.

    At 15 the LA are the last people to talk to. They would tell to talk to senco anyay. The LA has no business with exam arrangements anyay. It is between the school and JCQ. Senco is the person, but getting some advice from those charities first would help.

Children
  • in reply to Tinyexplorer

    Thank you for advising about this. That’s terrible that the LA don’t really bother with older children! I guess I’m lucky, in a way, that my daughter is already in the system.