Hiya :)
I am mother to a big hearted 9 year old boy Jack who has ASD, SPD, mobility issues (currently waiting for occupational therapy appointment).
I was told from 1st nursery parents evening that he was not quite neurotypical and advised to take him for SLT sessions (school appointed this), I followed protocol and 6 months in we knew we werent getting anywhere.
He was then diagnosed as ASD in Yr1. He dribbled a lot, had speech delay, had no idea what he was meant to be doing, "a bit of a loner", poor gross and minor motor skills, basically struggling and certainly well behind his peers.
Each year from then on the SENCO said he would need to be statemented and that when the new EHCP came into force a few years ago that he would be the first within our borough to go through this process, he had a lot of specialists involved and I had to take him for further SLT sessions, he couldnt hold concentration for longer than 1 minute so SLT was then meant to be implemented into school day.
3 years ago myself and partner went to a review with SENCO and enquired as to where we were at with regards to the statement we assumed had been started (we had filled our paperwork out 2 months prior, handed this in and backed off leaving the school to continue with this, believeing we were in safe hands!
We were given excuses and then 6 moths later SENCO teacher leftI had mentioned we were deciding to relocate within the next 24/48 months. On the SENCO's last day she walked out to me on the playground, handed me a file of Jacks paperwork with a sticky note on telling me to follow up a report with someone from the area SISS team.
I phoned and phoned but to no avail. No-one at the school had any answers and the SENCO department had been left in charge of the Deputy Head of the school who had made it clear that she didnt want the role at all!
Myself and partner decided that we wanted to relocate (especially for Jack and our other 2 boys) to be closer to family and in a quieter area. Whilst our house was on the market the school appointed a new SENCO lady (who was lovely) but obviously all over the shop having walked into the position and taking off from the mess that had been left behind by the old SENCO.
Everything was completely delayed and when I questioned her regarding the EHCP she said there was no paper trail or evidence to support that the old SENCO had started it!
When we decided which school we were sending Jack and his brothers to (and with the house sold) we let the SENCO and teacher staff know.The new SENCO (did take Jack to his new school setting (which I was fully appreciative for) and took pictures, met his teacher etc...
We started at the new school and they said they had never been given ANY paperwork from his last school, so I gave them every copy I had and I asked them about the statement, especially as this school had only one TA for a morning in the week for the whole school (I had not been told this upon applying for the school, they were very re-assuring that Jack would be getting the best and all the help they could give).
I started to panic, the SENCO who is a teacher at the shool too and new to the job told me we would have to start all over again, she has been very vague in what she requires for my son to apply for an EHCP, told me she had contacted Jacks old school and they never get back to her.
She did however order an Educational Psychologist and Paediatrician to come into the school to observe and report on Jack.
Paediatrician has put him at well below on all findings, (she said he does not know the difference between feather and fur etc, when she did the picture test) she said he is around 6 years old mentally (Jack will be 10 in January).
Educational Psycholgist made the same observations but put him at 7 years old mentally.
Jack is visibally destressed at school, has chewed his fingers that bad theyve been bleeding when he comes out (chewellery does not work for him), ear defenders are permanently on, stimming excessively, Ive had a message today from one of the moms I have got to know saying Jack was crying today because he didnt understand the work and my son was asked to help him and he just kept crying!! Jack never tells me anything about his day and I would never have known this. His younger brother also told me Jack was punished for not writing quick enough and whilst the rest of the class went out to play he was asked to sit in another class with other children and complete his work, I have complained about this and been assured it is being looked at as they are very upset a teacher would do this!
SENCO has said she will have a go at applying for EHCP but will have to play on his social and emotional state to get somewhere (Jack is very quiet, not aggresive at all and very compliant, loves rules) I feel this is really awful as thats what stops him from getting anywhere because I have put that structure into his life, to help him comply with society. From an educational stand point SENCO said the Local Authority will just tell them to "Dumb down" his work to save costs!! His teacher has told me she would love to give him Key Stage 1 work but is not allowed to legally!
One of his teachers asked me if he had a scribe in his old school as he is struggling to write, I was shocked as this had never come up in his whole time in education, I had noticed he kept swinging his right foot in lately too, so to rule out the "I dont want" to the "I genuinely cant" I spoke with the GP and asked if he could see him about this and he said that I needed to involve Occupational Therapy via the school, I then requested this to SENCO and she spoke to area nurse, nurse observed and said that she felt he did need to see OT but that I would need to see GP first to ensure there were no underlying problems beforehand, so I got him an appointment with GP and he wrote a report saying he has angulation of his right leg, feet turn in etc etc and said Jack would need OT. I then took this report back to the school and SENCO said apparently her and the nurse cannot refer Jack and that I needed to return to GP for referal!!!!
I have spoken with IASSH, they have sent me the template through for statementing him myself and I am yet to hear from one of their advisors to book an appointment to get all info collaborated and go from their with their support.
I have written this in the quickest detail I could (sorry if ive rambled)but I am at the end of my tether, my biggest fear and I have expressed this to all educational personel and psycholgists/paeds is Secondary School, I will home school if I have to but if he has a shot at possibly being educated in the right setting that would make my heart so happy for him!!
Is what Ive been through normal?? How likely is it that I could be succesful doing EHCP by myself with help from IASSH? I
I genuinely have no idea and feel time is running out for my boy :(
Thanks in advance
Natasha
