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School talking about a statement

4 replies

fatzak · 02/07/2008 20:01

DS1 is 5 and just finishing reception. He has a had a difficult year and we have not been impressed really with how school have communicated with us. He has epilepsy, but his seizures are night time ones, which probably impacts upon his concentration/focus as he is often tired the next day.
DH went in for meeting today with school and epilepsy nurse for what we had arranged to be the nurse giving school advice on what to do if he had a seizure at school. But it just escalated into a meeting about how concerned they are about his lack of concentration and fidgetting and his clumsiness and his messy eating. It ended with school saying they'd like to have him assessed with a view to a statement WTF, where has this suddenly come from?
DH and I are both teachers and find it all a bit odd tbh. There's been no IEP or school action plan discussed with us, and now suddenly they are talking about him needing support in lessons. We are very worried about next year as it's a joint reception/Yr 1 class and I suspect that the reception children will having more teacher time and the TA more time with Year 1. His teacher didn't even go to this meeting, just the TA which I thought was unbelievable.
Sorry, rant over.

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AbbeyA · 03/07/2008 07:56

It seems pretty poor communication from the school, it seems strange to have no school action plan or IEP but to go immediately onto a statement. It also seems odd that his teacher wasn't at the meeting. I would insist on a proper meeting with the SENCO. A statement might be a good idea because once his needs have been assessed the school will have to supply them. He might get his own TA for at least part of the day.

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 03/07/2008 21:50

Hi fatzak,

I am wondering if there is an IEP or School Action Plus in place for him anyway but due to poor communication it just has not been discussed with you. Not excusing the school at all but these things do happen.

I am also wondering what involvement the SENCO has had to date?.

One good thing to come out of all this is that the school are talking about extra support and a Statement now (better now for instance than when he gets to Junior School). Some schools just don't bother. However, generally speaking parents are far better off applying for a Statement than school is. You know its been done then besides which parents have a right of appeal if the LEA say no (school has no such right).

His teacher may not have attended the meeting primarily because this person is not likely to be teaching your DS come September.

Would also suggest you post your query on the Special Needs section of this website as you will get more replies that way.

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southeastastra · 03/07/2008 21:51

hi the school has sprung that my ds(6) may need a statement too, though he has an IEP for god knows what. not happy or satisfied

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fatzak · 04/07/2008 08:19

Thanks for all your replies. I do think that there probably is some kide of IEP in place Attila and find it unbelievable that nothing has been said. We see them every day when we collect him so there's really no excuse.

We are more than happy for him to have support if he needs it, but at the moment we really need to get his medication for his epilepsy sorted out as we are so sure that it is that that is causing this lack of focus and concentration.

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