[senco-forum] Writing to a head about rights to withdraw

(Actually thats not a terribly good subject title)

Nothing to do with my SENCo job at the PRU. I was approached
for advice by a friend whose child attends a grammar school.

Much earlier this year the SENCo at the Grammar (who by all
accounts is excellent and supportive) identified this child
as dyslexic. She had been really struggling in a number of
lessons. The parent got the impression that the school felt
that she shouldn't be at a grammar. However the parent
doesn't want her going to one of the secondary moderns (I
don't entirely blame her) so the grammar has no choice. The
child is just reaching the end of y7

The SENCo has been very supportive. The girl is withdrawn
from some lessons to do literacy work (but then has to catch
up). The SENCo has also given all staff information on how
to support her (differentiation doesn't normally occur
apparently). Some staff do make allowances, some refuse to.

She is just reaching the end of year 7 and has done very
badly in the end of year exams. In these (internal) exams no
allowances whatsoever were made for her dyslexia.

The SENCo (and parent) is particularly concerned about year
8 because the number of MFLs studied increases to 2. The
SENCo feels that she is already having difficulties coping
with the curriculum without this additional MFL. The SENCo
has told the parent that she is reluctant to go to the head
to ask for the girl to only have one MFL because she knows
from past experience that the head will say no (I might have
this wrong and that the head has already said no to the
SENCo about this case).

Anyway, the SENCo has advised my friend to write to the head
making the case for her daughter to be withdrawn from one of
the two MFLs. The SENCo has also said that she doubts the
head will allow it as it sets a precident!

What should this parent put in the letter to the head? Are
there any particular parts of the CoP she should be
referring the head to? Are there any more general points she
should be making (bearing in mind this head is almost
certainly totally committed to a selective education
system)?

I should point out that this girl must be a pretty talented
young lady to pass the 11+ and get into a grammar despite
her disability.

Oh and please no arguements about whether or not SEN
students should do none, one or two MFLs. Though such
arguements are no doubt interesting in this case the parent
has made her mind up that she only wants her daughter doing
one!

Thanks in advance

Mark

--
Mark Norwood
www.avssc.org

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