[SENco-forum] Here we go again...

Hello
  Neither of you should have to put up with this.
  As I understand it, a parent has the right to see their child's 'confidential file'.  I know we had to send a photocopy of one to a parent recently because they asked for it after an exclusion.
  Secondary schools should read and act on information from primary schools.  My school also has an 'entry form' with a section where parents are asked to give information about their child - I often get copies from the Head of Lower or Upper School with the parents' comments highlighted so I can go to the detailed info in the file.  One problem with confidential records is that they can take a long time to get to us, especially if the child is a 'late entry' from another local authority.
  I am sure that you have talked to the SENCOs in your schools.  All I can say about support is that none of us have enough of it!  In my school, we try to help by using tutor times and lunchtimes to help those we can't help in class.  Some pupils use their own laptops, for example, and we help with printing.  We also do what we can to arrange for pupils have access arrangements for exams and to learn how to revise and learn best.
  I hope things improve in the new year.
  Amanda
  Secondary SENCO
  Cornwall
  Escaping from the family!

SEN at tringham.net wrote:

Know the feeling. Moved son to high school where they say they pay no
attention to info passed from Primary and do their own tests - Midyis or
similar. Great - the Primary along with ourselves have put 4 years of hard
work into getting him where he is only to have another school waste all that
effort, and leave him until he sinks low enough to fit their criteria for
support to reach 'average' at best.

So my high IQ son with dyslexia, illegible writing speed in bottom 10% for
speed is stuck in a middle class in a school where the top 25% have already
gone off to Grammar -and - because of the level of need at the bottom of
this school is deemed not to need any support!

I am sick to death of fighting on behalf of high IQ children with dyslexia
and/or writing and writing speed issued that condemn them to the
middle/bottom groups due to what? lack of resources, lack of knowledge,
not sure which.

I have 3 other similar children and I know that come GCSE time they get
D/C/B if they work really hard whilst all the other children with high IQ
and no dyslexia get A/A*. It is really hard for them and no I do not want
to be grateful that they have managed to pass at all. As they try to get
further up the education ladder they eventually fail due to this lack of
earlier support.

I want them to have what they are entitled to and that is equal access to a
good education that will enable them to choose to stay in education or go
into the workplace, not be forced out of education due to stress and stuck
in a dead end job.

Sharon Tringham

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13:34

Amanda
Secondary SENCO
Cornwall