[senco-forum] Death

Hi Sue
Some of my most emotionally difficult times as a teacher have
been with children with degenerative conditions - and deaths. To
find that the harder you work to teach a child, the less they
know, and the closer they are to their last lesson is so hard.
Not to demean literacy, phonics (synthetic or otherwise, or our
taxation system, but youngsters such as you describe do put a
different perspective on our work.

Have you looked at the option of her staying on at the 6th form,
but with supported college links? It is possible to do this, and
have it written into the statement (assuming she has one).
Several young people at my wife's special school (as from last
week "Specialist Special School") have such links. They follow
the course they want at college, with support outreach from the
school. At times of the week when the college course is not
running, and weeks when the college is closed, the school is able
to give the additional support needed to keep on top of the
college course, as well as provide any other additional support
or education needed.

Hope this helps - email off list if you need more info.

Rik

-----Original Message-----
From: senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk
[mailto:senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk] On Behalf Of
KEVIN HEALY
Sent: 11 February 2007 17:14
To: senco-forum at lists.becta.org.uk
Subject: [senco-forum] Death

I am getting very fed up with certain strands taking over SENCO
Forum.  Can we please get back to those we work with and their
needs.
  I have a Year 11 girl who has Ehlers-Danloss type 4.  For thosw
who don't know and this will be almost everyone on the forum, I
only learnt about it when she came to us.  This condition is
genetic, where parents genes determine it.
  This is a degenerative condition, where there is bleeding under
the skin, dislocation and strokes which obviously affect
functioning.  We work closely with the specialists, and our young
person and her family are determined to carry on as normal.  At
her last annual review we discussed the move from Year 11 to the
future.  Sh eprefers the local FE college but the course she has
chosen will not be supported, we have suggested our joint 6th
form with our " partner school", she wants to go to college, in
my heart of hearts I know she needs to stay with people who know
her.
  Don't think I am criticising our local college, they have done
fantastic work with loads of SEN students.  My problem is this
student could die tomorrow, at school we are ready having had 3
students die in the past 4 years, however where do I direct her ?
  To an Fe college of 2000 where she is unknown, or to a joint
6th form of 150, where her needs are known, but which she tells
me she would not like to go to as she wants to go to college.
  Lets get back to what really is why we are doing what we are
doing.
  Sue
  P.S. her parents, Mum and sister are teachers and brother is in
Iraq, so we are also contending with that, are ambivalent about
the whole thing.
  Sue