[senco-forum] [SENco-forum] Calling in EP's

Before devolved budgets my LEA used to have 'free' services, but as ever
there was never enough to go round. So, for example, the SpLD trained
teacher came once a term, did the Dyslexia Screening test and then set a
programme such as 'Beat Dyslexia' to be worked through page by page with a
TA.

This just wasn't enough for someone with severe dyslexia.  After 2 years of
no progress anyone should have been able to see that neither in class nor TA
directed support was working, but we were forced to a Tribunal to get what
should have been a common sense decision.

Prior to this the C&L head was mad at being forced to attend a meeting with
'parents' and asked why I thought as a parent that I knew what was best for
my child, and, what I thought I would gain by pursuing a statement.  I
pointed out that without one we would not be having any meetings and
politely refrained from telling that I would have been better meeting with a
trained monkey, if only from a manners point of view. I subsequently studied
for an SpLD diploma for 15 months so that if asked again I could wave it.

C&L services would not supply an SpLD teacher even though directed by the
Tribunal.  The SpLD teacher said she did not like to teach 1:1 that was why
she took the job!

'We don't have the staff' was used to avoid being forced to give 1:1 (or
1:2) support, so I made them take my daughter by taxi to the local Dyslexia
Institute until they could find staff.  BDA helpline person (bless her)
happened to live locally and offered to come into school.

Then we had devolved budgets and the primary school had to pay for this
woeful level of support.  Simultaneously we were 'reclustered' and C&L
services disappeared for nearly 2 years leaving a tranche of children going
through school completely undiagnosed. Use of ICT screeners recently picked
up 30% in one class with SpLD type difficulties - no wonder the teachers
have been tearing their hair out.

I am sure that Maggie's service is light years away from this, but I bet
that she would like more resources or more time to do more assessments etc.,

Sharon

-PS This was 5 years ago & fortunately things change if a little slowly!

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