Statement of Educational Needs: Sheffield vs Rotherham

[loopy556]

It is just as difficult in Sheffield

 

My son has autism and learning and social problems and I have been battling for a statement for him. Even with the schools back up He was only awarded 9 hours a week and he is having one to one all day!!!!

 

His school is telling me they cannot provide the support he needs and needs to be in a special provision which is why we have to now appeal against the LEA decision.

 

All I can say is get in touch with parent partnership, They will help you apply yourself. You will probably get the standard 'we are not going to assess' letter straight away but appeal appeal appeal!!!! and make yourself heard

 

Good luck

[cofster]

Thanks for all your replies, unfortunatley I didn't get this in time for the open day but I might call in anyway.

 

The boy has a diagnosis of ASD, we are currently being assessed for ADHD also. He sits with his t-shirt over his head in class, locks himself in toilets/cupboards/cloakrooms, is uncooperative, non-compliant, stressed, anxious and has extremely low self esteem. Dragging him to school every day when he thinks he is going to fail anyway is heartbreaking.

 

After reading your replies I think I gave up too easily last time when the school said they wouldn't support me. I am applying again and will go all the way this time. Enough is enough.

 

Thanks everyone. x

[mrseggy]

Thanks for all your replies, unfortunatley I didn't get this in time for the open day but I might call in anyway.

 

The boy has a diagnosis of ASD, we are currently being assessed for ADHD also. He sits with his t-shirt over his head in class, locks himself in toilets/cupboards/cloakrooms, is uncooperative, non-compliant, stressed, anxious and has extremely low self esteem. Dragging him to school every day when he thinks he is going to fail anyway is heartbreaking.

After reading your replies I think I gave up too easily last time when the school said they wouldn't support me. I am applying again and will go all the way this time. Enough is enough.

 

Thanks everyone. x

 

 

Poor lad, its sounds like he is really struggling what help have they had in to help? do they have an ASD teaching support team in Rotherham? I had similar problems when my daughter first started school, a few minor adjustments made a hell of a difference to her and resulted in much much happier child. Are they actually making any allowances for his ASD at all?

 

Sounds like he could really do with a break from it all tbh, you know your GP or consultant can sign him off school for a short time (with a sick note) if needs be.

 

Keep fighting, and keep ya pecker up!! and if you need any help/support what so ever, post over on the disabilities board on here.

[spottie2101]

This is a national problem Wrong because if etra needs are not met soon enough it can lead to further problems along the line including criminalisation

[cofster]

Poor lad, its sounds like he is really struggling what help have they had in to help? do they have an ASD teaching support team in Rotherham? I had similar problems when my daughter first started school, a few minor adjustments made a hell of a difference to her and resulted in much much happier child. Are they actually making any allowances for his ASD at all?

 

Sounds like he could really do with a break from it all tbh, you know your GP or consultant can sign him off school for a short time (with a sick note) if needs be.

 

Keep fighting, and keep ya pecker up!! and if you need any help/support what so ever, post over on the disabilities board on here.

 

Hey, I didn't realise that the GP could sign him off? You are right when you say he could do with a break from it all but I am worried that if I let him stay off he will never go back. They say he is angry and controlling, I know that but I don't know why or how to help him. It's hard isn't it because you think that if you love and cherish your children they will grow up happy and confident and that hasn't happened.

 

Anyway, I have a lot of fight left in me so will crack on! Thanks.x

[Anna B]

It is difficult to get an SEN anywhere in this region be it Sheffield, Rotherham or Barnsley, and even if you do get one they are far from the magic answer to your problems. Often, due to lack of funds, lack of time, lack of support etc. they're not worth the paper they are written on. This is not the fault of the teacher or the school but of the system which is frankly being overwhelmed with children with problems, particularly of the behavioural kind. Even with an SEN I doubt if your son would get more than half an hour out of the classroom, and I'm pretty sure he would never get the full time 1 to 1 which it sounds like he needs.

 

You say you are relieved he cannot be educated at home I suspect because you feel you couldn't cope with him, so imagine how the teacher feels having to manage him for 5 hours a day, along with 29 other children at the same time, and with all their educational targets to be met. She is probably at her wit's end too.

 

Parents in this situation often understandably become very defensive and confuse advice for criticism, but you do need help and advice in how to handle your son who is exhibiting extreme behaviour. That is not a criticism of your parenting skills. Anybody would. He is not like your daughter, as you say, so needs a different approach, so listen to the teachers, ask their advice, what you can do and where you might get help. Work with them as a team. If he has a TV in his bedroom you might want to take it out, as for some children this can overstimulate the brain, and interfere with alpha waves.

 

It could be he is somewhere on the autistic register, or has ADHD, but these have to be properly diagnosed by a specialist doctor. If that's the case there are treatments both through behavioural therapies and medication which may or maynot help. But finding that doctor and that help will be largely up to you. You will wait forever in the school system. There are internet forums and support groups for parents of children with behavioural problems, so they might be able to offer ideas. Try 'Mumsnet' for a start. Changing a child's behaviour nearly always requires the parents to learn new parenting techniques, so be open to new ideas and be prepared to work long and hard, with many setbacks.

 

As for the school, is it right for your son? You say he isn't happy there. Would that be true of any school or just this one? Is it too big or too small for his needs? Do they have

the right attitude to discipline or are they too ridgid? Would moving him to a new school be too disruptive or a fresh start? Would another school deal better with his special needs? Do you like the staff or see them as the enemy? These are the questions you should be asking yourself before you start a fight to keep him there.

 

Good Luck.

[mrseggy]

It is difficult to get an SEN anywhere in this region be it Sheffield, Rotherham or Barnsley, and even if you do get one they are far from the magic answer to your problems. Often, due to lack of funds, lack of time, lack of support etc. they're not worth the paper they are written on. This is not the fault of the teacher or the school but of the system which is frankly being overwhelmed with children with problems, particularly of the behavioural kind. Even with an SEN I doubt if your son would get more than half an hour out of the classroom, and I'm pretty sure he would never get the full time 1 to 1 which it sounds like he needs.

 

It is there fault tho Anna, a statement of SEN is a legally binding document the school have been give the funding stated on it specifcally for the child that is name on it. A school that does not do this, in my eyes (and the laws for that matter) is robbing that child of the funding that was put in place for them and ONLY them.

 

You say you are relieved he cannot be educated at home I suspect because you feel you couldn't cope with him, so imagine how the teacher feels having to manage him for 5 hours a day, along with 29 other children at the same time, and with all their educational targets to be met. She is probably at her wit's end too.

 

Anna have you read what the rest of the OPs posts? she is dealing with a VERY stressed and unstable disabled child, now is hardly the time for her to be empathetic with the teachers is it . The teacher also CHOOSE what profession she/he entered, you hardly choose to have a disabled child do you? .

 

Parents in this situation often understandably become very defensive and confuse advice for criticism, but you do need help and advice in how to handle your son who is exhibiting extreme behaviour. That is not a criticism of your parenting skills. Anybody would. He is not like your daughter, as you say, so needs a different approach, so listen to the teachers, ask their advice, what you can do and where you might get help. Work with them as a team. If he has a TV in his bedroom you might want to take it out, as for some children this can overstimulate the brain, and interfere with alpha waves.

 

While i agree with the vast majority of your advice here, most teachers in a normal school setting have very little if any training or experience (through no fault of their own i add) on how to parent a child with SNs, they may well have loads of really useful advice for parents of NT children, but sadly this advice is often not very useful tho the parent of a child with SNs.

 

It could be he is somewhere on the autistic register, or has ADHD, but these have to be properly diagnosed by a specialist doctor. If that's the case there are treatments both through behavioural therapies and medication which may or maynot help. But finding that doctor and that help will be largely up to you. You will wait forever in the school system. There are internet forums and support groups for parents of children with behavioural problems, so they might be able to offer ideas. Try 'Mumsnet' for a start. Changing a child's behaviour nearly always requires the parents to learn new parenting techniques, so be open to new ideas and be prepared to work long and hard, with many setbacks.

 

<<bangs head on wall>> The OP has said that that he son DOES have a diagnosis of ASD, and im sure that the OP has always work long and hard with her child!

 

As for the school, is it right for your son? You say he isn't happy there. Would that be true of any school or just this one? Is it too big or too small for his needs? Do they have

the right attitude to discipline or are they too ridgid? Would moving him to a new school be too disruptive or a fresh start? Would another school deal better with his special needs? Do you like the staff or see them as the enemy? These are the questions you should be asking yourself before you start a fight to keep him there.

 

Good Luck.

 

Think you have made an excellent point, reading here (and on the OPs other thread) this school is NOT suitable in any way, the fact they are working against you on any level, would be my que to take my child and run for the hills tbh!! Church schools often sadly dont want the children that have SNs. While i admire your strength to fight them, i dont think this is in the best interest of you sons, get him out and then deal with them.

 

Regarding advice, Parent partnership can be helpful but its always worth keeping in mind that they are employed by the LEA and while they are meant to be totally on your side this is sadly not always the case.

 

Contact IPSEA they are a charity they will offer both legal and practical advice on how best to move forwards.

 

http://www.ipsea.org.uk/

 

It can be a nightmare to get through to them, but stick it out their advice is often worth its weight in gold.

 

SEN SOS also offer a similar service.

 

http://www.sossen.org.uk/

 

As do the National Autistic Society

 

http://www.autism.org.uk/advocacy

 

Also as already suggested the Mumsnet special needs board has a some lovely most knowledgeable poster, many who have been in the same situation your in now.

 

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/special_needs

 

OP you have my heart felt sympathy, i wish you and your son, the very best of luck. It is discriminative that this school have failed a vulnerable child on so many levels but i feel right now you need to put your sons best interests first and get him the hell out of there.