How do I fight the education system, extra help for my son
Discussion
Ok I have basically had enough of the crap educational system where I feel my son is being left behind. My son has relapsed Leukemia and cannot go to school when there is a bug due to his non existant immune system. I took him to school during SATS week which to be honest I had forgot about, however, I had a telephone call and was told that serveral childen had colds and I said well sit him on a different table so he is not next or opposite (it is not like a sickness bug which he had the last time for a month). They said ok and then phoned me an hour later and said they were worried as it was most of the class which had colds. I had to take him home then for the week. I feel he was pushed out due to the SATS for the schools status and figures! Howerver he has missed years of school. He was 1st diagnoised with Luekemia at the age of 4 he is now 11 and still going through the same chemo and crap. However I feel he needs extra tution to help him get up to speed with the rest of his school mates, specially as he starts secondry school in september. The school at the moment have said the government won't give him extra funding for education help! We have tried to get him statemented but because he is physically disabled (due to other physcial conditions) he is not mentally disabled and therefore does not qualify for their financial help!I feel my son is disavantaged due to the lack of help from the government. How can I get help for my son to be able to bring him up to the standard as other children of his age! And please don't say teach him yourself I have done that and yes his reading is fab but his writing, spelling and maths is poor. I can get so far but after years of me teaching him has so gone of his mother being a teacher specially as I have to be a nurse, carer and mother!
i cant really offer any help as I dont know anything about your situation and a child in your son's position in a school, but I'm sorry to hear about your boy. It must be pretty bloody awful for you all living with that.
I hope he gets better one day and can not have to worry about such stuff.
I hope he gets better one day and can not have to worry about such stuff.
Are you saying you cannot get a SEN statement because of physical disability?
Are you in touch with the LA or just the school, has your occupational therapist been in to the school, do you have an OH?
I feel your pain as my son misses around five days a month due to hospital appointments or vomiting from the drugs he takes, luckily we have a close relationship with the school however they do need reminding every few weeks and we often have to go back to out OH to get her to visit the school.
Have you arranged a meeting with all parties, teachers, OH, LA and seen how best to proceed or if you can come up with an educational plan which best suits the childs needs?
Are you in touch with the LA or just the school, has your occupational therapist been in to the school, do you have an OH?
I feel your pain as my son misses around five days a month due to hospital appointments or vomiting from the drugs he takes, luckily we have a close relationship with the school however they do need reminding every few weeks and we often have to go back to out OH to get her to visit the school.
Have you arranged a meeting with all parties, teachers, OH, LA and seen how best to proceed or if you can come up with an educational plan which best suits the childs needs?
Dohhh hence the reason I cannot help my son! I have dyslexia! I belive my son has too! He has the same proplems with spelling, P,b,d,and 9's! Plus I see the same way he stays on the same line or misses out lines and we see pretty patterns than words. Howerver I am not getting help there either because they say he has not had enough schooling to diagnoise it!
THANK YOU ANYWAY THAT IT IS KIND OF YOU.
THANK YOU ANYWAY THAT IT IS KIND OF YOU.
Taita said:
Sorry but you need paragraphs there mate.
Hope you get it sorted
Hope you get it sorted
space1999 said:
Dohhh hence the reason I cannot help my son! I have dyslexia! I belive my son has too! He has the same proplems with spelling, P,b,d,and 9's! Plus I see the same way he stays on the same line or misses out lines and we see pretty patterns than words. Howerver I am not getting help there either because they say he has not had enough schooling to diagnoise it!
THANK YOU ANYWAY THAT IT IS KIND OF YOU.
Ignore Taita....he's really a big softy, who's about to play toy soldiers for a livingTHANK YOU ANYWAY THAT IT IS KIND OF YOU.
Taita said:
Sorry but you need paragraphs there mate.
Hope you get it sorted
Hope you get it sorted
:runsoffandhides:
Yep done the SEN as it is the headmaster! We have an OH and she visits the school lots to check him and the school. We have plenty of meetings with peads the lot. He does have help for his short bowel and meds but he cannot get help educationally. I was told he does not have a mental disability.
Sheets Tabuer said:
Are you saying you cannot get a SEN statement because of physical disability?
Are you in touch with the LA or just the school, has your occupational therapist been in to the school, do you have an OH?
I feel your pain as my son misses around five days a month due to hospital appointments or vomiting from the drugs he takes, luckily we have a close relationship with the school however they do need reminding every few weeks and we often have to go back to out OH to get her to visit the school.
Have you arranged a meeting with all parties, teachers, OH, LA and seen how best to proceed or if you can come up with an educational plan which best suits the childs needs?
Are you in touch with the LA or just the school, has your occupational therapist been in to the school, do you have an OH?
I feel your pain as my son misses around five days a month due to hospital appointments or vomiting from the drugs he takes, luckily we have a close relationship with the school however they do need reminding every few weeks and we often have to go back to out OH to get her to visit the school.
Have you arranged a meeting with all parties, teachers, OH, LA and seen how best to proceed or if you can come up with an educational plan which best suits the childs needs?
Have you spoken to your local LEA or just the School?
If your son has a physical disabilty and is behind pupils his own age most state secondary schools will destroy him academically as the level of pastoral care is not high enough to cope with those that are quietly underachieving.
In your position I would talk to the LEA, they should have someone responsible for children in your sons position and remember that if you are educating him at home because he cannot attend school they have a legal obligation to provide him with the basics of English, Maths and ICT education.
I would also consider local special schools where class sizes are smaller and the learning will be tailored to him, this may sound extreme but most modern special schools are able to provide for pupils with academic ability and be mindful of their specific needs.
It is probably also worth remembering that your son will be at school until 18 and that the system of how examinations are ran from 14+ will be a lot more flexible and personalised by 2013 and if it works then less children will be left behind or following courses that are unsuitable for them.
If your son has a physical disabilty and is behind pupils his own age most state secondary schools will destroy him academically as the level of pastoral care is not high enough to cope with those that are quietly underachieving.
In your position I would talk to the LEA, they should have someone responsible for children in your sons position and remember that if you are educating him at home because he cannot attend school they have a legal obligation to provide him with the basics of English, Maths and ICT education.
I would also consider local special schools where class sizes are smaller and the learning will be tailored to him, this may sound extreme but most modern special schools are able to provide for pupils with academic ability and be mindful of their specific needs.
It is probably also worth remembering that your son will be at school until 18 and that the system of how examinations are ran from 14+ will be a lot more flexible and personalised by 2013 and if it works then less children will be left behind or following courses that are unsuitable for them.
Penny-lope said:
space1999 said:
Dohhh hence the reason I cannot help my son! I have dyslexia! I belive my son has too! He has the same proplems with spelling, P,b,d,and 9's! Plus I see the same way he stays on the same line or misses out lines and we see pretty patterns than words. Howerver I am not getting help there either because they say he has not had enough schooling to diagnoise it!
THANK YOU ANYWAY THAT IT IS KIND OF YOU.
Ignore Taita....he's really a big softy, who's about to play toy soldiers for a livingTHANK YOU ANYWAY THAT IT IS KIND OF YOU.
Taita said:
Sorry but you need paragraphs there mate.
Hope you get it sorted
Hope you get it sorted
:runsoffandhides:
space1999 said:
Yep done the SEN as it is the headmaster! We have an OH and she visits the school lots to check him and the school. We have plenty of meetings with peads the lot. He does have help for his short bowel and meds but he cannot get help educationally. I was told he does not have a mental disability.
Head teacher will be the schools SEN Co-ordinator and not the person designated to decide if your child should have a statement of Special needs. To get this your son would need to be assesed by an Educational Psychologist after being referred by the school, LEA or (If I am correct on this bit) your GP.
He has hypermobility as well so he has access to a laptop too. However they see this as physical not mental disabity. I will go to the doctors and we have consultants everywhere so I will go to them too. But it is down to the govenment whether they will give the schools the money! Thank you for that as I must admit we deal with the hospital these days and the doctor has been a sideline. I never though of going to them with this subject and that does help THANK YOU X
FraserLFA said:
There's going to be a "Vote xxx" joke soon. As mentioned, go to the doctor. You'll get a lot of support if he has Dyslexia. I know people with grants for private education, laptops, scribes in exams etc...
Thats funny you said that - I had to sign a form to say he would see a Educational Psychologist and they said yes he is behind. But they always managed to give my son his extra tution on the time he went in for intensive chemo and starting steriods so he was off school for a week and this happens every 3 weeks! Seems to be a scam!
To get this your son would need to be assesed by an Educational Psychologist after being referred by the school, LEA or (If I am correct on this bit) your GP.
Chris_w666 said:
space1999 said:
Yep done the SEN as it is the headmaster! We have an OH and she visits the school lots to check him and the school. We have plenty of meetings with peads the lot. He does have help for his short bowel and meds but he cannot get help educationally. I was told he does not have a mental disability.
Head teacher will be the schools SEN Co-ordinator and not the person designated to decide if your child should have a statement of Special needs. To get this your son would need to be assesed by an Educational Psychologist after being referred by the school, LEA or (If I am correct on this bit) your GP.
No idea about it being a scam and each head deals with things in a different way. I do know that some of the heads I work with are very good at knowing what pupils are entitled to and will fight for them, others are afraid of extra work or rocking the boat with the Local Authority.
You need a very clear plan, and you need to systematic in how you approach each stage. If you suspect your child is Dyslexic, regardless of any other issues he may be facing, you need to pursue that with the school in the first instance, if you don't get anywhere there speak to your GP for advice, then contact your local education authority directly. Depending on the way your authority works the Ed Psychologist will be either an LA employee or attached to the PCT.
You need a very clear plan, and you need to systematic in how you approach each stage. If you suspect your child is Dyslexic, regardless of any other issues he may be facing, you need to pursue that with the school in the first instance, if you don't get anywhere there speak to your GP for advice, then contact your local education authority directly. Depending on the way your authority works the Ed Psychologist will be either an LA employee or attached to the PCT.
Thank you for that, I have wondered whether I should go to the EWO. Seemed a bit extreme but I have basically had enough. I have however spoken to our local MP liam Fox and he said if I get nowhere to go back to him. I am going to get in touch with the ED psych and will bring it up with them again. Plus we have a the social disabled team but that has taken years to get them and they seem to be very slow!
Chris_w666 said:
No idea about it being a scam and each head deals with things in a different way. I do know that some of the heads I work with are very good at knowing what pupils are entitled to and will fight for them, others are afraid of extra work or rocking the boat with the Local Authority.
You need a very clear plan, and you need to systematic in how you approach each stage. If you suspect your child is Dyslexic, regardless of any other issues he may be facing, you need to pursue that with the school in the first instance, if you don't get anywhere there speak to your GP for advice, then contact your local education authority directly. Depending on the way your authority works the Ed Psychologist will be either an LA employee or attached to the PCT.
You need a very clear plan, and you need to systematic in how you approach each stage. If you suspect your child is Dyslexic, regardless of any other issues he may be facing, you need to pursue that with the school in the first instance, if you don't get anywhere there speak to your GP for advice, then contact your local education authority directly. Depending on the way your authority works the Ed Psychologist will be either an LA employee or attached to the PCT.
space1999 said:
Dohhh hence the reason I cannot help my son! I have dyslexia! I belive my son has too! He has the same proplems with spelling, P,b,d,and 9's! Plus I see the same way he stays on the same line or misses out lines and we see pretty patterns than words. Howerver I am not getting help there either because they say he has not had enough schooling to diagnoise it!
THANK YOU ANYWAY THAT IT IS KIND OF YOU.
I thought that dyslexia(sp?) caused a problem with spelling. Does dyxlexia mean that you cannot insert paragraphs?THANK YOU ANYWAY THAT IT IS KIND OF YOU.
Taita said:
Sorry but you need paragraphs there mate.
Hope you get it sorted
Hope you get it sorted
To be honest, I don't have a problem with spelling problems. I usually don't even notice them. I do have a problem with lack of paragraphs, lack of relevant captital letters, and ALL CAPS. These things all point to laziness, and a lack of respect for the reader. If you want help from strangers on the internet, then you should take a little time to make it easy for us to read your post.
Anyway, to address your particular problem.
I would ask myself if I could do anything to increase my earnings potential.
20 years ago my wife was made redundant, and we were faced with the possibility of losing our house. This forced me to take a "risk" to double my salary. I changed job, and my salary doubled. I had thought that I was earning as much as I could.
I'm not saying that it is easy to double your salary, but I am saying that you can earn more. What greater motivation can you have to further yourself than your son's future?
Don
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