Considering changing sons primary school not helping with problems

Seh1985

Hello I'm not sure if I should be posting here or on the disabilities forum but here goes,
My 6 year old has moderate hearing loss in both ears and wears hearing aids he's a bright little lad but lacks in confidence outside of the home, he's fallen behind at school and is performing under average, he's only 6 but I feel like he is just going to slip further and further behind his class mates, his teacher is lovely but whenever I talk through my worries I feel like she just agrees with me but I see no changes or improvement, the school is a lovely school if you are a 'normal' bright child with no extra needs. (My 8 year old gets on brilliantly no concern what so ever) They recently had an ofstead inspection and the report said the school needs improvement as they are failing boys and children with special needs, I want the best education for my son and I want him to be happy he has lots of friends he's known since nursery and is happy at school but I don't want to risk leaving him where he is and the situation to get worse ive looked into having out of school tuition it's very expensive and I feel like the school should be giving him an adequate education that he shouldn't need extra schooling, I don't begrudge paying for him to have extra schooling and as I type I think maybe I should just pay for him to have it and be happy that he's happy at school and it might be difficult settling into a new school, please be nice with replies or move to the right forum thanks

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Have you spoken to the SENCO?

marisco_2

The fact that Ofsted feel the school is failing children with special needs is very concerning. They wont just leave it at that of course. The school will have been told what is expected of them in order to resolve this problem and to bring standards up to an acceptable level. They will have been given a time frame in which to turn this around.

However that does not address the issues you have personally in regard to concerns about your son. You need to arrange to have a meeting with the class teacher and the school SENCO as soon as possible. Have a full discussion with them about your sons needs and get plans put in place, that will enable him to fully access the curriculum and be able to reach his full potential.

Seh1985

Yes the senco is deputy head

pigpen

I've just moved my 2 aged 8 and 10.

Both have physical disabilities and no matter how many times I asked for things to be put in place to help them I got the smile and nod and nothing ever changed. For example, I would stand outside in all weathers waiting for my 8 y/o to come out because their classrooms are upstairs she would wait until everyone .. 4 classes .. had got their things and gone down the stairs before she would come down because she is wobbly she was scared they would knock her and she would fall down the stairs. I asked if a member of staff could walk with her to get her out sooner.. this never happened, not once!

I have had issues with them being unable to do homework, and more worryingly the older one not able to do the younger ones homework.. she asked for help because she couldn't do it and the older one didn't know either. Then at parents evening I was told the 10 y/o wasn't meeting targets, was chatting instead of working so I asked what was being done.. oh nothing, we'll see how she gets on was the reply..

So, I took the decision to move them, after 18 years at the school with the older children it was a very very hard decision and not made quickly. (the school are actually being !!!!!! about it tbh)

The new school, we are having a meeting with the parent partnership service.. who I can highly recommend to you to speak to! They are arranging a meeting with the school so we can get things in place to support both girls and make sure they are settled and doing their best and working to their full potential. I would absolutely get in touch with them if I were you, they may make the difference between this current school being the place for him to stay. You have nothing to lose, he is happy and settled so hopefully just this little input from an independent outside agency will give the school a kick in the pants and they will step up and support him.

Ask for an appointment with the head and the senco too. I didn't do this.. basically our senco is 'busy' or simply 'elsewhere' and unavailable and the head does outside work and meetings and courses and is never available when I am.. plus I struggle to get into school.

Seh1985

Thanks marisco I've never had a discussion with both his teacher and the senco teacher at the same time and I feel like I'm fobbed off when I speak to them individually the senco won't even give him an iep even though he has a physical disability, I just feel like no one wants to help and the school just find it easy to say no, my son has a teacher of the deaf come to see him at school once a year in June, at the end of the school year which if it was in September would be great as she explains things the way he hears and sees things and also tells them what adaptions need to be made but at the end of the school year it's a bit too little too late, I know she's over stretched and its not her fault. Ofstead have said they will be returning and hopefully things will improve ill book am appointment to have a sit down with the senco and lass teacher and see how we get on

pigpen

The senco actually told me at the last chat that because mine didn't have an educational need they weren't getting an IEP and those were only done for those on School action plus and those with statements.. but out of a kind heartedness she would put the 2 girls on school action just so they were on record as having an additional need.

It is very frustrating as a parent!

Seh1985

Pigpen who are the parents partnership people? I don't understand how the deputy head can be a senco officer too surely they are big jobs and require a lot of time, I've had problems with my son using the bathroom there are 60 kids per year group (2 classes per year) anyway they have metal hand driers in the toilets which boys and girls share and the kids just bang and bang on them scaring my lad and being too noisey he was scared to use the toilet and was messing himself at school I sorted out that problem as soon as I realised what was going on hope your girls are getting on well now