Comments on: Home http://specialneedsjungle.com Helping parents negotiate the Special Needs Education system in the UK Mon, 28 May 2012 16:47:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Caroline http://specialneedsjungle.com/#comment-2713 Mon, 28 May 2012 16:47:37 +0000 http://specialneedsjungle.wordpress.com/?page_id=19#comment-2713 Hello,
So pleased to have found this great site. I wonder if you could give some much needed advice. I am currently living overseas and am thinking of relocating to the UK as two of my boys have special educational needs – one (16yrs) has mild aspergers; the other (14 yrs) dyslexia. Both have been home schooled for the past 2 years but I feel they are missing out on the interaction with other children and their social skills are suffering, as well as hoping they could get specific help for their individual needs. or is this being too optimistic?
However, from what I have gleaned, it seems very hard to get the required help easily and quickly?
The boys have reports from a couple of years ago. How long after they get an up to date report does the average process take? I have read periods of 1 – 2 years? It also sounds like there could be several appeals to go through? What sort of help do children get in state secondary schools whilst waiting for approval, during the application process? Are there any areas of the UK where it is easier to obtain this help?
Sorry for all the questions but I have been out of the UK for a few years and I need to consider whether it is going to be of any benefit in moving back, as it is very big decision to take.
Any advice much appreciated.
Thanks.

]]> By: jane http://specialneedsjungle.com/#comment-2396 Mon, 21 May 2012 13:40:10 +0000 http://specialneedsjungle.wordpress.com/?page_id=19#comment-2396 Stebs, what happened, why did LA refuse to let your son go to the grammar school?

]]> By: Olivia http://specialneedsjungle.com/#comment-2395 Mon, 21 May 2012 12:40:43 +0000 http://specialneedsjungle.wordpress.com/?page_id=19#comment-2395 Thank you Tanya for your feed back

Your comments have been helpful

kInd Regards
Olivia

]]> By: Tanya http://specialneedsjungle.com/#comment-2387 Sun, 20 May 2012 20:55:36 +0000 http://specialneedsjungle.wordpress.com/?page_id=19#comment-2387 PS You could ask for a home/school diary and put in the inside cover everything you expect to be told ie., How she interacted, what support she needed etc – this way you get to keep an eye on what’s going on!

]]> By: Tanya http://specialneedsjungle.com/#comment-2386 Sun, 20 May 2012 20:45:00 +0000 http://specialneedsjungle.wordpress.com/?page_id=19#comment-2386 Hi – just thought I would comment – this is a very common problem – The Teachers usually have about 3-5 children in any one class who will have some sort of additional needs or whom they are worried about. Teachers will ask TA’s assigned to pupils to do other jobs and help other children. It is up to (and this can be hard for some) the TA or keyworker to remember that she is assigned to this particular child and put them first.

If your daughter’s key worker is supposed to be there for her full-time then this means she should be there to support your daughter with any help she needs. The Keyworker should be keeping an eye on your daughter and making your daughter her first priority however if your daughter is coping well in a small group activity or doing something well independently then I’m sure the keyworker will carry on with other jobs and will want to help the teacher out rather than just stand and observe.

The best way of finding out is to just have a chat with her. If it’s difficult for you why don’t you ask the teacher, SENCO, Head for a breakdown of the hours and what support your daughter is receiving.

]]>