Life as a SEN mum

We’ve been asked a lot recently how the kids are getting on at school and in particular where we are with finding a SEN place for James. So here’s a little update.

James

His 1 to 1 has been guaranteed for the duration of his Primary education. Meaning he will see out the rest of this time within a mainstream setting. We have been informed that when it comes to the transition to secondary school then he we will get a SEN place, fingers crossed we do get the one we want.

Some tips we have been given, to ensure we get a SEN place and that might help anyone in the same situation, is to only name a SEN placement on the application for senior schools. I know this probably sounds obvious, but given the schooling situation, I can understand why parents would put their chosen mainstream simply to ensure a school place. However, in naming a mainstream, that’s where your child will end up, to them struggle and have to pray for a place to come up. Now that’s not to say every LA will work on the same basis, but essentially to get the placement you want there has to be absolutely no other option. Of course nothing is ever straightforward, but there are ways to make in go as smoothly as possible. For us we wouldn’t be naming a mainstream anyway as we have spoken and totally ruled it out. In the off chance that a SEN place is granted, it’s a case of home education.

Charlotte

For the time being at least, mainstream seems a decent fit for Charlotte. However, she does have quite a few needs that require extra help. A lot of the behaviours that lots of parents find tiring at times do continue through to school. Whilst she is pretty independent at times, she does like to be permanently attached to an adult, and when she needs help, or just generally wants something it has to be done immediately, if not her overall behaviour can spiral very quickly and become aggressive. Obviously schools don’t have the staff to be able to deal with her requests instantly all of the time. The good news is she was granted a 1 to 1 and given the problems with SEN placements, this has already been guaranteed until the end of year 6. For now it is just on an afternoon as that’s the time when they have the most issues, and we will see how she progresses.