[JCA]

Hi my 10 year old daughter is due to start Secondary School next September and so we are looking at schools at the moment.

Can anyone give me any tips on what I should be looking for and what questions I need to address with the SENCO. Am thinking PE will be the main concern.

[amy_louise]

JCA, on 25 September 2011 - 02:38 PM, said:

Hi my 10 year old daughter is due to start Secondary School next September and so we are looking at schools at the moment.

Can anyone give me any tips on what I should be looking for and what questions I need to address with the SENCO. Am thinking PE will be the main concern.

Hello!!

My experience with finding an appropriate secondary school was positive. I went to a smaller school than my local one (8 mile bus trip) I was statemented which was useful. I had teaching assistant support in lessons such as DT, they helped me with cutting materials for woodwork etc. I also had a box in my form room where I could keep books in to save me carrying them around school. Also for GCSE's, I did one less subject compared to my peers to enable me to cope with the workload. In maths, I had a magnetic protractor & ruler to allow me to do these tasks better. With regards to PE, I found I couldn't do netball or hockey, so I used this time to catch up with homework because I often found that by the time I got home I was far too exhausted to do this properly. That's just some of the help my statement got me. I was really lucky my school were so understanding with my disability.

[JCA]

Hi thanks for replying. Are you saying you only got the help at school because of the statement? Did you buy the maths equipment or did the school? Could you not partake in any PE, was netball and hockey all that was on offer? What about in science, bunson burners, microscopes and keyboard/instruments in music, how did you manage with them? What about lunchtime, were you able to manage tray and the general organising of getting yourself from one lesson to another with the right books? Sorry to bombard you with questions! Feeling a bit anxious.

[amy_louise]

JCA, on 26 September 2011 - 10:39 AM, said:

Hi thanks for replying. Are you saying you only got the help at school because of the statement? Did you buy the maths equipment or did the school? Could you not partake in any PE, was netball and hockey all that was on offer? What about in science, bunson burners, microscopes and keyboard/instruments in music, how did you manage with them? What about lunchtime, were you able to manage tray and the general organising of getting yourself from one lesson to another with the right books? Sorry to bombard you with questions! Feeling a bit anxious.

It's okay!! It's a hugely anxious time for parent & child!

I think the statement gave the school money, so that I could have one on one support with a teaching assistant in lessons where it was needed. The statement paid for any specialist equipment I needed also. So I think the statement gives the school more funding so your child can have more tailored support. Although, i'm sure if you were unable to get a statement they would still have to help!

Well, with regards to PE. I did partake in it, was actually my favourite lesson at school! In my lower years they did blocks of sports so they'd do half a term of netball, half a term of hockey, or badminton, swimming etc. I can do netball etc, but the reasons I chose not to participate in hockey/netball was that I worried more for my balance and was worried about getting knocked over. I also felt that it would tire me out too much and it would be beneficial to use this time doing homework instead. My school were incredibly supportive in this respect. However, sports like badminton, athletics, I used to love doing those!

With science, we tended to do experiments in pairs, so I would let the other person I was with do those bits. They didn't mind because experiments are the fun bits of science aren't they! In music, I could manage in my own fashion, I never saw it as a problem. The teachers really understood what I could/couldn't do so it really helped!

Tray carrying, at first, the lunchtime staff were aware of my hemiplegia so one of them would nip round and help carry my tray. After a few months, my friend would carry my tray, or just put my plate on hers!

Carrying books, well, I'd leave my afternoon books in my form room box at morning & swap them around at registration in the afternoon.

I'd say the biggest thing is finding a school that really understand hemiplegia well enough to know that there are issues with it that they might not be able to see. Such as the tiredness, anxiety, and visual perception. In hindsight, I wish we'd made my secondary more aware of the problems visual perception can cause with maths, but I wasn't aware at the time that it was really a problem until after.

Also, I don't know how useful this is to you now, but from my university experience (again I went to a very supportive university) I had software to help me cope with workloads. I used 'Dragon Naturally Speaking' voice recognition software, to save my hand from the pain I get when typing essays.

Also, with regards to exams, I had 25% extra time which helped. All things to think of for the future.

Any further questions, I'd be really happy to answer! The trick is, is to make sure the school know hemiplegia, give them literature from hemihelp if that helps? Then both you, your child and the school can deal with any obstacles with no misunderstanding!

Amy X

[Jane72]

hiya

I didnt get any help at school, but that was during the 80s. I now have kids of my own and have a child with dyspraxia and various other issues that is now in year 8, he is not statemented ( I also have an oilder son who is statemented and at a special needs school, so I know the systems).....what I have found is that statements are not usually given if the child is not behind educationally and can cope at a mainstream school....I asked for my son. The school technically are supposed to provide the extra help whilst the child is on school action plus for special needs. In reality, the school says its beyond their capabilities either due to lack of resources or funding......they never have enough assistants to go round the kids that need them, so the kids that get them are those with statements, as they have to provide what is oin a statement by law, as its a binding legal document. If you have to go down that road, do make sure that written well and quanifiys everything, poorly written statements can let schools get away with blue murder and not providing whats actually needed. If you find a good school, you may find that if you keep prodding they will provide without a statement, I kept on at my sons school, he now has a laptop in school to help him with his written work, they couldnt provide a helper, but have a laptop........its still a work in progress to get his needs met, but I plod on.......

you do need to be very active by keeping in touch with sencos and making them aware of issues, things usually take a while to iron out and for the school to become understanding and tuned to a childs needs.........do contact any schools you are interested in and ask questions, see what theor approach is, and what transition program they can offer.......

hope that helps...

[JCA]

Thanks Amy and Jane.

I'm wondering about the hustle and bustle of corridors and stairs, do you think it would be a good idea to ask if she can leave a couple of minutes before the bell goes to avoid this? She hasn't had to contend with stairs as her Primary is on one level.

[Jane72]

JCA, on 29 September 2011 - 02:46 PM, said:

Thanks Amy and Jane.

I'm wondering about the hustle and bustle of corridors and stairs, do you think it would be a good idea to ask if she can leave a couple of minutes before the bell goes to avoid this? She hasn't had to contend with stairs as her Primary is on one level.

deffinatly a good idea to ask for that, what I used to call 'the crush' between lessons was awful, especially if your balance is bad, its very difficult to be in crowded places and stay upright, and kids all rushing around is worse......id end up on the floor regulary being trodden on etc, was awful........... all schools are sposed to be accessable now aswell, and to avoid her being pushed and shoved it maybe worth asking not only that she leaves the lesson a couple of mins early to avoid this, but also that shes allowed to use a lift so she doesnt get shoved on stairs, which could potentially be dangerous!..........there should be things the school can do to make her life easier and safer.......keep on negotiating with them until you are happy.....

[garvic]

Hi

My 11 year old son has just started at our local comprehensive that has 1200 pupils, he was at a very small primary school with just 100 pupils! I did have concerns as it is such a large school and my son does not have a statement.
Before he started at the school I arranged for my son and I to meet the Senco and discuss any points that we felt would be an issue. I have listed a few things for you:

My son is allowed to leave any lesson five minutes early so that he does not have to negotiate the stairs during the busy lesson changeover.
He has a sticker on the front of his log book to show teachers, requesting they write down any homework notes for him as his handwriting is poor.
He has a teaching assistant for technology lessons such as cookery or resistant materials.
He has been provided with a notebook (small laptop)

During the first week at school, I wrote to the head of PE explaning a bit about hemiplegia. I requested that if any sports are too difficult for my son they have my permission to let him assist them, eg using the stopwatch. He has joined in all the PE lessons so far but lets the teacher know if something is too difficult such as sprinting or rugby tackles.
Today he has his first swimming lesson!! I did send him in with a note for the swim teacher, just to remind them he needs to be near the pool steps!
I have adapted a few clothing items using velcro to avoid him using buttons when getting changed for PE. He does not wear his arm or leg splint on PE days.

At lunch time they are able to use a cashless card system which is of great help. My son gets a friend to help with the plate, or often selects a pasta pot which is easy to carry.

I did also send a letter to the maths and science teacher just to be sure thay were fully aware of the need for support.

So far the school have been very supportive and my son is settling in well and seems happy. I do spend quite a bit of time double checking his log book and organising his bag each day.

Good luck

[JCA]

Thanks for your reply.

I'm going to see the SENCO on Monday. I viewed the school yesterday and I could see one problem straightaway, there was only a bannister on the stairs on one side. Would it be cheeky to ask them to install a banister on the other side?

[amy_louise]

JCA, on 06 October 2011 - 03:42 PM, said:

Thanks for your reply.

I'm going to see the SENCO on Monday. I viewed the school yesterday and I could see one problem straightaway, there was only a bannister on the stairs on one side. Would it be cheeky to ask them to install a banister on the other side?

It would not be cheeky at all! I find it so annoying when places don't put handrails on both sides, I don't feel safe holding onto the wall. I imagine this is more important in a school, you know how boisterous kids can be, it's too late when there's been an accident isn't it? I'm sure it would be within the school's legal duty, it's to do with accessibility isn't it? Remember, if you don't ask.. you don't get, that's my motto anyway!

[ThirdAunt]

For me, I can P.E. (to a certain level) but I just couldn't do D.T., in fact D.T. drove me crazy: I can't do any of the technology part like sawing etc...Eventually, I was withdrawn from the subject and had a study period in those lessons. Sure, you get kind of lonely being the only one doing a study period alone and you get questions about it. But I find in secondary school you get less questions. Anyhow, its better than asking for help every five minutes.

JCA, on 25 September 2011 - 02:38 PM, said:

Hi my 10 year old daughter is due to start Secondary School next September and so we are looking at schools at the moment.

Can anyone give me any tips on what I should be looking for and what questions I need to address with the SENCO. Am thinking PE will be the main concern.