Special schools

[sherrardk]

If your child gets a statement of educational needs and it states that they have to go to a special school can they make you take your child out of their current school and move them to the special school? Thanks.

[boxtops]

I don't know that they can make you, but it could be that they feel the child would get a better experience at a special school. There's a story in our local paper today about a child who was moved from mainstream into special and is now doing really well.

[mazie]

Would it be in the child's best interest? I only ask because my grandson has learning difficulties (we don't know what the problem is as yet). He's finding his school very challenging and my Daughter is going to talk to his care team about a special school....She wants all the options. Sorry sher, I can't answer your OP...but just thought I would share x

[DaisyNonna]

Should state that a special school place should be available.

[sherrardk]

Hi Box - The speech therapist said today that thing 2 should go to a special school because of his speech problems. I have many issues with this - I would have to separate him from his twin, I would have to out him in a taxi everyday (he is only 4), he would be encouraged to communicate using signing (I want him to communicate using speech - which is, very slowly, improving). He is due to enter the system for a statement but it is unlikely he will get one before September, if he gets one at all.

[sherrardk]

Hi everyone else (you weren't there just now) - he is very bright just can't talk. He has specific, speech impairment (which means he can't talk but they don't know why). I don't think it would be in his best interests as he went to the p-school version for a while and it wasn't suited to his problems (I know, because I stayed for every session). Just trying to find out if they can make you send your child to a special school.

[mazie]

I don't think they can sher....and at 4 it's far too early to think about that. Our little one didn't even start to speak until he was 4....I'd hold out and say No at this stage

[sherrardk]

Thanks Mazie the whole special needs thing is clouded in mystery and secrecy! I am going to say no (it would severely impact on so many other area of his life that I don't think it is worth it). I would be in floods of tears sending him off in a taxi everyday.

[Gavmacp]

It seems like an extreme measure to me. I personally would continue with his current school for time being.
I was a slow learner and had a few issues which now would be called 'special needs'. I was put in remedial classes at secondary school. I now have quite a few o grades, highers, diploma in nursing.
I am sure there are some excellent special needs schools but from my limited experience they concentrate on what th person cannot do and not what they can do.
Much love,
Gavin

[Kassee]

I don't think they can make you - I think they advise you, but it is your decision. (alto I'm not 100% sure). Sometimes the mainstream school feels it is best for the child to go to special school too. Signing will help a child to speak, it will encourage speech, signing words along side speech. You seem to suggest that by signing yr child will not speak so much - but that is not true.

It is a shame to separate twins, but sometimes that is suggested by teachers even if they are at the same school. I know cases where twins have been separated at 4 years old as they start school and put into separate classes because teachers thought that they would benefit by making them individual and not too dependent on each other.

I think you are anxious about this because they are twins. How would you feel about your little one, going to special school, in a taxi, where he would learn to sign, and communicate with other children that were just like him, if he was your only child. I think you would want the very best for him; and maybe this is the best; go along and have a look; and then decide.

Try not to be anxious around all these decisions, because anxiety can cause a child to be mute. Also, it may be difficult for him at mainstream school, if he is unable to communicate the way the other children can, he may become frustrated and unhappy. Of course, that may not be the case, he may love it at mainstream school, and not worry at all about his speech delay. You know him best, voice your opinion to the speech therapist and to the headteacher at both schools, and then make your decision.

[sherrardk]

Hi Gavin - the boy's speech is very poor but he is very bright. I don't feel that a special school would be appropriate for him I just don't think they know what to do with him as he has no other problems. He hasn't yet started school but I don't want to persue a statement (which would mean that there would be funds in place to help him) if the statement then dictates which particular school he has to go to. The thought of separating from his twin and his other siblings is very unappealing too. I am going to go and see the head of the primary (places aren't allocated yet though) and get him in on the act. Thanks for your thoughts (I was in tears when the therapist came out with this today, it was so unexpected).

[cazzz1975]

the school is chosen depending on the level of provision it will provide. it is tailored to your childs needs as written in the statement. the statement will hold all the information about your childs needs.

If your childs statement expresses that your childs needs will be met in a special school then your child will move to a special school, unless the current school is a special school.

[sherrardk]

Hi Kassee - I know I sound like a worry head but i would feel just the same if he was a singleton. The pre-school version that he attended didn't help him at all (it was designed for children with a wide range of special needs which just happened to include speech issues). I am going to stick to my guns and fight for him to have extra help at the primary school in the village. I do want the very best for him and I think, for him, learning to speak is the way to go (as opposed to learning to sign) - I can understand him, so there is no reason why a teaching assistant (or who ever there is funds for) cant learn to understand him too.

[cazzz1975]

I can understand your feelings on wanting to keep your kids together, however if your son does not receive adequete provision he will really struggle as he gets older which will strengthen the chances of him needing more assistance when he is older, most certainly a special secondary school.

It would be wrong to deprive him of the right learning environment.

[Gavmacp]

Is he happy! If yes which I know he is. He will be fine some of us just grow at our own time table.
I have read stories of very sickly children that were always ill that turned out to be big strapping rugby players.
Concentrate on what he does well, give him love, be there as you already are and things generally sort themselve out.
Love,
Gavin

[daffy654]

Sherrard, I have mentioned before that my son attended a special school at age 4 because of his lack of speech.
I was allowed to choose the special school he attended after viewing the ones in my locality. I chose the one that my son seemed comfortable in (he was allowed to come with me on visits) and it worked great for us. He was picked up and dropped off every day by taxi, he was accompanied by an escort who we met before he even started school, he developed quite a friendship with her over the years and missed her quite a lot when he had to switch to mainstream. I'm not saying you should send your son to a special school, just letting you know that it may not be as bad as you think.

If you really want your son to stay in mainstream then you will have the backing of the local education authority on this, your son will probably be allocated funding for a classroom assistant to be with him during all of the school day, this assistant will help your son with all aspects of communication and education and will accompany him on any school trips or speech therapy sessions within the school setting.

[sherrardk]

Hi cazzzz - they are only talking about him going for 18 months or so. He would then have to move back into a mainstream school and I think that would be awfully unsettling. The current speech therapist is very nice but has stuck rigidly to the programme and today was the first time she tried to engage him in actual discussion. I hope I don't sound awkward but it shouldn't be a long term thing, just something that needs sorted out and then moved past (if he was autistic, for example, then it would be a long term situation but there is no reason why his speech will not get sorted out)

[cazzz1975]

I agree with daffy, also it may not come to needing a special school yet, you may be granted extra help in mainstream.

special school places are like gold dust

[friedgreentomato]

You should consider yourself blessed, I know many people who are begging for places at special schools and are unable to get them!

[cazzz1975]

the specific timeline of 18 months is a little odd! did he get a diagnosis yet then?

[daffy654]

I think some people have the wrong idea of special schools cazzz, we loved the one our son attended and can't praise them highly enough.