Fed up with school and not because of holidays!

[Lizzy Lemon]

Been to a parents activity morning at Ashley's school. (He's in a speech and language class which is in a mainstream school). He's in a mixed class of year 3,4,5 and 6. At 10 years old he's year 6. We played listen to the instructions games. OK fair enough, the children in that class have problems listening to instructions and following them but when we went into assembly and heard the mainstream children in year 4 were doing mathematical sums in roman numerals, and year 5 were doing about a local battle field and the King on the throne at the time, it kind of feels like my sons class are a load of dunces! It has worried me for a while that he doesn't seem to be doing much actual curriculum work. Can't have a word with the teacher, she scares me. One of the other mums was moaning about her this morning not helping get her son diagnosed with dyslexia and having meetings when she knows the parents can't attend. Feel really down today, having a rare moment when I'm glad he'll be moving up to mainstream secondary next year but God knows how he'll cope with so little 'proper' education in the last 4 years! Sorry to grumble, but in the past you have said it was OK when I needed to let off steam.

 

[jen_uk]

I would try and get this sorted as soon as possiblr so that when ds goes to his next school he doesnt struggle. Could you arrange a meeting with his teacher and take someone (dh, or another relaitve/friend) with you to give you confidence and back up your concerns. Is private tutoring something you could look into?

Hope you get this sorted.

 

[Cyrano]

Hope you can sort this out. I'd firstly make contact with Head teacher it is their job to ensure standards of delivery and teaching methods are appropriate.

 

[natalielongstaff]

i agree ....speak to the head, good luck

 

[carolfoy]

Lizzy, Id agree with Nat and Reid, you should really speak to the head, are there any other parents with children in the same class who feel the same? I'm not advocating a picket line to the heads office or anything but if there are a few of you it'll give you strength in numbers. Other than that get in touch with the head of his next secondary school and see if there are 'basic points' that he should be up to speed on before he joins that school, at least then you could maybe look into private tutoring during the holiday break so he won't be lacking when he gets there.

 

[jns]

Great advice on theses boards asual

you would be surpriced at what a bit of extra help can give to your child
talk to the other mother they might be able to help
and do have a word with the head

Good Luck

this is the place to come for your

and enjoy yourweekend in London

 

[mandymouse]

Hope you can sort this out. I'd firstly make contact with Head teacher it is their job to ensure standards of delivery and teaching methods are appropriate.

I agree, go and see the Head. I hope you manage to get something sorted - and please rant away, we're all here for you

 

[gilld]

Don't worry too much.....these days with schools having to follow the National Curriculum, teachers have little leeway in what they teach, so I'd be surprised if your son's teacher hasn't covered what he/she needs to, up to the individual child's ability. I'm not saying you're wrong, just that it isn't always apparent what the desirable outcomes are from a particular lesson. Following instructions is part of speaking and listening which is part of English.

I agree with the others that speaking to the teacher, or head, would be a great idea as then they will be able to put your mind at rest. But I'm sure they will be covering the required syllabus.

 

[ariel75]

sorry to hear that your so down at the moment i really don't know what to say? sometimes at school you feel you just go around in circles when it comes to a child with special needs and sometimes i think the teachers just say the things that you want to hear

 

[pokemon_master]

I am so sorry that you aren't getting the help that your DS needs..

Not much to say here, so I'll go with the flow and say that you may need to go to the head on this one...

 

[Minniespal]

Wendy ~ Hope you get it sorted out

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

Trouble with it being a special needs unit the children come from all over Staffordshire so very rarely get to meet the other parents, the same three mums turned up this morning are the same three mums who turn up for everything! The head is new, have thought about going to see her but don't really want to make waves. Ashley's help at secondary school will be influenced a lot by his current teacher so don't want to jeopardise that. He wouldn't enjoy private tuition, its a real effort to get the small amount of homework done each week. When he first started at this school I wanted to know what they were working on each week so we could back it up at home, teacher wouldn't help me, said she was too busy to write everything down each week. I only wanted a brief outline, his teacher at primary school did it for me and she had 3 times as many children in her class. My help resulted in him getting average SATs marks which was excellent for him. We've looked around his new school this week and the SN department was very welcoming, they remembered him from last year when we looked around, he'll have a little keyboard for him to do his work on and download at lunchtime to print out, they will help him in class and with homework so I'm focusing on the good points. I don't think he'll ever be a brainbox I just want him to be happy and cope with life. Got a meeting about his autism assessment on 1st Nov with teacher and Ed psch. may be brave enough to mention something then as hopefully DH will be able to attend if work allows him to. Thanks for listening.

 

[Lisash]

Keep at them Wendy you have every right to know exactly how/what he is being taught. Good luck in getting things sorted

 

[pokemon_master]

I hope things get sorted out soon; keep in there!

 

[natalielongstaff]

I'm focusing on the good points. I don't think he'll ever be a brainbox I just want him to be happy and cope with life.

to me thats just as important as brains...as my mum is fond of saying you wont get far in life if no-one likes you

 

[Ware Bears]

to me thats just as important as brains...as my mum is fond of saying you wont get far in life if no-one likes you

I agree and what a good saying of your mum's.

Sending you Wendy

 

[mumloveseeyore]

as a parent of a ds with autism/ asperger syndrome all i can do is to love send you a and if there is anythinmg specific to autism that i may be able t o help with please pm me or just ask! love gill i know how hard it can be