Re: school support

November 25, 2002

Hi everyone, I would like some advice please. We are currently

going through the statementing process - identification of learning

needs with Dan before he starts school next sept. It takes at least

six months! Anyway the good side is that so far everyone is saying

that he will go to mainstream school and that his progress is within

the normal range. Great but this means he will have no additional

support in or out of class. Have any of your kids been in this

position and how did they cope? Also if they started off doing okay

did they gradually slip back? My concern is that he is not being

given support because it costs rather than that he will do fine

without it.

Any advice would be welcome.

A second question is do any of your kids have eczema? Dan has

suddenly developed peeling and dry skin on his fingers and toes,

all our doctor says is to put aqueous cream on it. This helps a bit

but has not cleared it up. Any ideas?

Thanks a million

and Dan (nearly four)

November 25, 2002

In a message dated 11/25/02 11:11:18 AM Eastern Standard Time,

CS.Maguire@... writes:

<< this means he will have no additional

support in or out of class. Have any of your kids been in this

position and how did they cope? Also if they started off doing okay

did they gradually slip back? >>

Hi :

My daughter has been in regular education classes since she was in

kindergarten (she is now in the fourth grade). In Kindergarten and first

grade she received speech and language services on a very limited basis. In

second grade she was monitored, which meant she wasn't getting any services,

just the speech pathologist would check in with the teacher to see if there

were any problems. Since she had no difficulty with academics in the

classroom was declassified (not something I agreed with) and has

not received any form of support. All I can tell you is that she has done

very well in keeping up academically.

Her reading and comprehension is at grade level and her math skills are on

the low end of average. There are areas where she has definite weaknesses,

mainly with making inferences and using critical thinking skills. While her

computation skills in math are good, she does have difficulty with problem

solving.

Even though I see weaknesses my school district will not give her services.

All I can tell you is that I monitor her school work very closely. I help

her with whatever she has difficulty with, mainly math and studying for

tests. I have very close communication with her teacher so that if

difficulties arise we can work on them together. Social skills have been

more of a problem for than academics. Each year the level of what

is expected academically is raised and so far she has been able to keep up.

I do always feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop and the day will

come where she will fall far behind, but hopefully we will catch her as soon

as she starts to slip. It's very hard for me to take this approach, I would

rather prevent her falling behind rather than wait for it to happen and then

play catch-up.

I understand your concerns, but with careful monitoring and extra support at

home I'm sure Dan will do fine and if the day comes where he needs help I'm

sure you'll get him the support he needs.

also has eczema, which is starting to flare up. Try to limit the

amount of time Dan spends in the bath and use lots of moisturizers. If it

gets really bad the pediatrician can give you a prescription for

hydrocortisone cream.

Sorry this was so long.

ann (Mom to , mds 9 years old and seriously into Harry Potter)

November 25, 2002

Hi ,

went through the statement process took 26 weeks, and was given 15

hours support in main stream school, and help at lunch time.

If Dan has a statement they have to give him the support he needs in school,

eg personal hygiene, social skills etc, They won't let him struggle

alone,

Usually the first term children are assessed to what there needs are, and

what topics extra help is needed,

I work in school and (statemented) children have one to one and work in

small groups,

To help with there social skills ,numeracy, literacy, topic,role play,

etc,

He'll be fine when he starts school,

Everything will run smoothly school and parents work closely together as a

team !!!

Try evening primrose oil( capsule broken open) on eczema it worked for

katie cleared it all up.

Best wishes

Judy mum to ( 10 mds)

November 25, 2002

,

My daughter Kira is now 7 last Friday and she is in mainstream primary

school. Kira has had a statement for a couple of years now, and is doing

rather well at school, her statement only allows for 1 1/2 day per day

However, the school where Kira is pays for the rest of the day out of

it's own budget we have a excellent relationship with the head, teachers

and the rest of the school.

We started with the speech therapists, paediatric consultants, and

physiotherapist. The only way to guarantee the best care is to have the

backing of them all. It was mainly from the consultants we got the main

assistance as they contacted other departments, however most of this was

in the pipe line only when they thought that Kira had Autistic

tendencies. Autism seems to be more recognised in the schools these

days compared to MDS. And we only found out about this when Kira was

just about to turn five, five years of specialists trying to figure this

all out.

It can be down to financing, and down to lack of knowledge.

Kira can have eczema from time to time, however with the cream this does

clear up.

Hope I have been able to provide some info.

Best Regards

Rob (Father) to Kira 7