Having
a child with special education needs can be very worrying and confusing.
Suspecting that your child might need help and hoping that does not go
undetected is even more concerning. Without proper help and guidance, parents
can feel terribly isolated and lost especially with so many myths and stigmas
associated with special needs.
How
do you detect any difficulties your child might be facing? How do you make sure
his or her school is aware and deal with such needs effectively? There are a
number of clues you might pick up on: General distraction is a common sign so
is disruptive behaviour, underperforming in class or while doing homework, becoming
quite worked up or stressed at simple tasks, forgetfulness, monosyllabic
reading, boredom with work, clumsiness, unclear hand writing, hearing
instructions but not carrying out step by step.... These are just some examples
of signs which may concern you. You know your child best and if these or some
of these signs seem unusual to you then it might be time to investigate
further.
If
you suspect that your child needs help, even if it is a slight concern, then
please seek advice. Do not shy away and think it could just be a phase or a
bout of bad behaviour. Getting advice and helping your child could be life
changing for you and for them. SEN is not a label but a ticket to peace of
mind.
So
where do you start? School, nursery or your GP will great tools to start the
ball rolling. Speak to them and follow their guidance. Many schools routinely
test children for learning difficulties and should they feel the need, they
advice for a more formal assessment which is then carried out by Educational
Psychologists who carry out an extensive number of tests based on activities,
discussions and sometimes quite fun workshops with the child. They then produce
a detailed report which offers a full analysis that acts as a powerful guide
for anyone teaching or tutoring or even mentoring your child. It also helps you
understand why your child acts in a certain way, how they process information
and instructions thus relieving tension and reassuring you that help is at
hand. On an academic level, such a
formal assessment helps in providing your child with extra examination time –
the length of which depends on his level of need. It also helps in deciding if
and what specialist equipment could offer help and what kind of one-to-one
tuition is needed and which techniques your child would benefit from.
There
are many tools your child’s school can use to facilitate learning. Read up, do
your research and stay on top of what the school is providing. Do not assume
your child’s school has an efficient special needs department – state or
independent – do your homework! Ask to speak to a SENCo (Special Needs
Coordinator) and ask what they offer as well as how much time they are prepared
to dedicate to your child. As well as the SENCo, make sure the school head is
open minded and welcomes children of all abilities. It is all too common to
hear a head say ‘we do not have great SEN facilities because we do not have
many pupils that need them’! There are various degrees of SEN and more than can
be counted on two hands! SEN is not purely made up of one or two kinds and the
techniques to help vary immensely – it all depends on what your child needs and
how much intervention is required.
Remember
that help is at hand – from choosing the right school to being educated on how
to help your child yourself. Ask for advice and take experts’ help on board.
Hands-on
tips:
·
Make sure the school you choose
uses muti-sensory learning and teaching styles
·
The school must devour your
child’s report and closely monitor and review all their progress
·
There must be a strategic plan
between you and the school on how to best approach your child’s needs
·
Make sure you and your concerns
are being heard and addressed
There
are many choices and many schools which greatly care for children with special
educational needs. It is however a blessing finding the right school for your
child and once that is achieved, then you can rest and let the journey of
helping and properly supporting your child begin. Always remember, your child
is not being ‘labelled’, they are being guided and supported. There is a wealth
of information and resources that you can tap into. Start by taking the first
step and you may well have facilitated life for your child and for yourself
beyond realisation.
By
Suzie Oweiss
Education
Advisor and Director of PS Education,
Specialists
in Education and Marketing
We offer a range of services to
suit your individual needs from 30 minute advice sessions to tailor made
packages. Call us on 07976 602 810 or email info@pseducation.co.uk
www.pseducation.co.uk
