suzyt

When we veiwed my sons school, we discussed with the head the fact that my son was receiving extra help and she said that that would be dealt with and that her department would make their own assessments etc. Well his new teacher called me in yesterday just to meet, as the conversation went on she then told me that he wouldnt get any help and to source out extra tuition !!!!! Whats that all about he has only been back for 2 days. What should i do ????

quoll

Schools may access additional support for children who are designated as having disabilities but the regulations for accessing that support are very tough - they aim to target the bottom 2 - 5% of kids.

Kids who dont fall into that category are supported from within the school budget and they make their own judgements about whether and how much support they can afford to give a child. It may be that he isnt far enough behind compared with other kids to access their remedial programs. It is unfortunate but just one of those things - with luck you may find that his teacher is on the ball and is able to adapt lessons to meet the needs of the range of kids in her class. Otherwise yup, extra tuition sometimes is the answer and many parents do take up that option. All depending on his needs there are lots of tuition agencies out there and the school may recommend one - my preference is to try and target a young student teacher (preferably male) as they are often able to get through to a kid and be a good model for language and maths development.

SillyOldBag

If you aren't happy with the response that you have been given by the teacher then make an appointment to speak to the school principal and discuss how what has happened differs from what you were told at the original interview/viewing. Maybe the teacher's initial assessment is that your son is up to speed with other kids of his age, you could always ask if the situation could be reviewed after your son has spent some time in his new class. There could be a reasonable explanation, best thing to do is ask questions - you don't have to make a complaint as such, you are merely taking an active interest in your son's education which is what school's want from parents.

Geelong Gent

We endured the same situation on top of $20k fees were asked to fork out additonal $15k for a teachers aide.

Since moved to another private school at $20k with half class size and have a teachers aide in additon to teacher (already included in school budget).

This is for prep year and felt like an emotional rollercoaster as the first school was our reason for moving to melbourne (lucky we found other reasons to keep us). Only advice I can give is you get through it (the changing of schools if necessary).

We were unable to get any funding because we invested such alot of time and effort over past 18 months with speech therapists and homework on her social skills that she failed the assessments so get no funding. At any rate the funding can stop in any year as friends of ours discovered - after 5 years at state they were told this year there will be none. This I feel is tougher because it has you already in a false sense of security.

Shane

emelems

If it were me personally? I'd phone the school and set up a meeting between Principle, sons teacher and the parents... then arm myself with a list of questions that I'd want answered...

Also, prob goes without saying, but try to keep your feelings under control and don't loose your rag (which i am sure you won't do anyway! )

Em x

homewardbound

I'm not sure if ur child is at a private or public school but public schools here are seriously underfunded... we even have to send in whiteboard markers, highlighters and facial tissues at our school - but it is a good school - just under funded!

moneypenny20

You go back to the head and request a meeting with her and the teacher concerned and you find out why they've changed their minds. It could be as simple as communication breakdown between the teacher and the head or it could be something more.

hevs

Not ALL schools. We don't have to send anything in at all.

That said my son was at level 3 senco in the UK, (5 hours one on one help per week and an OT every 1/2 term to school)here is entitled to nothing as they do not rate his severe dyslexia/ dyspraxia and ADD suffieciently bad as hes NOT autistic

hevs

Was that extra help in the UK?
If so see my post above...good luck

Rossi

Tongue firmly in cheek......... so don't shoot me down

Have you thought, that although he may have required assistance in the UK school, that his new school & Australian teaching methods may mean he is actually on a par with his new classmates ?
Keep an eye on his progress to make sure he is keeping up with them during the term and then discuss issues if/when they arise

jad n rich

As others have pointed out, bascially funding only stretches as far as a few very needy kids, did quoll say bottom 2-5% that sounds right in my experience. Middle son has dyslexia, it was a hell of a long battle, we got him reading, his spelling is still bad. We did everything from the $300 an appointment specialist, to tutors, to battling the schools, but he was never classed as bad enough to get help. Always told funding, kids more needy than him. ( dyslexia for gawd sake :curse: ) anyway in the end we got 27 half hours in a group session run by a professional, that was it, that was after a 4 year battle. There is simply no money in the pot!

Basically it was all up to us, and if I say so myself he does incredibly well at school now, but each year we battle a new batch of teachers about the spelling problem, no help, but he can get extra time in exams if he wants.