The following answers to questions are addressed in detail within the books available via my website. Two most applicable here are,

WHAT IS RED? A POPPY’S RED
Accessing the Curriculum,
Visual Impairment and Other Disabilities

DO-IT-YOURSELF EDUCATION ADVOCACY
Putting your Case
Visual Impairment and Other Disabilities

• Q. We have been told that the local authority now provides extra support through a different system of allocation. What does this mean?
• A. A guide to the level of support your child needs can be found in the two books above.
  
• Q. “What kind of help do you think my son needs in school?” Or “is my daughter getting the correct amount of support in school?”
• A. See the two books above.

• Q. “I have just been told our son requires extra support to meet his educational needs, what does this mean?”
• A. The two books above not only answer this question in detail but can also support you through the process.

• Q. “I have just been told that our son is going to be assessed in school and we will have to see an Educational Psychologist.”
• A. The books available explain why this is happening and the role of an Educational Psychologist too. They also explain the Educational Psychologist’s findings and what effect these findings might have on your son’s education. You will also learn about your rights in relation to the assessments carried out.

• Q. “I have been asked to provide a parental contribution to our son’s assessment to meet his special educational needs but I’m unsure about what to include.”
• A. Books available can advise about your contribution along with giving independent advice throughout the process.

• Q. “We are not happy about our son’s Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and the way it is being delivered?”
• A. The books can explain to you what his EHCP says, how it is made up and what you can do if disagreeing with any part. They can analyse the EHCP in an independent way and advise you regarding the provision contained within. They can also support you to address any changes you want made.

• Q. “I have been told that my daughter is not eligible for extra educational support – what happens now?”
• A. The books can help you decide what the next step should be. This could mean ensuring that adequate support is put in place in school by meeting with the school, local authority and local authority specialist teacher(s) and therapist(s). They can also help you pull together a case in order to appeal.

• Q. “Is our son receiving all the educational support he needs?”
• A. As mentioned earlier, the books can advise you about the support your son needs and then support you to secure this level of support is delivered.

• Q. “I’ve been told that my son needs an IEP what does this mean?”
• A. The books can explain what an Individual Education Plan is, what it is for, advise about its content and monitoring procedure.

• Q. “I’ve been told that my son is disrupting the class – could this be because of his disability?”
• A. Yes, it could be as a result of his disability and the stress placed on him as a result. There could also be other factors too for example his learning support needs are not being met. The books can help you unpick the whole situation and then address accordingly.

• Q. “Sometimes I feel that people are not listening to me about my concerns regarding my daughter’s education – what can I do?”
• A. The books can help with this and encourage others to listen.

• Q. “I don’t think my son is progressing very well at school could this be due to his hearing impairment?”
• A. Yes, a lack of progress can be as a result of his disability and the standard or amount of support provided. The books can help you address this situation.

• Q. “Will my child have to go to a special school?”
• A. The role of special schools has changed over recent years and is now more likely to be about meeting the needs of a child with multi disabilities than a child with a single disability. The books can help you explore placement options and their suitability.

• Q. “My child has a visual impairment and even though she is supposed to receive large print work sheets this doesn’t happen.”
• A. The books can help you ensure this happens in several ways. They can advise about speaking to all concerned and address the situation this way. If your daughter has an EHCP they can help you remind the local authority about its duty to ensure your daughter’s needs are met. Then, pursue things via a Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal if necessary.

• Q. “My daughter is being bullied in school what can I do?”
• A. The books can help you ensure more effective strategies are adopted by the school to address bullying.

• Q. “I have to go to a meeting in school regarding the exclusion of my son. What do I need to do?’
• A. Firstly you need to find out precisely why your son has been excluded and what has been done previously to prevent the behaviour leading to the exclusion. The books can support you through the situation and ensure that correct procedures are followed to include reminding everyone that it is discriminatory to exclude as a result of disability.

• Q. “I am becoming stressed and concerned about my child’s education and the worry is making me ill.”
• A. Whilst not being able to remove the stress completely the books can support you in relation to your concerns and thereby help take better control of the situation which might help manage the stress.

• Q. “My child is isolated in school and has no friends.”
• A. The books can help you and the school put strategies in place to help remove the isolation.

• Q. “I don’t know what’s happening in school. The specialist teacher visits but no one tells me about what’s going on.”
• A. Information within the books can help you address this behaviour.

• Q. “We’ve just been told our baby has very poor vision and sees very little. We are devastated. What can we do?”
• A. There are three books available dealing with pre-school years and development during this time. You will find the information informative and reassuring.

• “Our daughter is about to transfer from Junior to Secondary school. Can you advise us about what we might expect?”
• A. Within the two books mentioned above transition is covered extensively. Transition from pre-school to full time education is also covered in the pre-school books. Transition into employment along with employability skills generally has a standalone book devoted to this very important subject.

• Q. “Our son is about to start university. It has now hit us just how dependent he is on out daily support. Can you advise us please?”
• A. This situation is not uncommon. Consequently, there are three books devoted to the subject of independence. Before these mile stones arrive you can use them to learn about and develop independent living skills, independent travel skills and cooking at home and else where. The one covering gardening and eco issues being a very popular subject nowadays and would also make an excellent present.

• Q. “Our daughter spends most of her time alone listening to the radio and on the internet. Have you any suggestions to encourage a healthier lifestyle?”
• A. As mentioned above, along with cooking another very popular subject with many young people are ecological matters; that is, saving the planet. Consequently, I have written a book covering this along with gardening. It pairs well with the cook book and the development of independence generally. Both would make excellent presents.

There are many other concerns I constantly hear from parents regarding the ‘support’ given to their children and lack of progress at school. You will find ways of addressing them within the books on offer. Read the blurb for each and then explore via the Content’s page to see what is covered.

Rgds

Clive