Parent of SEN child, 12, UK
My stories
My School Story
Y7 went fine for our daughter she was happy to go everyday, came back and told us stories and all the gossip. She was generally a really happy 12yr old.
Then Y8 started and we saw an instant change in her. She said school was too noisy, she couldn't contain all the information that she was asked too and it was really stressing her out. She started having different tastes of clothes and music to her close friend group and didn't feel like she fit in anymore.
She started coming home from school and going straight up to her room and just became withdrawn. She refused school in the morning. School were no help at all. I asked them to help her maybe get someone to be there for her when she needed to talk, didn't happen. They just kept ringing me up to say she was ill and needed to come home when she eventually did decide to go in the morning (this was just my daughter trying to get out of school) I told them she was struggling mentally.
Took her to Drs and there was nothing they could do as she didn't meet criteria for CAMHs. It was a struggle everyday with the tears and refusal and saying she couldn't cope anymore with school. Asked for a part time timetable that was refused. They changed the system of going to the SEN room they had to change their planner to a red page my daughter refused this as everyone would see she needed help. This just contributed to her stress.
Then Y8 started and we saw an instant change in her. She said school was too noisy, she couldn't contain all the information that she was asked too and it was really stressing her out. She started having different tastes of clothes and music to her close friend group and didn't feel like she fit in anymore.
She started coming home from school and going straight up to her room and just became withdrawn. She refused school in the morning. School were no help at all. I asked them to help her maybe get someone to be there for her when she needed to talk, didn't happen. They just kept ringing me up to say she was ill and needed to come home when she eventually did decide to go in the morning (this was just my daughter trying to get out of school) I told them she was struggling mentally.
Took her to Drs and there was nothing they could do as she didn't meet criteria for CAMHs. It was a struggle everyday with the tears and refusal and saying she couldn't cope anymore with school. Asked for a part time timetable that was refused. They changed the system of going to the SEN room they had to change their planner to a red page my daughter refused this as everyone would see she needed help. This just contributed to her stress.
What happened next...
We deregistered in November of Y8 as she and me could not take anymore mentally.
4 months on she is so much in a better place, she is learning about things that interest her and her mental health is so much better and we are seeing a lot more of her now.
4 months on she is so much in a better place, she is learning about things that interest her and her mental health is so much better and we are seeing a lot more of her now.
How I think schools could be better.
Listen to parents if they say their child is struggling. Work with them to help the child at school.
More mental health support is needed at schools and SEN children need a lot more support than they are receiving.
More mental health support is needed at schools and SEN children need a lot more support than they are receiving.