reasonable adjustments *very urgent*

Advice on Special Needs and the 11 Plus Exams

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Jan

reasonable adjustments *very urgent*

Post by Jan »

VERY URGENT VERY URGENT

Can anyone tell me if they know of an LEA that gives extra time for verbal reasoning tests.

Jan
HP
Posts: 438
Joined: Wed Mar 08, 2006 2:06 pm

Post by HP »

Hi Jan,

We do not have a Grammar school system gernerally in Hertfordshire. In South West Herts there is a Selective Consortium of 6 schools:

Watford Grammar Boys
Watford Grammar Girls
Parmiters
Rickmansworth
Queens
Bushey Mill

These schools have a policy of selection (up to 35%) of their intake based upon academic abilitity. The tests comprise Maths and Verbal reasoning.

The prospectuses state that if you think that your child will be disadvantaged in any way by reason of disability then you should provide evidence of this for concessions.

See www.watfordgirls.herts.sch.uk/ click on admissions criteria 2006 for the prospectus. Relevent bit about which tests are applied is P4, special considerations is on P5

Concession for dyslexia is extra time up to 25%, and yes it does get awarded.

Hope this helps.

HP
fiona/jan

Reasonable adjustments

Post by fiona/jan »

Hi HP,

The head of pupil services for the Wirral LEA, states that as the children only sit vr papers and not maths and English papers that extra time cannot be allowed and the children have to sit the exam with no reasonable adjustments made and you have to appeal afterwards, but my child who only missed the pass mark by 3 was turned down by the appeal board.

So it seems to me that they have the perfect filter system to get rid of children with a disability . This system stinks if you ask me!

Is anyone else aware of a system as unfair as Wirral's .

fiona/jan
HP
Posts: 438
Joined: Wed Mar 08, 2006 2:06 pm

Post by HP »

Hi Fiona/Jan

I think Wirral are treading very sticky ground in respect of disability discrimination. However, legally speaking it is the "test cases" that set legal precedents and at the moment there haven't been too many cases in disability discrimination. When is your hearing?

Know that you have a solicitor, think I saw on another thread you mention a Barrister. There is one Chambers which are renowned for their expertise in Education Law, don't think that I would be allowed to mention their name. If you want to register I could send you a PM about them and direct you to their website.

HP
Fiona/Jan

Reasonable adjustments

Post by Fiona/Jan »

Hi Hp,

Our appeal is on 25th April.

Our Barrister is from a chambers in London that specialises in disability/discrimination law, she was recommended by our solicitor.

If our appeal fails how would we put together a test case?

This LEA has put our family through **** and massive debt all for a couple marks, when they have let children in with the same marks with worse Sat's grades and who put this school down as second choice.

My sons self esteem is on the floor

Jan
HP
Posts: 438
Joined: Wed Mar 08, 2006 2:06 pm

Post by HP »

Hi Jan,

Saw newest member is Jan, am sending PM on Barristers.

The ***** is awful, know from first hand experience, we're permanently in the same boat over SEN too.

Don't look beyond your appeal for the minute, and as dyslexics have fragile self-esteem at the best of times let your son know that the system has failed him, not the other way around.

HP
shocked

Post by shocked »

I'd contact IPSEA and the Disability Discrimination people on this one(both online).

Bucks certainly DO allow extra time for children with a disability and I'm sure it's illegal not to.
QE Dad

Maybe this will help

Post by QE Dad »

This link is borrowed from Bucks (Patricia) thread - it shows that 25% more time is permissible for severly dyslexic:

http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/schools/docum ... idance.pdf

QED
patricia
Posts: 2803
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2006 5:07 pm

Post by patricia »

Dear Jan

The link that QE Dad has very kindly fished out is a legal framework, schools/authorities cannot hide behind ignorance, your barrister, for which you are probably paying a lot of money for, should know this.

Good luck

Patricia
HP
Posts: 438
Joined: Wed Mar 08, 2006 2:06 pm

Post by HP »

Dear Patricia/Jan,

Agreed that Authorities cannot hide behind ignorance. Have PM'd Jan on Barristers.

Whilst wirral's policy as quoted by Jan looks iffy what does need to be remembered with regards to the DDA is that unfortunately not all children with SEN are covered by this act, similarly not all disabled school children have SEN. It is the degree of the child's disability that dictates whether or not the DDA applies.

The SENDIST website has some good information on this as to how the DDA relates to Education as does the Disability Rights Commission althought the latter covers all areas of Disability, employment etc.

HP
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