11 Plus Exams Forum

Have I left it too late??

My son is taking the 11 plus on 4th October this year and earlier on today I posted somewhere else on the site and mentioned that my son had a brain tumour when he was younger and that it affects his memory sometimes, but not always (yesterday he completely forgot how to do multiplication despite being in the top of the top set for maths).

He receives disability living allowance because of the effects of the tumour and surgery and has limited peripheral vision in his right eye, to the degree that he won't be able to hold a driver's licence.

It didn't cross my mind that allowances could be made in some circumstances. I just thought you sat the exam, completed it in the alloted time and that was that.

Have I left this all too late, or is it worth enquiring somewhere about possible allowances? If it's not too late, where would I start? His consultant at the hospital? Admissions? The local Grammar school??

Arghhh!!!!!!

Many thanks!

PS forgot to say that when I posted originally , a couple of people mentioned that he may get allowances!

Is he statemented?

I would phone Admissions and ask - also mention it to the HT.

Of course it would be pertinent in an appeal but it would be better to sort it out before the tests.

He's on School Action and receives Disability Living Allowance. He joined his current school in year three, the previous school kept on top of what support he needed and we went to meetings... since coming to this school and handing all the paper work over and being told everything would be taken care of we've not seen or heard anything.

We have found in the last 6 months that we've been very, very unhappy with how things have been, and have tried talking to the school but it falls on deaf ears.

I wrote more but deleted it because it turned into a bit of a rant!!!

Time for a cup of tea!

I am so sorry that the school is not supportive - I've been a SENCo and my child has SEN. We did not get the right arrangements for the 11+ owing to a problem with his Primary school so I do understand your problems. My child is now happily settled in a GS now (after 12+)

There will be an SEN adviser at the LA and parent partnership might have some information to help. The LA must not disadvantage children with a disability - so special arrangements should be possible.

Will the school be supportive of a GS application?

All I can suggest is lots of phoning and nagging ... if you want to ask things privately do PM me -

It's good to hear success stories!

What is the LA?!

I'm unsure of whether the school will be supportive or not. My son is in the top class for maths, but isn't so good at writing as he finds it difficult to control all the "wonderful and imaginitive" ideas he has. It's almost like pen and paper and brain are fighting one another, his brain keeps throwing ideas at him, but he can't write them down or order them, plus his handwriting isn't too neat and he's left-handed.... He also takes things quite literally and doesn't do so well at comprehension, but he's very good at verbal and non-verbal. The head said that my son wasn't in her top 5% and that he's not quick enough to get through the 11 plus. She also said at the parents meeting that if someone gets through and she doesn't think they were meant to that she could have the decision overturned, or words to that effect.

We found a maths tutor for him and he said that there's no issue with his speed at all. He's capable, on a good day, of doing 4 non-verbal questions a minute and has his times tables up to 13 down to an average of 3 seconds in a random order. And then he goes and forgets it all and can't complete a quarter of a maths test in the alloted time!

Sorry LA means local authority - do you really need to be in the top 5%? In Bucks Grammars take the top third or so - the issues with writing could be linked to his medical history. He should be able to get some help from the school on structuring his writing using 'writing frames'.

Can he use a laptop in school? This is allowable in NC tests and GCSEs if the physical effort of writing takes too long.

There is help out there - it just sometimes takes a long time and a lot of searching ... and nagging ...

I'm not sure whether it is the top 5% but the head definitely said he wasn't in her top 5 %.

The school were given letters a couple of years ago in which the psychologist at the hospital suggested he had regular breaks from writing and that his teachers give him something legitimate to do in that time, delivering notes, handing out books etc. This was because he couldn't concentrate for more than 15 mins and would find himself getting physically out of breath and very frustrated. I'm now starting to wonder whether the school are acutally doing anything for my son or have just forgotten about his needs. I shall have to arrange a meeting and get back in touch with his consultant. And get phoning the LA and SEN people! I need a list!!!!

Nothing has been said about writing frames or laptops! I shall enquire about that too!!

I definitely need a list!! And a plan of action!!!

If your child is bright and therefore 'above the class average' their special needs can get overlooked at less effective Primary schools.

Writing frames help children organise their thoughts e.g.

http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/subjects/ ... ng-frames/

Just google 'writing frames'

Hi Daisy,

Sorry to hear about your situation, just thought it might help to hear that you are not alone. My son is autistic with a statement and despite the schools lack of support, is taking the 11+ in September.

He suffers from lack of focus and staying on task, he also has difficulties with his comprehension and this is quoted on his statement. I have written to the Local Education Authority and was told that extra time was not normally given. All that was offered was a seperate room to take the test and someone familiar in the room.

I have written again with some help from Partnership with Parents (very helpful) and am waiting for a reply. The test is on the 18th and 19th September!!.

My only advice is make sure you put everything in writing (excellent advice given from this site). Don't give up remember you know your child best and are the only one really fighting his case. Be sure to put in writing exactly what you need in place for the test and make sure they also reply in writing.

I'm afraid I also agree as previously mentioned a lot of nagging and persistance will be needed. Really hope you get what you need and I'll let you know the outcome of my requests. Good luck

Best for son

Well that's one letter down..!!!