Individual Education Plans

queenie2

Hi there,

I'm having a really bad day today:(...I have been trawling the web since yesterday trying to get some information on Individual Education Plan's for children in Primary School so far I'm not having much luck..

There is plenty of information for parents/teachers in the U.S.A -New Zealand and the U.K..but not much for Ireland..

My child has learning support in Maths under the General Allocation Hours Scheme. All assessments from N.E.P.S suggest an I.E.P be drawn up.
That was in September '08. I have heard nothing from the school since then and the class has changed Teachers in the meantime..

He is finding it very tough going each day and I spend up to 2 hours each night doing homework..he is very slow in every aspect of his work.

I requested a copy of his I.E.P recently and this did not go down to well with Teacher as she passed a comment to her assistant when she read my brief request( my child was still at her desk and heard her)...I feel very annoyed and also feel a nusiance for asking for a copy..Sorry for blabbing on ,but I hope someone can advise me on the correct procedure for requesting an I.E.P..(bit late now I guess;) )

I would appreciate any conversation really, as I am feeling a little worn down by all the fences I have to climb- having a child with special need's is taking it's toll..he was diagnosed at five with severe language disorder ,he is now almost ten and we have been advised to refer him for further assessment for possible Asperger/ASD...

Thanks...and sorry for the rambling...

byhookorbycrook

If a child has been assessed as having a particular learning difference would have been entitled to an IEP under the EPSEN act, however as EPSEN has been "deferred" by our wonderful govt, there is no obligation on any school to do IEPs.

Our school have IEPs for these children and group work programmes for everyone else, but this is ,as I aleady said, is down to what the individual school can do as we have neither been trained or resourced for drawing up IEPs.

Homework shouldn't be taking that amount of time- have you met with the class teacher?Perhaps his learning support teacher might be able to outline to you targets she/he is working on in the programme of work?

hayser

You could ring and ask the principal to get you a copy. Parents are allowed to see any documents pertaining to their children. It's not a big deal to ask to see a copy as they should have them on file in the school. It's only a matter of someone going to a filing cabinet and making a copy.

queenie2

Hi ,thanks for replies..

In all of my child's assessments from NEPS and HSE they stress the need for an IEP to be put in place, I don't understand how individual schools can decide to implement them or not. There are many IEP templates and software available to schools to assist them in drawing up plans. It is not rocket science. I don't feel Teachers need another degree or hours of training to know how to implement one.

I think and IEP would, in fact , greatly assist the teacher,parent,sna, resource teacher and anyone else involved with the child..not to forget the children themselves. It is a great way of keeping track of progress and everyone can contribute and get involved.

It shouldn't be perceived as a way of 'checking up' on teacher etc..and schools should not be wary of implementing them. I think they are a very flexible document and it is great that schools can tweak them and review them as often as they wish. I really think they are a great idea and it is an awful shame that schools can just decide to dismiss using them.

byhookorbycrook - Your school sounds very proactive with regard to IEP's and learning difficulties in general and I think the children and parents are very lucky to have such a school with such a good system in place and I hope they appreciate it..!:)

Hayser - I'm sorry but it appears to be a hassle to ask school for anything..or so I'm learning..!;)

Nead21

Im a Learning Support and Resource Teacher in a small primary school. I currently have around 28 children in and out to me during the week, and i have IEPs drawn up for each of these students.

At the beginning of the school year, i drew up IEPs for each of the pupils attending Learning Support, and i am now reviewing them for the period of Feb to June 2009.

If your child is attending Learning Support in their school, their Learning Support should really have drawn up one for your child, which should outline their priority learning needs and and how to achieve them. This should also be done, where possible, in cooperation with the parents.

Hope this helps!

KateF

queenie2 wrote: »

I don't feel Teachers need another degree or hours of training to know how to implement one.

No, I don't think so either. If your child is not attending a Learning Support Teacher (and I presume he is not because they would definitely do an IEP surely??) then it is the class teachers responsibility to take your childs individual needs into account. And if his homework is taking 2 hours, she is not doing this!
You really need to meet with her, you seem to know exactly what you are talking about, and I'd say, obviously, you know your child's needs better than anyone, so don't back down. I think some teachers can get set in their ways, or have never realised the need for differentiation in the first place (I'm not bashing teachers here, I'm a soon to be Primary Teacher...3 months and counting!)
If it were me, and the school didn't do IEP's I'd ask the teacher if an exception could be made. As you say, it would be making her life easier too, the initial drawing up of an IEP would be time consuming, but worth it. I just can't get my head around why any teacher would not want them. The class I'm in at the moment has children with ADHD, Aspergers, anger issues, you name, we got it, yet there's no Learning Support because they all have IEP's or IAP's. A teacher should have different learning groups anyway, it just means more planning for lessons but its totally do-able.

overmantle

If your son has a current diagnosis of Speech and Language Disorder and attends a Resource Teacher, then he should have an IEP. Doesnt have to be too long but all those who work with your son, including you should make a contribution.
One thing is , however, that psychologists can be very quick to throw everything onto the school and recommend IEP for ALL students who have had any kind of assessment. The danger in that scenario is that teaching would become secondary to form filling, paperwork and some needless red tape.

byhookorbycrook

queenie2 wrote: »

In all of my child's assessments from NEPS and HSE they stress the need for an IEP to be put in place,

Sadly, just because NEPS and HSE recommend it , it does not follow that it will happen. I know a chap recommended for an SNA and laptop..stilll waiting..and waiting..The recommendation for an IEP was probably made ,before EPSEN was scrapped.


There must be some programme of work for him, could you ask to be filled in on what it might include so you can support the work at home?

queenie2

I want to thank everyone for their replies..I am trying to type this as fast as I can before I loose my internet connection!

I have learned this much, as a parent of a child with special need's, that teachers are being asked to do the impossible..I took ME four years to understand my son's issues/difficulties and how best to approach them...how can a young teacher do this in a few short weeks??

I feel very sorry for the teacher that has to try to teach him day to day..he is in no way an unruly child etc..just unusual..if you know what I mean..in his own world...slow..and so on...

Yes..he has learning support for maths but not as yet for reading or spelling..He will be assessed in a few weeks for Aspergers/ASD.

His teacher is a substitute teacher for the rest of the year..she is young ,but that is not to say she has no experience of Aspergers/Asd/ADD etc..as she could have a sibling or extended family member with any of the above..but I just get a sense that she is indifferent to his needs-- just shut up and get on with it like the rest of the kids-- type attitude..and he can't!! I wish he could...!!

Anyway, I will keep trying different approaches at home with him and try to teach him to cope better in class so as not to be a burden to her.

My daughter is on the road to a teaching career..currently taking a degree in Early Childhood Studies and hoping to go on to Pat's ..she has also completed a year of Special Needs I always interact with teachers the way I would hope parents will interact with her in years to come...

I am fully behind all teachers out there..I just want to help my son's teacher and make her day easier!!

Overmantle..you are fantastic to manage all those children as you do and the huge paperwork it involves..

Yes byhookorbycrook and overmantle..NEPS and HSE give lovely reports..full of great suggestions and plans looks wonderful on paper ,but the teachers have too much to deal with as it is...

Parents ( some!) are willing to help if we are let in...!!

I've enjoyed reading the replies..:)

queenie2

Sorry I gave overmantle the praise I meant to give to Nead21:o:o..but I'm sure you are all deserving of it....:) Im meeting the Learning support teacher tomorrow and I will ask if there is a 'programme of work' in place for my child as opposed to an IEP..might get a better reaction;)

By the way- sorry for my many spelling mistakes....speedy typer.....!

byhookorbycrook

hope all goes well, remember parents and teachers are partners, you obviously take a great interest in your child's education, if only every parent were like you!