The Times: Chronic fatigue syndrome: ME families accused of child abuse

most of the issues here have stemmed from school attendance.
getting info to school nurses would be beneficial- lots of instances of simple disbelief in this group

 

Our issues stemmed from the SENCo, who two years into the saga proclaimed he’d never know anyone to stay ill for that long, and from then on disbelieved the medical letters and applied more and more pressure. When the second child fell ill, we were sunk from the start, even tho first child had by then seemingly recovered.

 

Ah, we don't have SENcos

 

Doesn't work for me. Not being critical, just to let you know.

 

Who they hell is he to think he knows better than experienced medical specialists?

These tin pot dictators need oversight & reining in when their power goes to their head!

 

OK, thanks for letting me know. Strange.

 

That would appear to be merely an expression of the limitations of his/her experience and all the more reason to rely upon the professional opinions provided rather than his/her own inadequate opinion.

 

From what I can discover,
“History
From 1996 to 2010, the SENCO Forum was hosted by the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTA). The Department for Education supported the Forum from 2010 to 2019. It is now supported by nasen (the National Association for Special Educational Needs). It has always been, and remains, an independent body.”

(Taken from
https://www.sendgateway.org.uk/whole-school-send/subject-specific-resources.html )


Another place where SEN teachers obtain their information is from their Unions.
The NASUWT Seemed to have a lot of resources and, perhaps they too, could have some input from @PhysiosforME ?

I remember there were some excellent publications by a well known UK ‘tweeter’,
(Claire Tripp @chicaguapa ) who wrote articles for both Primary and Secondary age children with ME. Perhaps liaising with Jane Colby and the Tymes Trust would be the best approach to get more SENco’s aware of M.E.?

https://www.nasuwt.org.uk/advice/in-the-classroom/special-educational-needs.html

@chicaguapa articles:

https://www.s4me.info/threads/uk-te...ght-to-carry-by-claire-tripp-2019.9338/page-2

ETA Claire’s details and link.

 

My only comfort was the parental grapevine indicated most of the parents also found him difficult to deal with. None of the more junior staff dared to stand up to him. Only when I was able to get past him and appeal to the head did we get suitable provision. We were very fortunate to have good medical support, the Gp even attended a couple meetings, wow. He has now moved on.