FAQ
What is the purpose of your site and what do you aim to achieve?
To help raise the awareness of educational requirements for children born prematurely.
Campaign for change.
To provide a useful resource of information.
Why did you start this?
Initially for our daughter Grace.
Can you elaborate?
Grace was finally assessed in April 2007. The assessment documented she had an auditory short-term memory problem. There was no reference to her premature birth in this report even though it was made clear by us on admission to primary school in 2001 and prior to the assessment. The assessment also documents her strengths; she has a receptive vocabulary of age equivalent 17 years on a 99th percentile ranking.
Grace took her 11 plus test for entrance to grammar school and failed by 5 standardised points in September 2007. We later discovered that extra provision could have been made for this test but was not. No allowances were made for her premature birth (29 weeks) or the fact she had a short-term memory problem, her score was standardised as an older child of her peers!
We are not saying that if extra provision had been put in place for her test, she would have reached the required score, more to the point she would not have been placed at an unfair disadvantage to the rest of her peers.
Why is it so important your daughter goes to grammar school?
It’s important to Grace.
Is all this just a ploy to turn your daughter's outcome around?
No. Since Year 2 primary school we had raised concerns about Grace's memory, this has been ongoing.
It wasn't until Year 5 that her current teacher asked for an assessment. This cannot be right, changes need to be made and earlier assessments provided.
The Government's review of the primary school curriculum for summer-born children should in our opinion include those born prematurely.
This concerns all children, there are many more tests and examinations, sen and disability needs to be taken into account in preparation for these.
Do you blame Grace's primary school?
It became apparent after talking to people and asking questions, that teacher training simply doesn't cover educational delays in children born prematurely, especially the subtle delays that are quite often more difficult to detect.
Schools have limited funding for special educational needs (SEN).
There's too much pressure on schools over meeting their targets, this does
little to truly transform learning in the UK.
There's unacceptable pressure from testing, children can only achieve what they are capable of.
It's a difficult question to anwser. The whole system lacks provision and individuality (regarding pupil requirements).
What improvements do you think are necessary?
Early educational assessment of all children born before 37 weeks.
Teacher and SENCO training.
More research into the effects of premature birth on the developing brain.
Communication of services available i.e. Parents in Partnership.
A clearer definition between disability and special educational needs.
To treat each child as an individual.
Once your daughter's educational outcome has been decided will you continue this campaign?
Yes without doubt. All children deserve the right to equal opportunity.
Do you have any formal training in any of these areas?
No. We are parents trying to do the best for our daughter and other children.
Alan & Becky - January 2008
© 2007 www.gurbutt.co.uk
Support Site for Premature Children
GURBUTT
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