School says they are monitoring my child. What does that mean?
In short, monitoring usually means the school has noticed something and is watching how your child gets on before deciding whether to put extra support in place. It is reasonable to ask what they are watching for, for how long, and what will happen next.
Many parents hear the word monitoring at a parents' evening or in a short email and come away unsure whether it is reassuring or worrying. Often it means the school has seen the same thing you have and wants more information before acting.
Monitoring can be a sensible first step. It becomes less helpful when it has no clear focus or end point, and a term or two passes without anyone being quite sure what has been learned.
Questions worth asking
- What exactly are you monitoring, and what have you noticed so far?
- How are you recording it, and who is involved?
- When will we review it together?
- What would lead you to put extra support in place?
- Is there anything we could try at home in the meantime?
Making monitoring useful
Ask for a date to meet again, and follow up the conversation with a short email summarising what was agreed. Share what you see at home too, because patterns often only become clear when school and home notes are put side by side.
If the review date comes and goes without a clear outcome, it is fair to ask whether it is time to move to SEN support or to involve the SENCo.
Common questions
Is monitoring the same as SEN support?
Not usually. Monitoring is often the stage before a decision about support. SEN support means the school has identified a need and is putting a specific plan in place.
How long should monitoring last?
There is no fixed period, but it should have a clear review point. Half a term is a common time to check in and decide on next steps together.
It can help to talk this through with someone who knows how schools work. In a parent consultation, a Qualified Teacher helps you understand what school is saying, decide which questions to ask, and agree what to do next.
Talk it through with Ruby
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