Nannies going to IEP review?

[Anonymous]

I nanny an ADHD child. I started working with him 6 months ago.

I was talking to MB about some stuff and some ideas I had and she said I should go with them to the next IEP review so I can add my input and observations. I think this was really cool of her since I spend the most one on one time with the child and I clearly see what is and isn't working.

Have any other nannies gone to an IEP review? What was it like? Any tips?

What are your thoughts on taking the nanny to an IEP meeting?

[Anonymous]

It's pointless, your input *may* be noted in the minutes but you absolutely and for sure will have no impact on the IEP at all.

[Anonymous]

I've done lots of IEP meetings, but as a Social Worker not a nanny. I think including a nanny is wonderful as it's really best to get input from all the people regularly involved in the child's life. I'm assuming you will be doing an IEP review, so you will likely go over each section of the current IEP and make changes as needed for the next year. You will also review the goals and discuss the progress that was made toward thems and revise or change them as necessary. They will also review what services he/she is receiving this year and decide if he/she still needs the current level of services or more/less.

Please just a pet peeve on mine, if possible don't call him/her an "ADHD Child" though. A child who has ADHD or is diagnosed with ADHD is so much better. You would never call a child with Cancer a "Cancer Child", so a mental health diagnosis shouldn't be any different. I've seen this little change make such a difference in how a child views themselves as their whole identity isn't wrapped up in their diagnosis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've done lots of IEP meetings, but as a Social Worker not a nanny. I think including a nanny is wonderful as it's really best to get input from all the people regularly involved in the child's life. I'm assuming you will be doing an IEP review, so you will likely go over each section of the current IEP and make changes as needed for the next year. You will also review the goals and discuss the progress that was made toward thems and revise or change them as necessary. They will also review what services he/she is receiving this year and decide if he/she still needs the current level of services or more/less.

Please just a pet peeve on mine, if possible don't call him/her an "ADHD Child" though. A child who has ADHD or is diagnosed with ADHD is so much better. You would never call a child with Cancer a "Cancer Child", so a mental health diagnosis shouldn't be any different. I've seen this little change make such a difference in how a child views themselves as their whole identity isn't wrapped up in their diagnosis.

No one calls him an ADHD child to his face but when discussing it with parents teachers psych etc that is how he is referred to. It is also how his parents refer to him when discussing him. So I will continue calling him that unless his parents change that. His current teacher refers to him "crazy" and "manic" on his behavior reports so I think calling him ADHD is the least of our label problems.


Thanks for the other info. The MB didn't make any additions to the IEP last year (she didn't know what to add) but I told her my ideas ( allowing snacks throughout the day, not punishing him by taking away recess, allowing him to fidget as long as it does not distract others etc etc) and she was excited to add them to next years IEP. It should be interesting. I am so ready for him to move to second grade. His current teacher just does not seem to remember that he has ADHD (and possibly ODD) and she takes his behavior personally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've done lots of IEP meetings, but as a Social Worker not a nanny. I think including a nanny is wonderful as it's really best to get input from all the people regularly involved in the child's life. I'm assuming you will be doing an IEP review, so you will likely go over each section of the current IEP and make changes as needed for the next year. You will also review the goals and discuss the progress that was made toward thems and revise or change them as necessary. They will also review what services he/she is receiving this year and decide if he/she still needs the current level of services or more/less.

Please just a pet peeve on mine, if possible don't call him/her an "ADHD Child" though. A child who has ADHD or is diagnosed with ADHD is so much better. You would never call a child with Cancer a "Cancer Child", so a mental health diagnosis shouldn't be any different. I've seen this little change make such a difference in how a child views themselves as their whole identity isn't wrapped up in their diagnosis.

Totally endorsing this bolded section. Even though that may be how his family refers to him, that doesn't mean you can't take a more enlightened stance OP. This poster is absolutely correct and these things make a difference to the child - even though he would probably never be able to articulate it, or you may think you never do it in front of him. It's a label that carries weight and stigma. Do your small part to not contribute to that weight.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I think it is inappropriate to bring a nanny to an IEP meeting. A nanny's perspective is not relevant to a school setting and she is not an expert in that setting.

That said,OP, if your MB thinks you have good insights into her child, I do think those insights should be noted by her and shared in the meeting. I also think a letter from the nanny is fine if the parents think it would be helpful.

[Anonymous]

Your boss must really have strong confidence in you to have asked you to attend your charge's IEP meeting.

I think this is a good idea since as she stated, you spend more time w/him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've done lots of IEP meetings, but as a Social Worker not a nanny. I think including a nanny is wonderful as it's really best to get input from all the people regularly involved in the child's life. I'm assuming you will be doing an IEP review, so you will likely go over each section of the current IEP and make changes as needed for the next year. You will also review the goals and discuss the progress that was made toward thems and revise or change them as necessary. They will also review what services he/she is receiving this year and decide if he/she still needs the current level of services or more/less.

Please just a pet peeve on mine, if possible don't call him/her an "ADHD Child" though. A child who has ADHD or is diagnosed with ADHD is so much better. You would never call a child with Cancer a "Cancer Child", so a mental health diagnosis shouldn't be any different. I've seen this little change make such a difference in how a child views themselves as their whole identity isn't wrapped up in their diagnosis.

No one calls him an ADHD child to his face but when discussing it with parents teachers psych etc that is how he is referred to. It is also how his parents refer to him when discussing him. So I will continue calling him that unless his parents change that. His current teacher refers to him "crazy" and "manic" on his behavior reports so I think calling him ADHD is the least of our label problems.


Thanks for the other info. The MB didn't make any additions to the IEP last year (she didn't know what to add) but I told her my ideas ( allowing snacks throughout the day, not punishing him by taking away recess, allowing him to fidget as long as it does not distract others etc etc) and she was excited to add them to next years IEP. It should be interesting. I am so ready for him to move to second grade. His current teacher just does not seem to remember that he has ADHD (and possibly ODD) and she takes his behavior personally.

You are very defensive about this. He is not an ADHD child, he is a child with ADHD. There is a difference and you could be the one who makes that difference in his life. I've worked with hundreds of children who have behavioral and mental health challenges and I've seen small things like this make huge changes in some of their lives.

I'll say it again. You would NEVER EVER call a child who had cancer or any other physical ailment by their diagnosis, so why should it be different for a mental health diagnosis.

[Anonymous]

I've gone to IEP meetings and also meetings with the principal and vise principal as my charge was extremely violent at school and would physically attack the students and staff. I was asked how I handled diciplin with him and I told them that I had been this child's nanny since he was 2 years old, I had lived in the home and that until he started school he was never once violent and hadn't hit anyone. His parents and I were baffled by his behavior since we had never seen it before. I think my insight helped

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've gone to IEP meetings and also meetings with the principal and vise principal as my charge was extremely violent at school and would physically attack the students and staff. I was asked how I handled diciplin with him and I told them that I had been this child's nanny since he was 2 years old, I had lived in the home and that until he started school he was never once violent and hadn't hit anyone. His parents and I were baffled by his behavior since we had never seen it before. I think my insight helped

Your insight of "IDK, he never did that with me!" surely sounds like it helped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've gone to IEP meetings and also meetings with the principal and vise principal as my charge was extremely violent at school and would physically attack the students and staff. I was asked how I handled diciplin with him and I told them that I had been this child's nanny since he was 2 years old, I had lived in the home and that until he started school he was never once violent and hadn't hit anyone. His parents and I were baffled by his behavior since we had never seen it before. I think my insight helped

Your insight of "IDK, he never did that with me!" surely sounds like it helped.

It did help they realized his teacher was the issue. He needed a ball busting teacher, not a softy pushover

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've gone to IEP meetings and also meetings with the principal and vise principal as my charge was extremely violent at school and would physically attack the students and staff. I was asked how I handled diciplin with him and I told them that I had been this child's nanny since he was 2 years old, I had lived in the home and that until he started school he was never once violent and hadn't hit anyone. His parents and I were baffled by his behavior since we had never seen it before. I think my insight helped

Your insight of "IDK, he never did that with me!" surely sounds like it helped.

It did help they realized his teacher was the issue. He needed a ball busting teacher, not a softy pushover

Sounds like the kid has problems then that really should be dealt with. What happens when next year his teacher isn't "ball busting" enough? Guess it's off to military school and then shooting up a neighborhood park after that.

[Anonymous]

As a special education teacher, I would find it very odd to have a nanny at the IEP meeting. I think the more appropriate thing would be for you to write down your observations/opinions and have mom bring that to the meeting. Also, how a child with ADHD acts at home and school are 2 different ballparks because the demands of each place are very different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I think it is inappropriate to bring a nanny to an IEP meeting. A nanny's perspective is not relevant to a school setting and she is not an expert in that setting.

That said,OP, if your MB thinks you have good insights into her child, I do think those insights should be noted by her and shared in the meeting. I also think a letter from the nanny is fine if the parents think it would be helpful.

As a special educator, I'm going to disagree with the bolded. Parents are welcome to bring anyone they want to the IEP meeting. If the parents feel that the nanny's perspective is important, then it's appropriate to have her there. It's their decision.

[Anonymous]

I understand why teachers, nannies and parents might fall on one side or another as to a nanny going to an IEP review. Maybe we can look at this in another perspective. Would a tutor (outside of school) be someone that could or should attend? If both parents are unavailable, should the nanny go? When the nanny spends more time with the child than the parent, should she be included? At what point should the nanny be included if she is not also a tutor?