mild autistic 6 year old.x

datamonkey_2

Hi raq

We know that we are very lucky with the S&L input that DS gets.

We always prepare for annual reviews by thinking about the main areas that DS has difficulties/input and we try to prepare a written list of things that we want to ask or discuss around each theme. For us this includes S&L, Physio & OT, general cognitive progress, socialisation etc.

S&L is the big area for us and we always get a S&L report a week or so before the meeting. If S&L is a big area of need for your son I would be expressing my concern that he hasn't seen a therapist since July and asking the school what the plan is around this etc.

Our experience of annual reviews (and all meetings with the school to discuss DS's SEN) has been very positive and supportive, I hope your experience on Wednesday is the same.

raq

hi all,

OKay, not good today. The meeting was as we thought. The school ARE pushing my ds out. Said he isn,t meeting the scale he shouldn,t be and they haven,t got the funding to do anything further. He has 25 hours a week one to one. Council lady was there, who was brilliant, and said nothing is set in stone but would be accessing ds in the classroom in the new year.

We are gutted to be honest . We want ds to stay at the school and also our other son is there too. I did mention that he does miss his other one to one teacher that the School did change in july and said that ds "WAS READY FOR THE CHANGE". Now there telling me this.

We did go to 3 schools in february 2011 but they wasn,t for our ds. He would have actually slipped. They where mainstream school but with units.

He is 6 and said certain aspects of learning are on the age of 3 - 4 years old.

I have spoken to my case worker and health visitor and said it will take time to sort out and at the end of the day maybe some of the schools may not have places.

I am really emotional about all this. I do wear my heart on my sleeve. My parents and hubby are really supportive and thinking of ds. Yes I am too, but I just don,t want it too happen. DS is our world and so are our other two children and don,t want any more upset .

I know he isn,t to the level of his friends at the school, whee not that daft but I also think the school just don,t want the responsibility.

What chances have we got to keep him at the school??
x

merlin68

I would seriously think about a special school, my dd goes to one and has come on in leaps and bounds, i also work 10 hours a week with special need kids and the care is next to none.
i had to fight for 7 years to get her in and so did lots of other parents. If there offering i would snap their hands of.
Primary school isn't quiet so bad, but secondary is a lot worse.

Bigmoney2

raq wrote: »

hi all,

OKay, not good today. The meeting was as we thought. The school ARE pushing my ds out. Said he isn,t meeting the scale he shouldn,t be and they haven,t got the funding to do anything further. He has 25 hours a week one to one. Council lady was there, who was brilliant, and said nothing is set in stone but would be accessing ds in the classroom in the new year.

We are gutted to be honest . We want ds to stay at the school and also our other son is there too. I did mention that he does miss his other one to one teacher that the School did change in july and said that ds "WAS READY FOR THE CHANGE". Now there telling me this.

We did go to 3 schools in february 2011 but they wasn,t for our ds. He would have actually slipped. They where mainstream school but with units. How do know he would have slipped? He apears to have 'slipped' in his current school.

He is 6 and said certain aspects of learning are on the age of 3 - 4 years old.

I have spoken to my case worker and health visitor and said it will take time to sort out and at the end of the day maybe some of the schools may not have places.

I am really emotional about all this. I do wear my heart on my sleeve. My parents and hubby are really supportive and thinking of ds. Yes I am too, but I just don,t want it too happen. DS is our world and so are our other two children and don,t want any more upset .

I know he isn,t to the level of his friends at the school, whee not that daft but I also think the school just don,t want the responsibility.

What chances have we got to keep him at the school??
x

Why do you want to keep him at a school that says they can't help him sufficiently ?

Maybe a maistream school with special units could do more for him as he doesn't seem to have done as well as would be expected in the current school.

raq

hi again

thanks for the replies. Spoken to my parents and said they think this will be the best move. Not the end of the world and think its a blessing. Am also feeling for our ds who is 8 and in the same school. Some kids can be so cruel and don,t want him to feel that is little brother is no longer at the same school. I also don,t want ds going in a taxi to the school. I am lucky enough to be home and won,t to take him to school. How am I gonna manage that with the timing.??

I know so much silly things have gone round in my mind. My mum said don,t worry about anyone else, yes they will take about you tomorrow and give you a rest and jump onto someone else.

What really hurts aswell is the school was so just matter of fact with it all and just kept repeating about the funding. The school is very popular and people are queuing to get in the door but also they are very academic and thrive on this.

My other half said not to spoil the christmas hols coming up and everything will work out okay.

raq

merlin68 wrote: »

I would seriously think about a special school, my dd goes to one and has come on in leaps and bounds, i also work 10 hours a week with special need kids and the care is next to none.
i had to fight for 7 years to get her in and so did lots of other parents. If there offering i would snap their hands of.
Primary school isn't quiet so bad, but secondary is a lot worse.

thankyou so much merlin, take on board what you have said.xx

daska

Throw it back on the school. Ask them why, if they feel the support in his statement isn't sufficient, they haven't been badgering the LA to for an early review of his statement?

Have you rung IPSEA? They're good for the legal position.

Or PP? They should know the who/what/where locally and be able to guide you through your options.

And don't be too disheartened by the thought of a special unit within a school. DS2 attends the S&L unit at his school for part of the week and they very much encourage pupils to move between the unit and the main school - some mainstream pupils visit the unit to join in various activities while kids based in the unit come out for main school activities, all based on personal need/ability.

Frith

My son is now at a short stay school with his own teacher and will stay there until his statement is finalised and he is in a new school. I didn't want him to leave his mainstream school (where his brother went).

One thing that stuck out is that you don't want him to go in a taxi. That is the sort of thing that worried me when my son had to leave his mainstream school.

His school is now 30 miles away and he does 20 miles in a minibus with other boys from his school and the last 10 miles in a taxi. I worried what he would be like with other SEN boys (they're all boys!) in a minibus for over an hour - turns out they all connect their DSs together and play the same game! They also play ispy and get on well with the drivers and escorts.

As for the taxi journey, he sits in the back like the Queen and spent some of last night writing a Christmas card to his driver. Occasionally he sends me a quick text when he changes from bus to taxi.

My son is slow to make friends (he has selective mutism) and I thought he would be lost in a new school but it is far more suitable for him and he has been included in swimming, trips and other activities which absolutely stressed him out at primary school. He is friends with everyone and actually talks to the teachers.

I'm being hassled for bedtime stories now but my point is that you might be worrying about things that your son turns out to really enjoy. And nobody seems to be talking about son's move except to point out how confident he is becoming!

merlin68

The taxis are fine, i'm an escort, my dd also goes in a taxi and she loves it. All the drivers and escorts are fab and great with the kids.

raq

aw thanks guys.

Still a tiny bit up in the air. his one to one texted me on wednesday night and feels absolutely gutted for us as a family. Felt really let down and said to her that "He hasn,t moved yet", he still needs assessing. Calmed down a bit now. She texted me back and said how much of a lovely boy he is and you should be so proud. Well yes we are...

Sister in law called over last night, she is great support and said like my parents, he will be fine and you will look back on this. The two schools in mind are only 2 miles away, car or walking distance.

Question is:: How do I work round my other ds who will be in year 5 next year. Does the unit at the mainstream schools start and finish early??