Primary School Says I am Totally Wrong About them Not Meeting My Son's Needs

kingfisherblue

Regarding missing school - may I make a suggestion?

Children with ASD tend to prefer routine and some are very strict about timings. In addition, they might have problems going into a classroom that already has several children in it, especially if they are chatty and noisy.

My son has Down's Syndrome, but found it difficult to go into the classroom. I arranged with the teachers to take him in through the main entrance of the school (which wasn't normally allowed for pupils - their entrance was off the playground). He was then able to hang his coat in the empty cloakroom and line up at the classroom door. It meant that he was always first in the classroom, but that suited his personality and needs. Previously, he would be reluctant to go into the classroom, possibly because the noise frightened him.

Getting to school ten minutes early can become part of a routine that is calm and settling. It starts the day on the right foot. Teachers might agree to allow your son to do this, providing you stay with him until school officially starts.

Also, showing that you are willing to work on strategies to improve your son's attendance can only be a positive move. In turn, improved attendance will help your son to achieve. It will also help the OP, because they are more likely to be relaxed about getting her son to school, and this calm demeanour will help her son to remain calm.

A red/green card system is a good idea, but unless the whole class is using it, the child might not feel comfortable with it as it labels him as different. However, I feel that it is worth a try. Even just leaving the card on his desk, rather than holding it up, might be successful.

I've had contact from the school after attendance dropped below 90%, followed up by a meeting. In my son's case, it was because of medical conditions and illness, so was easily sorted. I'm surprised that the school haven't had contact regarding poor attendance before now, and tried to implement strategies for the family, but maybe my experience about getting in early will help.

meer53

Jackson_Boll0ck wrote: »

If they single one kid out for special treatment it will cause resentment among the other kids in the class.

What rubbish ! Most children are able to understand that there are children who need extra help sometimes, your comment is ridiculous.

meer53

Jackson_Boll0ck wrote: »

I don't think so. Even grown adults bitch and grumble when they think one person is getting preferential treatment!

Another ridiculous comment. Do you have children ?

GwylimT

meer53 wrote: »

What rubbish ! Most children are able to understand that there are children who need extra help sometimes, your comment is ridiculous.

Clearly some children are finding this concept very difficult indeed!

Grumpysally

Ignore the troll. Same one as yesterday. New name. Seems to have deleted all of yesterdays posts. Still showing up in quotes though.
Must have a very sad life.

Grumpysally

I was working on the assumption you had removed your own posts. Now run along dear.

meer53

Jackson_Boll0ck wrote: »

If all you can say is "ridiculous comment", without actually discussing or debating your viewpoint, what's the point in posting? No point saying something parrot-fashion over and over if you're plain wrong. Which you are.

So please enlighten me as to what your comment added to the thread ?

My view point comes from having 2 children and also working in a reception class in a school, where does yours come from ?

pebbles88

Jackson_Boll0ck wrote: »

Interesting how someone who doesn't agree with the majority gets labelled a troll.

But yes, some sad person decided to get my posts removed. How these thin-skinned people manage to get through life I do not know.

Maybe they found out what a sootikin was, and decided to report me, PMSL

But anyone who knows anything about the internet knows that you'll never ban someone from a site. All they can do is ban a user-name. Making another account takes 2 minutes (I timed it, lol) so why you bother hitting the report button I do not know. Especially when the people doing the reporting have been PPRed themselves. Talk about hypocritical!

What do you actually wish to achieve by acting this way?

meer53

Jackson_Boll0ck wrote: »

So having children makes one knowledgeable and intelligent? Well, whoddathunkit :rotfl:

Working with 4 year olds is a nice, worthy little job, but not exactly taxing intellectually.

You could learn a lot from those 4 year olds.

kingfisherblue

Jackson_Boll0ck wrote: »

If they single one kid out for special treatment it will cause resentment among the other kids in the class.

I'm speaking from personal experience - and it didn't cause resentment when my son had to enter the classroom first. Instead, other pupils understood that my son was frightened to go into a busy classroom and they helped him. So many of the little girls wanting to hold his hand, and the boys telling him that they would look after him. This was in mainstream primary school, where my son also had a full time 1:1 teaching assistant.

My little fella is now 18 and has been in special school for seven years. Those same kids still come up to chat with him when they see us out and about. If they resented my son, or the fact that adjustments were made to accommodate his needs, they wouldn't make the effort to speak to him.

Children can be more understanding and compassionate than adults give them credit for.