Aspergers/ASD support thread

JC9297

Legally the school cannot phone you and ask you to take him home, they have to suspend him first. This is not the sort of thing that the PTA is for so would not even consider that suggestion. What SEN stage is he at? The school shouldn't have to wait for a diagnosis to be able to offer appropriate provision, that is just a label - his SEN won't have changed. Keep pushing for an assessment, try different routes, does the school have an Educational Psychologist who visits, if so push to get your son seen by them.

To be honest regarding your son going into the reception class I do see why the parents wouldn't be happy, you may feel it is good for him but they may not feel it is beneficial for their children to have a 'disruptive' year 3 child in the class.

From what you have said the school does not seem to manage special needs very well, may be worth considering other schools (I mean other mainstream schools that may have a better approach to children with SEN).

top_drawer_2

hi,

You sound like you really are at the end of your tether and I don't blame you! Saturday eveing is not a good time to be posting really as responses are fewer, but this board seems to have a number of knowledgable people who visit regularly around who are willing to offer advice. Have you considered changing schools altogether as this school sounds like it just doesnt want to bother period. It shouldnt be like that but it is.

I have a younger sister who has downs syndrome and we went through holy hell when she was "integrated" within a normal school. She was far happier at a special school where they have lots more experience and dont consider it beyond their job description and a huge hassle to have to do things in a certain way or go over and over something....

I can give you some info/formum name relating to home schooling if you did decide to take him out of that school until something better comes along. Also found these on a google search - Support groups for Aspergers Syndrome. This looks interesting too.

A list of schools who specialise in autism - maybe you could use some of their techniques to manage your childs behavior. I like the idea of applied behavioral analysis.

tw1nklestar

This must be a very frustrating situation for your son and family but also for the school. The school are responsible for your sons safety but also their staffs and the other 29 children within the classroom. I am sorry i can offer no answers and hope that your little one is assessed asap and offered the support and interventions needed for him to be able to learn and and have a happier school life.

cookie54

i would get a diary and ask the school to record all events in it and both you and the teacher sign it so that you can have a written record of each day or conversation .I would also refuse to speak to them on the phone as there can be little comeback.

also as other have mention i would not pick up your child as it will just make the situation worse . They need to excluded or surspened him and that wouldn.t look good on there records . At the moment they are trying to avoid the issue and keep the other children parents happy . IE we removed the child from class for the day etc.

The school should get a buget to look after any child who are snc but they can spend it on what they want . I would consult the AGM report or school govner in charge of money matter and senco and arrange a meeting with them and ask where the money is going.
you NEED TO SHOW THAT YOU HAVE FOLLOWED ALL POSSIBLE ROUTES BEFORE THE LEA WILL LOOK INTO A COMPLAINT . i would also ask if the teacher / ta has attended any training course etc .

does you child have an ILP if not from what you are saying the school is neglecting him .......

Luciferswench

My eldest Ds is 'that naughty child' currently undergoing an aspergers assessment at the age of 11 he is 12 next month. Hes just moved to high school where things seem to be going smoothly however before the school summer hols he was suspended from school for biting another pupil who had my Ds pinned to the floor knocking the smoke out of him. Cahms had been into school in the last year and done assessments with my Ds infront of the SENCO who also happened to be his form teacher and still nothing changed instead in the last 3 weeks they washed their hands of him and made me collect him every lunchtime as they couldnt be bothered supervising a child who gave nothing back he was also stopped from joining in all the leavers activities because they felt he didnt deserve it. *ive ranted lots about this but its not worth the energy of fighting the school as its not like they will offer an apology if there is a full diagnosis and sometimes there a bigger battles worth fighting.
Of course its all my fault however in the playgroup i just made friends with some of the other mums that no one else spoke too and found that i wasnt the only one with a 'naughty child'
Its tough but you will get support once things start in motion *hugs

Indie_Kid

Have you spoke to National Autistic Society? (NAS)

grey_lady

Good grief, your son may have broken someones arm and your blaming the school, the teachers, everyone bar yourself and him?

RoxieW

I understand fully about the needs of aspergers sufferers as my aunt has two children with this. However my son is in year 3 and if a child in his class was throwing chairs resulting in possible broken bones then I really wouldn't be happy with the situation. I can understand why other parents aren't happy. If he is prone to violent outbursts then I agree with the other poster that said he may be better placed in a school with smaller class sizes and more special assistance. Without proper management this situation will only get more dangerous as he gets bigger and stronger.

julie03

cant offer any advice but i am so grateful my son goes to school where he does, we get so much support and advice

grey lady- this child has had problems for a while and the school should have something in place by now to deal with this, my child has suspected aspergers, does not have a formal diagnosis but the school works with the doctors the ed physc and me to have stragegies to deal with him, tho i will admit we dont really have any probs at school only had home , my son had a major meltdown this morning and i had all sorts thrown at me, does that make me a bad parent normal techniques for him dont work and when in one of these meltdowns i cant get hold of him and when i do he bites and scratches, its certainly not the parent or childs fault

i just wanted to wish you good luck and hope you find the patience and strength for it all

milliebear00001

I'm a primary teacher and so may be able to offer an insider's perspective. It sounds to me as though the school has a lot going on - Heads and Sencos on long-term sick, plus children barricading themsleves into rooms screams 'school internal meltdown' to me. If that is the case, it will be even harder for your son to get the help he needs because they will be very busy fire-fighting lots of other demanding situations.

The school is right (to put it bluntly) that your son will get !!!!!! all help until he gets a statement. It is this you should be raising hell about. Once he has a statement, he gets funding, and funding means dedicated support. His IEP will state what the school is committed to providing, but often this is delivered in a piecemeal fashion unless there is extra money available. If your son has a dedicated TA now, it is likely to be because the school are funding this themselves rather than the LA.

Obviously, your main concen is for your son, but look at it this way - the class teacher and the school have a duty of care to 29 other children in his class. He has endangered them by throwing a chair - that is extremely serious and puts the school in a very difficult situation. At the end of the day, your son is entitled to 1/30 of his teacher's time everyday - I'm willing to bet that his behaviour means he's getting a lot more, and that means that other children aren't getting as much of her time as they should.

As I said - raise hell to get that statement - it really is the thing that will make the difference to all concerned.