Beggars belief!!!!!!!

[julieann]

Hi all,

Mum of son 17 A/S home educated last 3 yrs. All aggression gone, happy, often very funny and so compared to your postings idylic.

 

I am also ASD LSA to two year 8 girls dx A/S in mainstream secondary.

 

Girl 1 - coping as well as she can within the school environment.

Girl 2 - major problems mostly due to her dyspraxia.

 

Lucy (not her real name) has prioperception difficulties which means that her brain isn't able to tell her what the parts of her body that she can't see are doing.

walking - odd gait as cannot walk with her head looking at floor and so doesn't know where her feet are landing.

P.E. - nightmare - can't balance, throw ball, catch ball, run, etc.

Needs work done for her in most practical lessons.

Art - not able to draw anything except few squiggles. Parents do homework for her.

 

On friday morning I was meant to be in first and second Art lessons with her. I was delayed chatting to some trainee teachers that I had given a talk to on ASD's in mainstream settings on Thursday evening. I was over 1/2 hr late to lesson. Not a major problem or so I thought as Lucy has had same teacher last two years.

 

When I walked into the room Lucy was perching on top of her table with her feet on a stool trying to balance a two foot wide drawing board on her knees and hang on to her paper at the same time.She looked very distressed. The first thing she said to me was "Can you help me" at which the teacher shouted at her no she can't your trouble is your just lazy and want everyone to do everything for you all the time. You need to practise doing it for yourself to which Lucy said what is practise.

I was so angry I couldn't speak. I tried to engage her in her work whilst I calmed down. Lucy and the rest of the class were meant to be drawing one of the girls in the class who was sat on a stool on top of a table( not sure if this in itself isn't a health and safety issue).

It turned out that the teacher had shown Lucy how to draw a figure using ovals and had become angry when one of the girls had try to help her as Lucy can only have a go if you draw it first. Lucy can just about manage a lop sided circle and that is all.

My other pupil I support was distressed as she had been made to draw with charcoal which she doesn't like the feel of. I tore off a piece of paper towel and wrapped it around the charcoal for her and the teacher just scoffed at me as if to say running after them again.

I'm seriously starting to wonder if this is a profession I want to be a part of any more.

[oxgirl]

As the mother of a year 8 AS child, I was very distressed to read about the lack of understanding the two young girls you work with have to cope with at school. It is absolutely shocking that they should be given such little encouragement and made to feel so bad about the problems they are experiencing.

 

It sounds as if you are doing a wonderful job with them, though, and it is people like you that are desperately needed in our schools looking out for our children. Just think how they would cope if you weren't there to support and understand them. Will you discuss the teacher's attitude with the SENCO or Head at the school, it sounds as if she desperately needs some training in ASD!!

 

Please don't leave, what would those girls do without you!! <'> <'> <'> <'>

 

~ Mel ~

[dolly]

hi your not alone my sister is a ta in a special school(not my sons) and some of the things she tells me unbelievable and there staff are ment to be special needs trained!

[baddad]

Difficult, I know - classroom politics and all that, but I think if you are going to continue as LSA you owe it to yourself and the kids not to find yourself feeling that way again - otherwise it's going to be a miserable situation for all three of you.

 

If you're actually questioning whether you want to be there, that sort of solves the dilemma for you - speak up, and if it makes things worse you are at least leaving with the knowledge that you've been true to your instincts.

 

 

 

Hope that's helpful

 

 

 

L&P

 

 

 

BD

[summertime]

I'm inclusion co-ordinator in a mainstream primary school with a high number of children with ASD, they tend to do well with us due to the fact that all our teachers have a lot of experience with ASD, I do regular training for all teachers and TAs on autism and we work as a team to help with any issues that arise.

 

But then they go to high school, they have different teachers for every subject and the staff dont get to know them so well or in a lot of cases dont have the experience to deal appropriatly with them and thats where their TAs are invaluable. Why does this teacher think they have support? because they are lazy?

 

could you speak to the teacher and explain why the situation was difficult for the girls. if this doesnt go down well I'd certainly go to your line manager (presumably SENCo) and talk to them about it, she needs to know that these girls need to allowences made for them and that you should be allowed to do this if you feel its appropriate

 

but without you in their corner fighting for them things could be a lot worse so please dont let this make you throw the towel in

[lorryw]

Please dont leave. You are helping these girls and providing the insight and knowledge the the teaching staff lack.

Teaching staff get a pretty raw deal and often are completely out of their depth. They have suddenly been expected to become experts in so many different aspects of SEN. Even the ASD courses they attend are often outdated and run by people who wouldnt know a child with ASD if they tripped over one.

Ive been a TA for over 10 years and the job has changed beyond recognition (oooh Im getting old) hang on in there!!

[Tilly]

When My daughter attended mainstream school i was quite relieved when she was given a certain teacher as I know the other reception teacher "did not want to teach SEN children but Mainstream children and that is why she chose to work in a Mainstream school, as opposed to a SEN school." Her words not mine.

 

Julieann you sound exactly what an LSA should be and are doing a wonderful job- some teachers are highly qualified but have little common sense .

 

Tilly

[Kathryn]

Hi Julianne,

 

This makes me feel and - so much for inclusion!

 

As others have said, you're doing a brilliant job, and I wish my daughter had had someone like you supporting her at secondary school- she might have survived the education system and got the GCSE's she is capable of.

 

It must be tough being the lone voice of reason in this environment.

 

K x

[annie]

Hi Julieanne,

 

I agree with everybody else's comments. You are doing a fantastic job and are doing just what an LSA should be doing - supporting the children you are working with.

 

When a teacher comes out with remarks like that, it's an example of why inclusion doesn't always work for our children .

 

Annie

xx

[Mother in Need]

Do you have contact with the girls parent's, via a home to school book or something?

Whenever a situation like you've described happens with my son at school, I am on them like a BOMB, and every time the SENCO sends yet another note to ALL the teachers reminding them of his difficulties. I do find that as a parent I have more influence somehow to have these incidents sorted, and they now happen less often.

Maybe if the parents were aware, they could complain to the SENCO as well?

[Paula]

I think it stinks

 

And just because someone ie so called teachers have "experiance" of kids with ASD should not be confused with actually thinking they understand people with ASD coz half the time they dont.........

 

 

Not the same thing as a clasroom setting but in my job as a escort on transport i see and hear stuff from the drivers and other so called "weve experiance of these kids" pople all the time that make me so ###### angry.because they just dont get it..............They dont get it at all and shouldnt be anywhere near asd kids..........

 

Take today gorgeous autistic lad aged 12.none verbal.....I spoke to him with respect and kindness explained what i was going to do ie put the seat belt on him and his harness and yes i knew he didnt like being touched i was sorry but i was going to have to and would keep contact as short as possible.Thats how i was handleing him.when the driver said "ignore the little t*at hes as thick as ###### and a right little Ba***erd,he cant talk so why bother speaking to him" I was horrified and pointed out that just because someone is none verbal doesnt mean they dont understand language and he should keep his opinions to himself.!!!!!!!!!!!! I spoke to the teacher the young boy can sign and is highly inteligent......I will be reporting the driver............Thisa sort of open abuse is common place ...........These drivers dont realise ive a son on the spectrum.I often think i cant take the job anymore because of the people ive to work with theres some realy terrible so called professionals with "Experiance" out there Its understanding,empathy and nothing at all can beat haveing a child of youre own on the spectrum.

 

Sorry to rant.

[oxgirl]

OMG, Paula, that's absolutely outrageous and disgusting!! Do the lad's parents know how the driver is speaking to and about their child???!!!! Goodness knows what kinds of things he's saying to the boy during the journey if he's saying these things opening to you. If I were you I would let the parents know exactly how their son is being treated by this driver, they have a right to know and then they can put a stop to it, I know if it were my son I would want to know!!

 

~ Mel ~

[julieann]

Hi everyone,

Thank-you all for your helpful comments.

 

I have had time to reflect on Friday's incident with Lucy(not her real name). I love the job I am doing and although at times it can be mentally exhausting it is also very rewarding.

This one teacher is one out of 17 that Lucy has throughout the week and most of the others are very supportive.

 

I spoke to my SENCO this morning about the incident. The teacher in question has already been told that Lucy needs smaller targets than the rest of the class and either no homework or achieveable homework.

Her attitude towards Lucy is why should she put herself out to make the lesson achievable when Lucy shouldn't be at the school in the first place.

 

What I didn't know was that the educational psychologist was coming in this morning to re- assess Lucy as her annual review is due in March.

 

The outcome of our discussion is that Lucy is going to follow a basic drawing programme with me in another classroom.

 

This unfortunately means that my other pupil Laura(not her real name) will be left in the class.

As she is able to draw to the same standard as the rest of the class she will have to stay. However Laura will also be having an assessment this month and if I can get her moved I will. If not I will insist that my complaint of this teachers attitude goes on record and a letter is sent to her stating that when charcoal sticks are used Laura is allowed to wrap a piece of paper towel around it.

[oxgirl]

Well done, julieann, there should be more people like you supporting our kids in mainstream. You're worth your weight in gold. Wish my lad was as well supported as those two girls. Don't fancy moving do you??!!

 

~ Mel ~

[Paula]

Oxgirl

 

No the parents dont know

 

Ive reported it to my department and they will be disaplining this man.............

 

Thing is im a casual releif.............this means i do a different school run every day at times covering for people who are away..............sometimes i hit lucky and cover a run long term if someones of sick.............so i see it all.......What worries me is why hasnt the other regular escort reported this behaviour.......... .probably coz shes doing it also.....i pointed this out to the transport supervisors also.........

 

These drivers think there untouchable and no one would dare report them special when they know whoes done it.............but i dare and do at least once a week i report someone for misconduct towards vulnerable children.

[julieann]

Well done, julieann, there should be more people like you supporting our kids in mainstream. You're worth your weight in gold. Wish my lad was as well supported as those two girls. Don't fancy moving do you??!!

 

~ Mel ~

Moving and leave my two girls to the wolves NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[CarerQuie]

Good for you both in sticking up for our vulnerable children.I'm so lucky in that my son's driver is employed by the special school.He's brilliant with the children because he has a brother with learning difficulties and he treats the children with respect and humour.xx