You know something's up when you get into school

[kinky j]

Yep, that's what greeted us as we went to pick him up!

 

DP and I walked through the door to find them all filing past me and a very worried looking TA hastening up to us......

 

"C's throwing chairs around the classroom"

 

I can't even remember what I replied as i hurried down the corridoor to his classroom but sure enough, in the centre of the room was a rather large pile of small chairs

 

fortunately, as far as I'm aware no one was hurt and the between us and the staff we got the situation under control pretty quick and even got him to appologise.

 

Things like this are happening more and more and I really don't see what more the school could be doing as they've really been absolutely amazing. They're doing everything the outreach worker and EP suggested and way more besides, between the schools own budget and emergancy funding from the LEA they've got him almost full time 1:1 and it still seems like he's not coping.

 

It's not even as if he's getting away with it at home, both my partner and I believe that making allowances for his asd doesn't mean giving him a free pass to do what he likes! He has to have appropriate sanctions for unacceptable behaviour (losing out on computer or tv time, 5min on step, no pudding) even if it has to be delayed while he calms down in his room (I always make it clear to him that once he's calmed down he will recieve a sanction).

 

I can't believe the amount of time the lea expect us to keep gathering evidence before we can apply for a statement (I know I could put in for one now but, without the evidence it's unlikely to get through and then it's the six month wait before we can try again) all the while C's education suffers!

 

I feel so angry and disheartened at the mo, I always thought that with support he'd cope with mainstream but I'm begining to think that it's not the case. Even his paed thinks that he'll at least need half and half.

 

sorry for the rant, just needed to get it out. now I'm off to :crying:

[Karen A]

Yep, that's what greeted us as we went to pick him up!

 

DP and I walked through the door to find them all filing past me and a very worried looking TA hastening up to us......

 

"C's throwing chairs around the classroom"

 

I can't even remember what I replied as i hurried down the corridoor to his classroom but sure enough, in the centre of the room was a rather large pile of small chairs

 

fortunately, as far as I'm aware no one was hurt and the between us and the staff we got the situation under control pretty quick and even got him to appologise.

 

Things like this are happening more and more and I really don't see what more the school could be doing as they've really been absolutely amazing. They're doing everything the outreach worker and EP suggested and way more besides, between the schools own budget and emergancy funding from the LEA they've got him almost full time 1:1 and it still seems like he's not coping.

 

It's not even as if he's getting away with it at home, both my partner and I believe that making allowances for his asd doesn't mean giving him a free pass to do what he likes! He has to have appropriate sanctions for unacceptable behaviour (losing out on computer or tv time, 5min on step, no pudding) even if it has to be delayed while he calms down in his room (I always make it clear to him that once he's calmed down he will recieve a sanction).

 

I can't believe the amount of time the lea expect us to keep gathering evidence before we can apply for a statement (I know I could put in for one now but, without the evidence it's unlikely to get through and then it's the six month wait before we can try again) all the while C's education suffers!

 

I feel so angry and disheartened at the mo, I always thought that with support he'd cope with mainstream but I'm begining to think that it's not the case. Even his paed thinks that he'll at least need half and half.

 

sorry for the rant, just needed to get it out. now I'm off to :crying:

 

<'> <'> It sounds really stressful for you.

It might be worth having a talk to parent partnership.Some are better and more at arms length from the LEA than others but you could try them.See if they think there is any chance of bypassing the evidence collecting stage and obtaining an emergency assessment.Although LEAs are more and more reluctant to assess there is provision within the Code Of Practice for an urgent assessment if it is required.It sounds as though the school are having to take urgent action to protect the safety of other pupils which sounds like a good reason.

At least the situation will provide evidence that urgent action is needed and will support any application for an assessment.It also sounds as though the school are doing all that they can and outside agencies are involved.Often requests for Statutary Assessments fail at the first hurdle because school cannot show that they have worked hard enough.Karen.

[MurphySG]

That sounds awful - I've been there too and it is such a stressful and distressing time.

 

I don;t know how old your son is - I'm guessing primary. TBH it was only exclusion and placememnt in a (very gentle) Pupil Referral Unit that helped my son redress his behaviour - he got the assistance and environment he needed although the academic stuff went by the way.

 

A year later in yr 6 he was successfully re-integrated into a very inclusive primary.

 

The exclusion helped with a statement too.

 

Have you talked to the school about threatening permanent exclusion unles the LA statement? From what you say they have grounds just on today's incident.

[dana]

 

In the meantime try something diffrent. Instead of sanctions for his bad behaviour focus on his good behaviour and reword it instantly so he can make th connection. When he calms down reword him for calming down. The same with the behavior at school. I read about this and apply it with my son. For him rewards work much better then sanctions. This is just an idea.Maybe it will help.

Good luck.

 

dana

 

[Kathryn]

I agree with Karen. If you apply and it's turned down, you can appeal, and during the process you will be continuing to gather your evidence. At this stage you don't have to prove that a statement is necessary, only show that there is enough evidence to make this a possibility. Maybe today, distressing as it was, will go a long way towards convincing the LA that they must at least agree to an assessment.

 

I hope you';ve recovered from the day - it must have been an upsetting experience. <'>

 

K x

[jlp]

That must have been very upsetting for you and your ds.

 

Just to say about the statement - we applied for a statement in October for my ds#2 (5) who just started Reception inn September. We were turned down but asked them to reconsider their decision. During this time ds#2 was still only at school part time and the Ed Psych came in to see him.

 

Just before Christmas they decided to put his case to panel again and I got a phonecall yesterday to say they would be assessing him after all.

 

So even if you do apply and get turned down, then there's still the chance to appeal - I didn't even have to go to a formal appeal, the LA just reconsidered.

 

I'd say them having to evacuate a class was worthy of an assessment! (This has happened with my ds#1 years ago and my ds#2 recently)

[skye]

OH NO! I try to avoid the pick up run now and have passed it on to Dad! I too have been questioning whether full inclusion is what my child needs. The first thing she says every morning is "is it a school day" and then there is lots of wailing and screaming when she finds out that it is. I love the weekends when I can say NOPE honey it is school days off. She loves it! I have been getting increasing disheartened with mainstream school, although our SENCO is great and they are trying a bit harder this year for Lib's sake. I guess I have been reading too much 'Martian in the Playground@ by Clare Sainsbury. I get very angry about the idea of normalization and inclusion. I am sure everyone wants their child to be accepted. I am just so angry that society is so overly judging about anything that is even a bit different. Anyway sorry to go off on a rant. -Skye

[kinky j]

Thanks Everyone,

 

Feeling loads better today, went into school today and had a good chat with the senco and HT. Looks like we're getting close to putting in the application school want to get EBSS involved (they were in school yesterday to see another child so got to see first hand already) and they're re-applying for the emergency funding for his 1:1.

 

I've emailed the local SEN schools to arrange apointments to go have a look round and am just waiting for the replies.

 

fingers crossed we should be putting the application in within the next few weeks

 

 

[Karen A]

Thanks Everyone,

 

Feeling loads better today, went into school today and had a good chat with the senco and HT. Looks like we're getting close to putting in the application school want to get EBSS involved (they were in school yesterday to see another child so got to see first hand already) and they're re-applying for the emergency funding for his 1:1.

 

I've emailed the local SEN schools to arrange apointments to go have a look round and am just waiting for the replies.

 

fingers crossed we should be putting the application in within the next few weeks

 

I hope you have a good few days.What is EBSS ? Is it a behaviour management team ?

Perhaps if they were in yesterday your child timed the bad day well. At least they will know the situation.Karen.

 

[puffin]

It sounds as though it is not going well in school - I think it's important to identify the underlying problem rather than just dealing with this as a behaviour issue.

 

Does he find the noise and bustle of the classsroom situation stressful because of sensory issues? Is he finding it hard to follow what is going on? - do you think he is acting in this way to get some peace and quiet or to be left alone for a little while?

 

Without excusing the behaviour you need to find out if it *is* bad behaviour or if there are other needs that must be addressed. DD1 acted in this way sometimes or was rude to staff when they did not pick up on signals that she was suffering from sensory overload and refused t let her take a break or badgered her all the time - although she did not consciously realise it - she reacted by behaving badly as it achieved her goals as people left her alone! However since moving to an SEN unit where her needs are addressed more than a year has gone by without incident.

 

 

[kinky j]

Well so much for feeling positive Got to school to pick him up for lunch and was ushered straight into the HT's office, He'd been hitting other children and kicking his teacher and TA pretty much all morning . After discussing it with HT and senco we decided it would be better to keep him off for the afternoon, so I brought some work home to do here with him ( I didn't want to let him think he'd get out of doing it by lashing out).

 

Karen, EBSS is educational (or possibly emotional ) and behavioural support services, I'm not entirely sure what they do but they offered to go in and observe C and do a report to submit with the rest of the evidence.

 

Puffin, I completely agree, It is caused by the overstimulation and stress from being at school, but we're completely at a loss of what more can be done in the mainstream setting, and we can't get him specialist provision without a statement so we're kind of stuck in a catch 22 situation ATM

 

all we can do is keep supporting him with everything at home and school and keep re-enforcing appropriate ways of expressing himself, at least til he's statemented.

 

on a plus side though, I'm veiwing a sen school on fri!

[hev]

good luck with the sen school on friday love <'>

 

i know how stressful it all is <'>

[Karen A]

Well so much for feeling positive Got to school to pick him up for lunch and was ushered straight into the HT's office, He'd been hitting other children and kicking his teacher and TA pretty much all morning . After discussing it with HT and senco we decided it would be better to keep him off for the afternoon, so I brought some work home to do here with him ( I didn't want to let him think he'd get out of doing it by lashing out).

 

Karen, EBSS is educational (or possibly emotional ) and behavioural support services, I'm not entirely sure what they do but they offered to go in and observe C and do a report to submit with the rest of the evidence.

 

Puffin, I completely agree, It is caused by the overstimulation and stress from being at school, but we're completely at a loss of what more can be done in the mainstream setting, and we can't get him specialist provision without a statement so we're kind of stuck in a catch 22 situation ATM

 

all we can do is keep supporting him with everything at home and school and keep re-enforcing appropriate ways of expressing himself, at least til he's statemented.

 

on a plus side though, I'm veiwing a sen school on fri!

 

Hi I hope Friday goes well.

Just one hint for you.If DS comes home again in the afternoon again because school are not coping please do ask the school to document the situation.It will provide evidence for the Statutary Assessment request.Some people might regard it as an afternoon exclusion perhaps if it is related to behaviour in which case it should be documented as such.

If you decide it is the best option to take DS home then it may not count as an exclusion if it is purely you that offers.However still ask that the situation is documented.

If incidents are happening that involve moving the remainder of the class or damage to property or violence towards staff then they should also be documented in the incident book.It is just worth attempting to ensure that school are collecting evidence too.Karen.,

Edited January 21, 2009 by Karen A