Rachey Report post Posted June 1, 2009 I had a call from the SENCO today to say that a specialist autistic teacher is going to observe and assess my son on Wednesday morning. The SENCO isn't sure why! She thinks it is to do with the revised proposed statement, but do you think it is to decide whether he needs to go to a school with an ASD base or if he can stay in mainstream with support? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sally44 Report post Posted June 1, 2009 Any assessments or reports any professional makes, they cannot specify a certain school for a child. But their reports should identify needs and make recommendations as to how those needs should be met and sometimes their recommendations make it obvious about the type of educational environment needed eg. small group work (less than 7 people), adapted environment for sensory issues, specialist teaching due to learning difficulties etc. Other than those types of things, a child on the spectrum, who is coping in mainstream with the language, social and academic demands to a greater degree, can be supported in that environment. But if they are not coping and are not able or capable of joining in play with other children, cannot understand the language demands of the classroom and have to be taken out of whole class situations frequently for learning opportunities etc. In that scenario the child isn't really being included in mainstream are they. Some children, when properly supported, can remain in mainstreams school. In some cases the LEA may find it is a better use of resources for a child to be in a different school eg. SEN only. But to be honest there are not many SEN places available and parents tend to be fighting to get their child into one of those schools. And LEAs are also supposed to listen to parental choice. Where do you think your child would be best suited? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rachey Report post Posted June 2, 2009 Any assessments or reports any professional makes, they cannot specify a certain school for a child. But their reports should identify needs and make recommendations as to how those needs should be met and sometimes their recommendations make it obvious about the type of educational environment needed eg. small group work (less than 7 people), adapted environment for sensory issues, specialist teaching due to learning difficulties etc. Other than those types of things, a child on the spectrum, who is coping in mainstream with the language, social and academic demands to a greater degree, can be supported in that environment. But if they are not coping and are not able or capable of joining in play with other children, cannot understand the language demands of the classroom and have to be taken out of whole class situations frequently for learning opportunities etc. In that scenario the child isn't really being included in mainstream are they. Some children, when properly supported, can remain in mainstreams school. In some cases the LEA may find it is a better use of resources for a child to be in a different school eg. SEN only. But to be honest there are not many SEN places available and parents tend to be fighting to get their child into one of those schools. And LEAs are also supposed to listen to parental choice. Where do you think your child would be best suited? Thank you! He isn't coping in mainstream at the moment and is taken out of around 75% of his classes. He has a full time LSA which the school have provided, but he walks around the class a lot, hums, rocks and is generally disruptive. It is our view, and his SENCO's and ed psych's that he needs to go in a mainstream school which have an ASD base. The LEA have pretty much agreed this too but its just waiting for the final decision to be made Rachel Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
