Social help in school

[star]

 

If your child copes really well with school work and in class do they get help in the playground setting at all?

 

My son is doing really well at school, enjoys school and fitting in fine in the classroom but from what I can tell at breaktimes he is walking about on his own or talking to a lunchtime lady who is very friendly with him usually about sport. I know he does play with others some of the time but I know he is probably on his own alot of the time too.

 

Now none of this bothers or upsets him. He is perfectly happy. I just wondered whether he should/could have input with this area or not. He is in year 2.

 

 

Thanks very much.

[JsMum]

Absaloutly yes, social is still a childs needs, my son has significant social difficulties, and he recieves help, it maybe they need to look at other areas of his development to understand why he is having social difficulties, my son has difficulties with communication and understanding concepts in language, he misinturprits and gets easily frustrated and his emotional and mental health are triggered and he becomes very distressed, angry and frustration is very difficult to deal with.

 

There is a whole load of support that schools can offer children with social difficulties in the playground, National Autistic Society do special booklets on stratagies and ideas on helping children with ASDs in the playground, please do contact them and request the booklet as there is too many to list here.

 

The booklets are great but found this for now.

 

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=528&a=13865

 

You could write down your concerns of your sons social development to your schools senco and request that some observations are done from the educational psychology to assess what kind of support would be required, if you have any ideas or stratagies of your own you have an opportunity to share these and ask for the school to maybe put some in place.

 

Js social development is around 4 years behind his peers so he always gives an appearance of a child of a much younger age, or if someone is not experienced in ASD they could assume Immiture or silly, ensuring that his development is understood goes a long way to support his social development in the near future.

 

Anyway yes the school should address all his needs, which include his social needs, under SEN Code of practice it is all the development, social, emotional, behavioural, school isnt just about reading books, its about having fun, friends, interaction, inspiration, which for some of us inspiration comes from a friend or another teacher.

 

Good luck if you go with the advice of a letter.

 

JsMumxxx

 

[Cat]

 

Now none of this bothers or upsets him. He is perfectly happy. I just wondered whether he should/could have input with this area or not.

 

If he is perfectly happy then why change things? Maybe your son needs this semi solitary time at break times and during the lunch period. If you have real concerns about your son then speak to someone. There are things that schools can do to help children socialise but they would have to be things that your son was happy to do during his lunch break.

 

The very worst thing that could have happened to the eldest of my two autistic sons was for someone to try and 'include' him in the playground. He did not want to play with the other children and he could not understand why they wanted to play and do the things that they were doing. I do not believe in forcing children to socalise. That is not to say that I do not believe in encouraging or creating opportunities for children to socalise there is a difference. The question I would be asking myself is this a difficulty for your son.

 

This is from the National Autistic Society Website

 

'It is sometimes difficult to know whether a person with an ASD wants to interact during lunchtime and playtime or not. Schools should try to create options and provide opportunities for the student to learn to play in the playground. That way, if the child still chooses to play alone, at least you know that it is a genuine choice.'

 

Cat

 

[Suze]

I,m in agreement with Cat hear, my son uses breaks/dinner as a time to relax and chill, which to him is finding a quiet spot, and zoning out.He is 14 now and able to tell staff etc that he needs to be left alone etc.It is important that they get help my son has a social skills class once a week with a speach therapist and other students.However help like this only became available at high school and with a statement.