Went to look at ASD unit

[justine1]

Hi all

 

I went to see the ASD unit with Sam today.It looks really great ,there is sooooo much space as its in a small village surrounded by fields,unlike where he is now everything is sealed off with tall fencing.

The staff seem really great and the boys that were there seemed as though all there needs are being met.

 

It does seem they are all for re-intergration though,they have said most of the kids move onto mainstream middle schools with a few going to the ASD unit at a nearby mainstream,none go to special school.The lady started to say because he is bright and capable it is soooo unlikely he will go to special school,I did want to argue with that statement but managed to control myself.She kept saying kids have to adjust to the real world and therefore they teach the skills for them to do so.She also said my mind set may be for him to go special because of the school he is at right now.

 

It has left me with a lot to think about,right now I cant see him going there but then again he may change over time and they do everything gradually.Just so confused

 

Sam liked it though especially the individual working station he has already planned how he will decorate it

[caci]

Personally I think you can only plan for the immediate future. In school terms that is maybe for 2 - 3 years at a time.

 

Our children change so much depending on the situation they are in, and the people they are with. This means what seems hopeless now can get better, and something which seems great, may fail your child later.

 

Sorry, not much help. But do rememeber, nothing is forever, and you can change your mind later.

 

 

[justine1]

Personally I think you can only plan for the immediate future. In school terms that is maybe for 2 - 3 years at a time.

 

Our children change so much depending on the situation they are in, and the people they are with. This means what seems hopeless now can get better, and something which seems great, may fail your child later.

 

Sorry, not much help. But do rememeber, nothing is forever, and you can change your mind later.

Thanks Caci <'> ,I think today has made me realise that.I feel positive that he may be fine there,as I say it is of course wayyyyyyyyy better than where he is and it seems like they are going to take his needs into consideration.

 

The good thing is that the staff have more experience and they are willing to push for a special school if it turns out thats where he needs to be,which is less pressure one me,plus LEA are more likely to listen to them

 

Thanks,only time will tell hey <'>

[JsMum]

 

 

Just to reasure you that there are children out there with special needs and Bright and capable but actually attend a special school and the comment about NO children will move from the unit to special school is quite possibly incorrect because for some children a mainstream will not be able to meet thier needs, it maybe that the lea make it increasingly difficult to get a child into the right school and thats why less and less go into a more apropriate school.

 

Many special schools children are admitted after a long and painful breakdown in middle school/secondary school and it is sadly too late for some of those children to be supported because they have got to the special school far too late, majority of the children in Js school that attend start in year 8 or 9 where its evident there needs where not met in mainstream.

 

The unit you described will have immediate effect on your son because it will take away a lot of the sensory overload that happens in a mainstream classroom and there will be more staff ratio per child, but as soon as your son goes back into a mainstream he will have to deal with the same sensory issues he has now in a mainstream classroom.

 

Have you visited any special schools yet out of interest?

 

JsMumx

 

[madsadie]

Can I just say that I looked at an ASD unit for my 13 yr old son, who has recently got a statement, which we are going to appeal. I was really impressed - I felt he would get much more understanding there than in the comp he's at. But, he would be going into the main school, if possible, for lessons with all the others, supported by a T/A. I know that my son, given the chance would want to stay in the unit, and that means his lessons would be delivered by T/As. I'm not knocking T/As but they're not qualified teachers, and also it can lead to dependency.

Then there is the issue of being seen as a 'unit boy' by the others, though the one I looked at said there had been no incidents of bullying....yet (only been open under a year)

 

It is really hard to decide. Ideally my son needs small classes, calm environment with NT children as he copies others - comes out whooping and squeaking when he's been with some other asd kids, when he doesn't usually. But, he also has huge gap between reading/spelling age and comprehension age, so really needs specialist input. Apparently he has high average ability. We tried 2 private special schools, but he couldn't get through the taster days because he was so anxious about not knowing anyone at break time. they refused to help him during these times, so he couldn't manage another taster day and they wouldn't have him. One of the schools told me I was being too soft with him. I had been really tough with him to even get him in there. Surely his anxiety level is the whole reason he needs assistance - i thought thats what special schools were for.

 

Anyway, its left me with a terrible decision - keep him where he is. He doesn't want to change school as he has 2 friends, and knows his teachers (but they will change every year). they are not meeting his needs , not accessing the curriculum, unlikely to fulfill his potential etc.

 

try another mainstream comp, slightly smaller, more emphasis on ict/media in the school.

try the asd unit

 

Find another special school, but will have to board/ or we have to move, with the possibility of starting again with LEA.

There is one other special school which was lovely, and i know would help his anxiety, but there didn't seem to be many

high functioning kids there. Then of course there's the issue of getting funding...

 

I suppose I'll have to start thinking about post 16 soon..

 

I'd be really grateful for any advice