rudolf steiner shool

[melii]

hello,

we just had a look around potterpury school for asd boys [rudolf steiner] does any one boys go there? has any one heard any thing about it? it was an amazing school with a what seems a brillent out look but there was one thing that but me off. in my visit [1 hour 45 mins] i saw 2 different teachers screem in the face of to different boys. it was more than shouting to the point were i told the person who was showing us around. she tryed to explain that as the boys get older that souting [sreeming] at them is ok, but it just dosent sit right with me. can any one help?

 

Thanks for your time

[chris54]

in my visit [1 hour 45 mins] i saw 2 different teachers screem in the face of to different boys. it was more than shouting to the point were i told the person who was showing us around. she tryed to explain that as the boys get older that souting [sreeming] at them is ok

My gut reaction is, dont go near this school.

 

[justine1]

My gut reaction is, dont go near this school.

I agree.If they were doing this when they knew a parent was coming to view imagine what goes on when nobody is around.No matter how old a child(ASD or otherwise) is it doesnt help to shout at them.Raising the voice slightly but with the right tone is a different matter.Of course they have to tell them off if they are not behaving but if it was serious yelling/shouting then thats unacceptable.

[Lynden]

Raised voices are acceptable I think, almost unavoidable at times, but shouting/screaming directly in a child's face is absolutely not. It's not acceptable in any educational setting, mainstream or SEN.

 

Lynne

[puffin]

I have no knowledge of this school but I did look at some Waldorf/Steiner schools in Sweden when I was desperate about M's school problems - I thought they must be good as the organisation ran a specialist autism residential school around 7 miles from where we live.

 

However my contact as Hab - a Swedish version of CAHMS/CDC - told me not to go near the place which I couldn't understand at the time - but a few months later it hit the press that the school had been severely criticised for verbal and physical abuse by school and social care inspectors - children in residential had been screamed at, locked in rooms and subject to physical punnishments - so I don't know if this is a part of the method or not.

 

I also looked at a Steiner mainstream school but there was a strange undercurrent that I could not put my finger on - also I found it all too unstructured for my AS/ADHD child's needs - the method required huge self motivation and ability to self-organise - which was one of Ms greatest problems needing support with motivation and organisation - the kids were researching and writing their own textbooks. There was also a problem of no guaranteed support or 1:1 time.

 

So I had concerns about suitability for kids on the spectrum from the 2 that I investigated

[Suze]

I would,nt send any of my kids to a school where teachers scream in their face.It sets a very bad example for a start.I would be very intimidated in an environment where adults raised their voices and shouted, it can,t do the kids good at all.They must be disillusioned and resentful.What does it say about an adult if they have to do that to make their point??I guess these kids were being disciplined at the time ???............all the kid has learnt from that episode is that if you shout loud enough you get your point of view heard?? no no no

 

would,nt send my child there , best of luck.

[chinagirl]

Hi there, My son attended this school in year 7 and lasted about 8 weeks before we had to pull him out as a result of severe bullying - physical and emotional - by other pupils. If your son is vulnerable I would not touch it with a bargepole. There is a lot of physical violence there and staff don't seem to do anything to stop it. Students are given free reign of the school with no supervision and I personally witnessed a number of disturbing incidents of bullying and casual violence student-on-student. The staff were a mixed bunch, some were very caring but some didn't seem to have much of a clue about ASD and my son's needs were tolerated rather than catered for. We home educate now using an internet school and it works brilliantly for our son who was very traumatised by his experiences there. He was having suicidal thoughts within several weeks of attending the school. My son found it a very scary and intimidating environment.

Best wishes and good luck

[Firefly]

I would urge you to raise this issue with Christine Haylett (head of education), John Brown, the head or Carol Clews who is head of care. I work with some young men who have been to Potterspury and found it a wholly positive experience and have fond memories of the care they received there.

 

In my experience the staff will be immediately responsive to your concerns and in all of my visits there have never witnessed or heard about anything like you mention.

[sunflower1]

hello,

we just had a look around potterpury school for asd boys [rudolf steiner] does any one boys go there? has any one heard any thing about it? it was an amazing school with a what seems a brillent out look but there was one thing that but me off. in my visit [1 hour 45 mins] i saw 2 different teachers screem in the face of to different boys. it was more than shouting to the point were i told the person who was showing us around. she tryed to explain that as the boys get older that souting [sreeming] at them is ok, but it just dosent sit right with me. can any one help?

 

Thanks for your time

 

That sounds shocking. My maiin concern for ASD kids though would be the lack of structure - Steiner schools don't really believe in it...There may be a few ASD kids who don't need clear structure but most do including my son - he'd fall apart within minutes!

Edited July 7, 2010 by sunflower1

[chinagirl]

I am sure it is beneficial for some youngsters but it was not for mine.

 

 

I would urge you to raise this issue with Christine Haylett (head of education), John Brown, the head or Carol Clews who is head of care. I work with some young men who have been to Potterspury and found it a wholly positive experience and have fond memories of the care they received there.

 

In my experience the staff will be immediately responsive to your concerns and in all of my visits there have never witnessed or heard about anything like you mention.

 

 

[Firefly]

That sounds shocking. My maiin concern for ASD kids though would be the lack of structure - Steiner schools don't really believe in it...There may be a few ASD kids who don't need clear structure but most do including my son - he'd fall apart within minutes!

 

I visit quite a few schools, mostly ASD specific and Potterspury provide quite a high level of structure in comparison for some. There's always something about preparing young people for the unpredictability of the world outside of education which can be a challenge and probably needs to start in school however I learned quite a bit about written schedules and student specific plans from Potterspury.

 

There can never be a one size fits all approach, particularly as if you've met one person with Asperger's Syndrome you've met one just one, and like the rest of the world there is a lot of variety.

 

I'm sorry Chinagirl that this didn't work for your son, and can understand the concerns of the OP who witnessed bad behaviour from staff. There is good and bad in all of us.