special school?

[mariek]

I need help!! I have been becoming more and more unhappy with my son's middle school over the past year and a half. He was diagnosed with ASD just before he moved up to middle school. He is slightly behind in his academic levels, but is hitting all targets set by the school. It is his emotional and social development which is worrying me. He is constantly on behaviour report or in detention, they don't seem to take his Aspergers into account at all. Today he has been excluded because he hugged the headteacher (female). He approched her from behind and hugged her round the waist tightly and wouldn't let go. She's calling it an assault and threatening to permanently expel him. How would i go about getting him moved to a special needs school where his individual needs can be met? I have no idea where to start.

[lizj]

Oh dear, you have my sympathies. We have been there, a school that doesn't want a "difficult" pupil, won't take their problems seriously and tries any way they can to get rid of them. Our son's primary was exactly the same.

I'm afraid that if he doesn't have learning difficulties it will be more difficult to get him into a special school. Start by looking at what is available locally. You may be very lucky and find there is a school that specialises in ASD or has a special unit.

You will need the backing of either a paediatrician, psychologist, educational psychologist or the LEA inclusion officer. Preferably all of them. It was the inclusion officer that finally got our son into a special school, and things got very much better very quickly.

Before that happened we got involved with a lot of behavioural specialists, teachers and advisors, and he spent three terms in a PRU, which was not ideal but at least they understood his behaviour and didn't go into panic mode every time he stepped out of line.

Now at 19 he is back in mainstream at college, and things are not so good again.

The educational psychologist is probably the best place to start. Prepare for lots of reports, tests and meetings.

Best of luck, and keep your chin up!

[tparnell]

Hi,

 

Our son (8) started in special autism school in the summer after exclusions from primary then the school not being able to meet his needs. your son needs to be failing on 'school action plus', which could be behaviour or education targets. Document everything / keep a diary. Ask in writing for a copy of his school record and incident report from today's events to see what they've been writing about him. You can also put in your letter what the head told you today about their threat of a permanent exclusion. Note his behaviour at home and what he tells you about school. Put anything relevant in writing to the head but try to keep your dignity by mainly reporting facts, asking for help and requesting to work together with the school. Make sure they have all diagnosis paperwork up to date. If he has an IEP (individual education plan) I think it can have behaviour targets It should try and be positive e.g. 'Walk on the pavement' instead of 'Do not run in the road'.

 

Hopefully an exclusion will now get you on the local authority radar, and start the ball rolling with a Pastoral Support Plan, and maybe some emergency funding for a 1:1 for some of the day?

 

However, I would say it is surprising what a difference just a few teachers in tune with your child's needs would make. Another local mainstream school may be much better, ask around. Ring them up and ask! Sounds like they don't understand him very well where he is anyway. Our Primary school was completely out of it's depth with what to do so it took them ages. We found out the steps gradually. The Parent Partnership were a great help. See if there's one in your area.

 

Hope that helps! So basically the answer is hard work and persistence!

 

Tamara

[JsMum]

Does he have a statement of Special Educational Needs?

 

You could write to your local LEA now and explain to the Manager of the SEN that your son needs a more specialised learning enviroment, note all your concerns and the risks of permanant exclusion and express your preferrance of a specialist school, if he does have a statement of SEN you could request amendment in part 4 once you have alocated a specialist school.

 

National Autistic Society have a Educational Advice line, which is fantastic, helped me loads recently and given me good advise.

 

Also IPSEA though they are a real nightmare to get hold of, but well worth the effort.

 

To search for specialist schools if your son has a Statement then the LEA are obliged to send you a list of specialist schools in your area and outer of county if you would consider boarding/residential setting.

 

JsMumx