High schools update

witsend · September 21, 2005

Now I know you're all waiting with bated breath to hear about what high school I've chosen for son :lol: Just wanted to say we went to rural (high percentage of SEN) school open evening tonight and things have become a lot clearer. I got a sinking feeling after about 3 minutes the school was dreary ill equipped and poorly attended. I spoke for a while to the SENCO assistant who ran out of things to say after 5 minutes and then met the SENCO who did nothing to attract me to the school and even seemed a bit embarrassed herself re lack of facilities/opportunites the school offered!

I was dreading son turning round and saying he loved the school but thankfully he was also suitably unimpressed and just gave it 3 out of 10! :lol:

So thank goodness we are now able to make a decision and feel it is right. It's scuh a relief!!

All I can say to any parents going through the whole high school angst is go and see the schools you're considering before you agonise about them, this may seem obvious to the more sensible amongst you, but I was in torment for ages about the whole thing when I needn't have worried because tonight has just sorted it all out.

Luv Witsend.

Suze · September 22, 2005

Hi Witsend, glad your mind is a bit clearer ....................wish mine was :blink: ................still have,nt come to a final decision

phasmid · September 22, 2005

As part of my research I have highlighted that transition is a major concern for us parents. With some tweaking this will be a part of my final paper. In the meantime I hope this helps:

Transition Advice.

For teachers:

Try and prepare the child in advance as much as possible of what to expect in your class by providing a booklet detailing the following:

Pictures of:

You.

TA (and any1-1 new to the child)

The classroom layout.

Doors.

Toilets.

All other ?significant adults? likely to be a part of their day-to-day school life.

Give details of normal day-to-day routine in a clear timetable provided in a way accessible to the child.

Invite them in when school is finished one day. Introduce yourself to them. Get talking to the parents and ask them what you can do to help - show willing.

Useful websites:

www.nas.org.uk

http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/s...istant/ASDKS34/

http://www.aspergertips.com/

http://www.simonmidgley.co.uk/support/asd.htm

http://www.tonyattwood.com.au/

http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/s...istant/ASDKS34/

http://www.thecbf.org.uk

For Parents:

The following is based on our experiences as parents and Mrs Phasmid?s role as a governor, my experience?s as a SEN TA and our joint knowledge generally of SEN issues. All we can say is it worked for us.

Even before admission papers have been issued asking you to choose schools start doing your groundwork. Visit all the schools you are considering. Arrange to go round them on a normal day and see the school at work. Do this without your child. Ask to speak to the Senco, get copies of the SEN and any other policies you want as well as a school prospectus. Most schools will be happy to do this. I'd be very wary of any that won't!

Once you have done that, compare your thoughts on them. Then arrange for you AND your child to visit on a normal day. See how the staff re-acts to them and your child to the staff - likewise the pupils. Then, yet again, sit down and compare notes. If, when the forms come out, the schools have open evenings go along. Take a list of any questions you have and take the time to speak to the staff. Then sit and talk it all through (AGAIN).

After all that, fill in your form and wait for March (normal time for being told whether you have got the place in the school of preference).

Once you know the school, get talking to them. Identify asap the names of important staff if you don't know them already. At this point we took Phas Jr's new school a letter describing him. His likes, dislikes. The sort of things that would upset him and how he would react - how they should react to him. We also arranged for him to have visits to the school in the summer term so he could get to know the staff, layout of the building, noise levels between lessons and so on. This was in addition to the between schools 'Transfer Day?. Through all of that, and the normal academic exchange of information between the schools they had a very good idea of what Phas Jr was going to be like. They told us the 'this is Phas jr' letter was brilliant, what?s more, they circulated it around all staff who he would be taught by - we know this as we saw the copies!

We also made it clear we wanted to work with them. If anything happened at home that might affect his mood at school we phoned them. Likewise if anything happened there that we should know about. We got talking. We all knew each other well long before he set foot in the school as a pupil. It was really worth the time and effort. We knew exactly who to contact when there was (is) a problem and they knew we were there to back them up.

Basically be careful when choosing a school - don't go on other people?s opinions, what?s right/wrong for their child may not be the case for yours! Once you know the school it's COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION!!!!

Hope that helps.

witsend · September 22, 2005

Yes phasmid - that helps! Thanks I found that really useful, even though I feel I've 'chosen the right school' now, I know I need to ask lots more questions and prepare the way for my son. I am planning to arrange a meeting with the head of the high schoool to ensure I've made the right choice (God knows what I'll do if I haven't!) I've learnt that the more proactive we as parents are generally the better for us, school and child.

Suze - hope you get sorted soon there's nothing worse than 'not knowing' is there? PS How's the potty training going? Luv Witsend. xx