Dx ASD on Friday excluded today oh my god

[kathkin99]

My son started full time school in September (he was 5 in that month) he has been assesed which resulted in a Dx on friday of ASD the SALT said she would come into school and observe for half hour at some point to help DS work out stratergies to stop him pushing people if they touch him and barging.

Today I had a call from his Headmaster to say he is to be excluded for two days because he had grabbed a pupils head and banged it onto the desk he said she was in the way .

He is on school action and we were hoping for him to be getting more help after the dx as at the moment he is only getting half an hour one to one and and an hour group session.

What usually happens after an exclusion does it usually mean the school cant cope and its the start of a long line of exclusions. They seem to think it might help him but he is happy he doesn't care if he stays at home its easier than school.

I cant believe it after all the waiting for the Dx and hoping that he would get the extra help and its just come to this anyone got any advice at all.

Do I need to be looking at different schools because they cant cope and he would be better off.

Any advice gratefully received I am in total shock.

K

[madme]

Hi. Mine has never been excluded but we did end up moving him in year 3 after a long struggle. It very much depends on the school and how receptive they are to helping him. If he isnt statemented then apply now. Seek advice from NAs and Ipsea - see websites. Join a local support group as local parents will be able to advise on waht is available locally. The school my son went to had previoulsy excluded an asd child and was not receptive to outside suggestions or implementing a statement properly. We gave up and moved him- he is now reasonably happy - they all have ups and downs - but at least hes not suicidal. I regret not moving him sooner.

[phasmid]

Hi Kathkin,

 

Time for a big deep breath I think. Last week dx and now this, a bit of a rollercoaster for you to say the least.

 

First things first, do the school even know about his dx yet - not from you but from those making the DX? The school should be acting accordingly, but they will only do this if they know, officaly. They won't just take your word for it I'm afraid. Therefore you need to make sure that the dx ic cc'd to them as this does NOT always happen.

 

As for the exclusion, I doubt you would be succesful in an appeal on this (though if you wish to try I will help if I can). However, there is no reason why this should be the start of a slippery slope. Once the dx is communicated to them the school should react to it. This should mean a review of IEP and the possibility of a statement review(although that is debatable according to your LEA these days!). The school MUST now send you a letter detailing the reason for the exclusion, the length of it and tell you how to appeal. If they fail to do this see my 'Illegal Exclusion' thread at the top of this forum.

 

Things ought to get better from here on in, hopefully. If not you know where we are!!!

[kathkin99]

Thanks Phasmid they only know his dx through me but not officially yet they said it will take about four weeks to type up then they will send it to the school. One good thing I have spoken to my son asking why he pushed her head onto the table he said because he couldn't see, he was pushing her head down and out of the way an example of them not really understanding the ASD I suppose.(they said he just attacked her for no reason )

Headmaster said he would be sending us a letter tomorrow so he has covered his bases there he wants us to go in and see him so we will be doing that very soon.

I asked two weeks ago if he had an IEP and he doesn't even have one I was hoping with the dx he would get one and go onto School action plus but maybe they are waiting for the written dx.

Thanks for all your help Phasmid and your words of hope and thank goodness for this forum.

K

Edited March 22, 2006 by kathkin99

[kathkin99]

Hi. Mine has never been excluded but we did end up moving him in year 3 after a long struggle. It very much depends on the school and how receptive they are to helping him. If he isnt statemented then apply now. Seek advice from NAs and Ipsea - see websites. Join a local support group as local parents will be able to advise on waht is available locally. The school my son went to had previoulsy excluded an asd child and was not receptive to outside suggestions or implementing a statement properly. We gave up and moved him- he is now reasonably happy - they all have ups and downs - but at least hes not suicidal. I regret not moving him sooner.

Hi madme,

Thanks for the info on Ipsea and Nas theres really good info on there, sadly it seems his school doesn't really understand him (ASD) and this is causing problems that could be avoided

I think I will probably be in the same boat and have to move to a more understanding school.

I must join a local support group its a great idea like here people that really understand. I am glad that after years of struggling your son is now reasonably happy proves you made the right decision .

Thanks for all your help and I am onto that ipsea website for the statement info.

Thanks again.

K

[annie]

Hi Kathkin,

 

You've already been given some good advice, so I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone having your child excluded <'> .

 

Annie

x

 

PS IPSEA are very good (personal experience of them ).

Edited March 22, 2006 by annie

[kathkin99]

You've already been given some good advice, so I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone having your child excluded <'> .

Thanks Annie that made me feel much better.

K

[phasmid]

YEs I agree, contact IPSEA for help.

[Suze]

wHEN YOU MEET WITH THE HEAD, PLEASE ASK IF THEY ARE TO APPLY FOR A STATEMENT, YOUR SON NEEDS MORE SUPPORT HERE.

[Zemanski]

I would write a short note to the school stating the diagnosis and that they are due to recieve a report so that, although they don't have a formal document they can't ignore the diagnosis. Also put in that you feel he needs more support than he is currently getting. A month is a long time to wait when things are in crisis for a child so it may be a good idea to ring CAMHS and explain you need the report urgently because of the situation - they may get it to school sooner.

 

I would also contact the LEA ASD team or advisor/specialist, they are often very supportive in this sort of situation and can act as mediators to help negotiate provision - the school obviously needs to be consulting a specialist but may not have thought to do so, or may not even know who to contact (when Com was at his worst a support group put us in touch with our local specialist who has been brilliant - she was actually working in the school at the time but the senco hadn't seen fit to say to her they were having problems with Com, she didn't even know he existed )

 

If you ring the LEA they should give you the number for the social inclusion department (SEN) who should be able to tell you who to speak to about autism/AS. The numbers should be on the LEA website

 

Zemanski

[kathkin99]

Thanks Zemanski thats brilliant advice I will get onto that now, my senco is about as useful as yours was I don't even know who she is and she has given me no information at all which was especailly important in the early stages when I didn't really know what was happening.

Thanks again Zemanski.

 

Thank you Suze I have done it but I am going to be applying for the statement is that the best and quickest way to do it?

 

Thanks all for your brilliant help

Kathy

[phasmid]

The quickest way to do it is to write in to them asking that they do an Assessment of Needs. This sets the pre-statementing ball rolling and there is a specific framework they HAVE to follow (The 'they' being the LEA). This will involve various things but they must, once you have done this, look into his difficulties. The request needs to go to the head but I'd cc the senco too and possibly the inclusion officer at your LEA.

[jen]

I sent mine to the school and the LEA requesting a statement. The sooner you start the better its takes about 6 months for the process to be completed. That is if they do there job correctly first time.

 

 

Jen

[loulou]

Hi,

 

Can't really add more advice, but i definately think you should apply for a statement. My son has ASD and ADHD and he was excluded 3 times when he was 5, for similar reasons to your son. He wasn't diagnosed then, but the school had no understanding of him at all. He was also accused of attacking for no reason, which was not the case.

 

What i'm trying to say is i think your son needs more support, so things don't get worse for him (and yourself). My son had NO support whatsoever from his school and it ended up with him totally refusing school.

 

All the best,

 

Loulou x

[kathkin99]

Thank you phasmid yes I will definitely do that best to cover all angles e.g Senco and Inclusion officer great idea that I wouldn't of thought to do .

Thanks Jen it takes forever doesn't it 6 months thats the next year up already.

Kathy

[kathkin99]

Hi Loulou,

 

Is everything sorted out for your son now, does he get enough help and are you still at the same school. My son has been accused of attacking the little girl for no reason but he said she was in the way of the board (they were writing copying from the board) and that he told the teacher and then went round and pushed her head down to get it out of the way it really didn't need to have happened if his teacher had listened to him I am disappointed because up until the other day I would have said she was really supportive

His school now seem to have the view that he choses to do what he does and that it is separate from his ASD but i think all the things that have happened have a good explanation but they are now thinking its just bad behavour for no real reason grrrrrrrrrr

 

Oh well at least I know where I stand now.

 

Kathy