My DS is Y7 and is autistic, he isn't at all academic and copes on,y with a great deal of 1-1 support in mainstream secondary school. He started off in the second from bottom stream and I know he is being moved into the bottom sets next term. DS doesn't know this yet although he is aware that there will be moves made. He is so out of touch with all this that he is saying "I might go to set 4 Mum" which is a set up from where he currently is.
I was persuaded to choose mainstream secondary for DS due to the amazing progress he made in his Junior school . He went from P-scales in Y3 to L3 and 4 in his SATS at the end of Y6. He was awarded a certificate at the celebration assembly for outstanding progress in KS2. I was so proud of him....and I still am.
Since going into secondary school though he has struggled. The school are great, it's the smallest one locally with less than 1000 pupils. They give DS a great deal of support ...a 1-1 scribes for him and his handwriting is illegible for example. However, homework is a nightmare, DS doesn't see the point of it and doesn't want to do it. I scribe for him and its a constant struggle to prevent everything becoming a battle. It's been semi resolved by me doing much of the preparation so I can guide him and in some cases actually DOING the bloody homework and then going over it with him. I do ensure the teacher is aware if I do this though.
So.....academic work is a struggle but I would be happy with this if the mainstream system was working for him socially. That was one of the big positives put forward by the specialist teacher, that DS would benefit from mixing with non autistic children to see normal communication skills etc. which is all very well but from what I can gather this isn't happening, instead DS has become closer friends with a boy from his junior school who is also autistic. This is great in many ways but the reality is that DS isn't minding with other children and I get the impression that he and his friend spend all their spare time together.
Recently I found out a new free school is opening in Sept 2015 which will focus on children with communication issues such as speech and language disorders, autism, ADHD etc. DS is autistic with ADHD.
Given his learning difficulties (mild), his self esteem problems (about to take yet another battering as he is going down in set) and his choice of mixing with others like himself rather than the NT cohort I can't help thinking he would do better in a special school where the classes are even smaller. I don't think the LEA or his current school would agree though.
The SENCO is very nice but so far suggestions of an Alphasmart system (so DS can type his work) and support to do homework in school have not happened. I get this, I really do, the school is mainstream and having to fit in an increasing number of children with special needs. However, all I can see is DS's self esteem getting lower and lower.
Am going to approach the LEA in the New Year but AIBU in wanting to move DS. He seems happy enough in the school at the moment but I am concerned that this won't continue if he can't keep up with the work.
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AIBU?
To think my DS might do better in a special school?
24 replies
GratefulHead · 27/12/2014 17:30
OP posts:
Frusso ·
28/12/2014 13:48
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