I'm a Teacher in a Pupil Referral Unit. Ama

[teachandsleep]

Ask me anything. Work with Secondary age children

[LittleBlackDot]

What are three of the most useful strategies you’ve found for reengaging children?

[SweetestSugar]

What percentage of time is it really all about the parents? Do you ever feel that you can do so much 9-3 but then when the students go home your hard work is undone?

[teachandsleep]

A sense of humour, directing the work towards them personally. Relationship building as they hate to then let you down. Doesn't win with them all though!

[teachandsleep]

Sweetestsugar 90% of the time it's down to parenting sadly or trauma or abuse.

[MyDcAreMarvel]

Really, so only 10% disabilities like ASD or ADHD either diagnosed or on pathways. Lumped in with the very small minority of simply poor behaviour with no root cause.
I find that very hard to belive.

[MyDcAreMarvel]

*believe

[Mumble29]

I've applied for a job as a TA in a similar school for children from primary to secondary school age, what can I expect and how do I best approach dealing with behaviour ect

[teachandsleep]

MyDCareMarvel** we don't have ASD children in our Provision it's not the right set up. In regards to ADHD it does exist but is frequently misdiagnosed.

[LittleBlackDot]

@MyDcAreMarvel who said children with ASD/ADHD are immune from having parental difficulties or experience trauma? The two things aren’t mutually exclusive.

[teachandsleep]

Mumble29 the good thing about it is thT everyday is different you never get bored. You know you make a difference. Some days are bad though and it takes its toll. You have to have a thick skin and think on your feet.

[Robotindisguise]

How do you take the decision that a child with ADHD has been misdiagnosed? What evidence do you have that is the case?

[WordsFailMeAgain]

I work in a PRU too but it’s for kids who have been diagnosed with a medical condition, so ASD, mental or physical health etc so not behavioural... however we do get the majority of kids sent from other PRUs who have tried to sort out their behavior and obviously failed because they have unrecognised medical needs..

[Tinkoschminko]

Where abouts?

[savageswimmer]

I also work in a pupil referral unit and I can't say that I've ever seen a child who is just 'naughty' with no root cause. There is usually always something there in their past that has contributed.

[Branleuse]

kids with asd and adhd often have parents with these conditions who are undiagnosed dont forget, even if theyre undiagnosed. Before you slag off parents of difficult children.

What do you think is up with children then who have been clinically assessed and diagnosed with ADHD by professionals?

[MyDcAreMarvel]

@savageswimmer I agree was just adding them to the 10% as a rare one off.
LittleBlackDress I didn’t say there could not be both.
Op I can almost guarantee there will be dc with undiagnosed ASD in your unit.

[Tinkoschminko]

Where do you draw the line? Plenty of the kids I used to teach had no official diagnosis but a lot of their parenting impacts also meant they were born addicted to drugs etc, which, nameless or not is still clearly a biological or medical condition.

[grasspigeons]

Are there more boys at the unit? and if so do the girls 'fit in' ok with it.

[BollocksIsTheWord]

@savageswimmer agree. We have recently had a 7 yo sent to our unit because the “bad boy” unit he was in couldn’t handle him. He has been diagnosed with autism since but the previous school did him no favours. He’s a sweetheart but has a very complex background, poor love

[teachandsleep]

We do have undiagnosed children and we do submit an EHCP if appropriate. Usually more boys than girls. The girls fit in and don't seem to notice to be honest.
It is very easy to spot misdiagnosed ADHD. Sadly some parents push for a diagnosis as it attracts DLA when really their parenting lacks.

[Lemonsquinky]

How did you get into it? I'm very interested in working in this area, especially with autistic children. I'd prefer junior age as that's what I'm qualified for.

[TheFallenMadonna]

I work in AP and I just applied for the job. I spent nearly 20 years in mainstream previously.

[Flyingpie]

I'm moving from mainstream to a behavioural school very similar to a PRU.
Can you recommend any books to read/blogs to follow etc?
I'll be teaching secondary English.

[HalyardHitch]

I used to do this at Primary age. I found it was mostly "attachment issues".

Have you had any injuries? I had a five year old crack my rib once with a well aimed kick

[BothALarkAndAnOwl]

Hmmm. As the parent of an 11yo who's recently been diagnosed (by CAMHS) with ADHD and high-functioning ASC, I very much dislike the statement "...some parents push for a diagnosis...when really their parenting lacks". I can't tell you how tired I am of coming up against this attitude - and this in spite of the fact that I have another child who is the polar opposite.

My child experienced several fixed-term exclusions but, thankfully (I think), their school kept them - although perhaps this is because there are no primary PRUs in this county so that was never an option.

Sorry, not a question as such. More venting. I have to say that over the five or so years that my child's behaviour and mental health (including very serious suicide threats) deteriorated from "just like their friends" to "shit, we're looking at a paediatric psychiatric ward", I have had a thorough rethink of what I once considered always to be bad behaviour or poor parenting. However, I don't think I'm ever going to stop worrying that every teaching professional I meet will weigh up my child's diagnosis against their perception of my parenting and reach (what I consider to be) the wrong conclusion. Do you think I am being paranoid here?