help needed from those wiser than me please

[liger]

My son is in year 4, and is on the autistic spectrum displaying strong demand avoidance behaviours. We are awaiting assessment for diagnosis, but as he has an elder brother with ASD I have been aware of this needs for some time. I had questioned whether to go for a diagnosis at all as he seemed to be coping with school to a degree and I realised an EHCP was unlikely.

However since September it feels like the wheels have come off. We have been working hard with the school to understand how best to support his needs. He has repeatedly school refused, and whilst he is better recently he is not always able to stay in the class - or is able to stay in the class and not achieve any work.
The school doesn't have a calm room for people with SEN to withdraw too, so sometimes my son has been wondering the school in limbo which is obviously difficult for both him and the school staff.

I've learnt today that some of the school staff are employing a threat to coerce my son into returning to the classroom. They threaten to get the school caretaker, a tall stocky man who my child is intimidated by.
Ds's perception is that this man is likely to hurt him which stems from the caretaker once tripping and falling on my son when involved in persuading him back into class

Using intimidation and threat to persuade a child with SEN to do as they are asked strikes me as wrong at every level.

But I don't know where to start with taking this further and what to reference that they are breaching by behaving this way. I've done some research and looked at their policies and feel at sea with it all and don't trust the school to listen to me. I would love some wisdom and advice to point out the next steps.

[GinAndTeaForMe]

Would it perhaps be worth speaking to the school initially requesting information on their complaints procedure?

With regards to policy, I would be raising the issue that this practice does not comply with Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC is the national approach in Scotland to improving outcomes and supporting the wellbeing of our children and young people by offering the right help at the right time from the right people.  It supports them and their parent(s) to work in partnership with the services that can help them.)

Also, policy drivers such as The Keys to Life and Strengthening the Commitment are worth looking into.

These are Scottish, so if you are based elsewhere, they should at least guide you to the relevant policies in their references section.

I hope this is of some help, and that your son is okay. I agree that their practice is completely unacceptable and it and it is definitely a training need on their part.

[GinAndTeaForMe]

I feel it breaches your sons right to feel safe in what is supposed to be a safe environment for him.

There approach is also undignified for your son, and their punitive practice can greatly reduce his likelihood to engage in educational exercises.

Lastly, the staff are displaying extremely poor examples role modelling.

[liger]

Gin, thank you so much for responding. I am not in Scrotland but I will be interested in reading more about those policies.

I agree with all you say, just having it laid out like that helps enormously. I was beginning to feel I was overreacting.

I'm intending to write a letter to the governors raising how seriously concerned I am, but I already have little hope that the outcome will be satisfactory.

[liger]

• Scotland! Apologies!

[GinAndTeaForMe]

You are very welcome. Good luck, I hope you have a positive outcome.