Suspected ASD son is heaven in school holidays but hell when at school???

[teamtwilight]

My 5 year old ds has just gone back to school in year 1. He is under assessment (since March) with possible asd but personally I also think adhd. I have been told that he will not get seen by the educational psychologist until around Jan 2012!!!!!
He generally holds it together at school, seems pretty normal but struggles with his concentration. But at home he explodes with anger and rages.
The strange thing is that in the summer holidays he was such a calmer little boy. The difference in him was very noticeable by all. But he has been back at school 2 days and all hell has broke loose again. I am assuming that school is causing him anxiety and he releases this at home as he feels safe enough to do it here.
During the last 2 days he is back to soiling himself, dreadful night terrors.I am not sure what to do? We don't have a statement as his diagnosis seems months/years away and after a diagnosis I have no idea how to get a statement. I also think the school think he has nothing wrong with him.

Is this common? Should I consider moving him, home schooling? He doesn't tell us much about school and wants to go but it's causing such anger and rage in his behaviour I worry it's damaging him.

Any help on this would be appreciated.

[mariamagdalena]

Don't know the answer but I would say make sure it's all documented. And not just by Camhs, as it's too easy then for the educational people to suggest 'the problems are seen at home so school is unrelated'.

you could start with the GP on Mon as soiling will get DS an encopresis clinic referral. Then maybe a call to the school nurse 'for advice' about the night terrors. When that's done, appointment with school teacher and senco (too early in the new term and you'll get a wait & see approach)

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

I would make an appt with the GP and insist that an urgent referral is made to a developmental paed asap. When was his last assessment done?.

Ed Pysch can only make recommendations re schooling; they cannot diagnose any medical issues.

Would suggest you apply for a statement now for your DS, you do not need a diagnosis or school's permission in order to do so. IPSEA's website is helpful re model letters if you are wondering what to write //www.ipsea.org.uk. You will need to write to the Chief Education Officer at your LEA and give this person 6 weeks to reply.

Have you arranged a meeting with the SENCO yet?. How aware is this person of your son, is your son on the special needs register?. This school to me do not sounds like they are on the ball.

Even if there was a statement in place do you think this particular school is right for him?. It sounds like they are completely unaware of any additional needs he has (and if he is compliant there he will likely go unnoticed in school). You may now want to consider looking at other schools.

What you describe with home/school is not atypical; I think your assessment in correct. He probably bottles up all his frustrations re the school day and takes it all out on you at home because you and home are safe. Also such problems too do have a wider effect on your family life.

The onus is very much on you to act as you are your child's best - and only - advocate here. You are best placed to fight his battles for him and also no-one else will.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

I would get all his problems documented properly through the GP rather than make use of the school nurse.

[teamtwilight]

Yes I am going to make an appointment with the new class teacher and request that senco are there too but I am going to wait a week or so or they will fob me off by saying he hasn't settled in yet, give it a bit more time.....I see a fight on my hands here!
Thanks for the support