Secondary school support thread.

[Youarentkiddingme]

Just that really

Somewhere for us to gather, share concerns and successes and get/ give advice.

I have a DS, just turned 11 with ASD starting year 7 on Wednesday.

[Ineedmorepatience]

Dd3 is not starting secondary but wanted to wish you and your Ds the best of luck!

[Youarentkiddingme]

Thanks ineed best of luck on your new education adventure too!

This thread wasn't necessarily starting full stop - more a secondary support thread. I think I'll ask MN to edit the title to encourage everyone to join in. After all - the more people the more information and advice

[Ineedmorepatience]

Aahh thanks youarent (love the name change) good idea about changing the thread title.

Have you seen last yrs thread? There were some success stories on there particularly oneineight's Ds1 and polter's Ds.

Good luck

[OneInEight]

Good luck for the new school starters and returners and the ones embarking on a new adventure too (think I've covered everyone there).

ds1 goes back to a new HT so hope she does not make too many changes (school had a dreadful OFSTED so last HT was forced to go I think at end of last term). Shame as it's been suiting him well. Only upset is news he will be doing shared transport making a very long journey even longer. He seems fairly relaxed about the prospect so far.

Like the way you didn't mention ds2 Ineed - probably best ignored most of the time! Anyway who knows if he will go back -ds2 certainly doesn't. I am forgiving him much at the moment though because after 4 years abstinence he has started giving me hugs again!

Neither start back till beginning of next week though. Will be keeping my fingers crossed for a good first day tomorrow for your ds youarent

[Ineedmorepatience]

Sorry one I didnt mention Ds2 because I know you havent had an easy ride this yr! Fantastic news about the hugs though

I really hope the new HT at Ds1's school doesnt rock too many boats

Good luck bbkl, polter and everyone else

[Youarentkiddingme]

DS says he is excited yet has barely eaten since Friday and has tummy ache which I've put down as physical symptoms of anxiety. He's been very happily organising everything for tomorrow with me though. I'm happy to admit I'm very anxious about it! Not letting him onto that though! I've emailed student support to say ive got him wearing the tie but not tucking his shirt in Or doing top button up!

Good luck to everyone else starting back tomorrow.

[Youarentkiddingme]

Ineed name change is due to finding out I was "the list" as I was waiting for flight to Majorca! So I just re registered and re set up when I came home!

[Ineedmorepatience]

I wondered if it might be due to that!

Dd3 got round the not tucking her shirt in by wearing a jumper so you couldnt tell!

When I was at school a billion yrs ago I cut all the top buttons off my shirts and every time a teacher told me to fasten the button I would just say "It fell off this morning sir!"

[TheSecondOfHerName]

DS2 (ASD, ADHD, hypermobile) is going into Y9. Not too worried about him as the school has proved that they are v.good at meeting his needs. The Learning Support department is excellent.

DD is starting Y7 at a different school tomorrow and I'm having kittens. She has delays in speech, large motor skills and social communication. I'm worrying about everything.

[TheSecondOfHerName]

When DS2 started, I explained to him that he would have to keep his top shirt button fastened and his tie on all day. I also explained that he would have to carry his rucksack everywhere as (unlike primary school) there are no pegs.

I did not anticipate that he would try to put his PE kit on without unfastening his top shirt button or removing his tie. I also didn't realise that he would literally try to keep his rucksack on his shoulders all day, including during lessons, until a teacher explained that it was OK to place it on the floor next to him.

[Ineedmorepatience]

Bless him thesecond

[Youarentkiddingme]

TheSecond
I hope DS2 school continues to prove positive and your DD has a good day and her school proves just as good.

Bbkl personally I'd give a full picture on the form but also have a meeting with SENcO.

[frazzledbutcalm]

Ah polter ... your ds had such a good year last year! Mind I still think they have their worries/anxieties etc until they're back into the swing of things again. Hope he settles as well this year as last.

Ineed ... Hope your home schooling goes fantastic!

bb ... I'd put ALL info on the form (as pp said), so school have an absolute clear picture about school and home attitudes/worries/behaviours.

My dd has said for the past week (in an aggressive/angry way) that she's "absolutely not going to school ever again. You can't make me. I can be home schooled". This is all we've had for a week. Every time school is mentioned by anyone, she chirps in with this. I've been worried inside and decided (in my mind) that I'd look into InterHigh etc. So yesterday comes and she gets her bag packed ready for today, gets her uniform sorted, talks about packed lunch
She's gone into school today! Worried/anxious but no tears!

[frazzledbutcalm]

Dd did ok today. We were told her LSA would be meeting her first thing to show her her new classroom and to spend the morning with her. This didn't happen
She had an English reading test and her reading age is 10 years 9 months .. she's 12 years 2 months so this bothered her immensely! Science she was given a starting level of 5C .. her last test at her old school she was 6A .. so she's not happy about this either!

But, we DIDN'T have any strops, anger, tears etc .. so that's VERY good!

How did it go bb?

[Youarentkiddingme]

frazzled sounds like a good day overall

Ds apparently loved his first day! It very clear already he cannot keep up with writing things down. He even said they just don't give you enough time to write. I'll give it this week and then start my demands for specific support. They did tests today so I'll await the outcome of those. I have an advantage he did well in sats but had support. So I have the best possible results and if non supported tests get lower results I can just quote sendcop!

Im loving the top button trick Ineed unfortunately ds would probably chop the whole collar off trying and if I did it would just tell them mum cut it off so he couldn't do it up!

[Youarentkiddingme]

Well DS managed to misplace his PE kit - between lunch and walking to English it just disappeared and was it there anymore
Thankfully I'm experienced enough to know what questions to ask and he found it again quite easily!
Also been confirmed there's a laptop coming for him which will help massively with the writing.
And he did more tests today which he says told him "he can't catch a ball very well" and "can't write very fast" but was very pleased the teacher "could actually read what I write!".

He does make me giggle!

Hope everyone else's Dcs managed today.
I think the fact DS had a visit last week and got timetable etc has help massively as he knew what was happening beforehand

[Youarentkiddingme]

Glad he had a good day Polt DS has a bright blue sports bag - however he also has a backpack and 2 things to remember proved a bit much today! He'll get into a routine of it soon and will get his locker tomorrow which will mean he can leave shoes at school and put clothing in his backpack.