Sensory issues and school

[Discobabe]

I'm just wandering if anyones kids get help for their sensory related issues at school? My 10 yo ds is very well behaved and appears to cope very well at school, i.e. he doesn't meltdown or lash out or show any other challenging behaviour. He tends to withdraw and stop engaging if he's struggling and I suspect this is easily missed in a busy classroom. (Although they have noticed he will often remove himself from group situations).

A family member is insisting I get the school to support him but I'm not sure what to ask for if I'm honest! He does well academically, struggles in pe/handwriting etc but not to an extreme level which makes me think they might fob me off saying he doesn't have significant needs because he seemingly copes well and is fine academically. A bad experience at his previous school makes me nervous about approaching them so I want to be fully clued up before I speak to his teacher.

I'm thinking of asking if they can give him additional help for his fine motor skills, asking for copy of their timetable so he knows whats next and also to see if he can have a fidget toy in class. What else could I realistically ask for/can they support him with? I don't think they will place him on school action plus as we can't get an OT referral/support via the nhs in our area so we won't he receiving any outside support. Should we ask for him to be put on school action and have an IEP?

Our community paed did advise us to make sure we get a hand in on his pupil profile (he transitions to high school this year) and to ensure extra transition time and a map of the high school is provided for him. So I will speak to them about this.

Any other advice you can give me? Thank you

[Lifeisshort123]

Write the school a letter concerning your worries. Ask them if he can bring a figet toy from home if they can't supply one, it's best to get things sorted before he start secondary school. Do they have a handwriting club or something he could join or could a TA help him with his writing. Good luck.

[notgivingin789]

Yep OP! Get him on an IEP or school action plus. Sensory issues is slowly becoming widely recognised. Though in my LA, you won't get occupational therapy for just sensory issues.

The Out of Sync child is a great book for learning about sensory issues. Also; see if you can find a book about sensory activity games or similar to give the school some ideas on what can help with your DS sensory issues.

[Discobabe]

Thank you

[Discobabe]

No polter there's no formal diagnosis. He had a s&l assessment which came back fine. We then saw someone from the community paeds team who said they don't think he is on the spectrum either as he was very social/expressive/uses gestures, but that he obviously has sensory issues and some anxiety . We've been offered a sensory course (parents only) and an info pack, that's it. Do OT need to diagnose spd? it's not funded here but I'm wondering if it's worth having a private assessment done. It just feels so up in the air and I'm a bit what are we supposed to do now then! They did give me some advice about his transition to high school. I want to wait and see exactly what they've written in their report (and what info will be in the info pack) before appraoching school but it will probably be weeks before it arrives.

[youarenotkiddingme]

I agree about getting a report from pead. Then give school a copy and ask to arrange a meeting a week later to discuss what strategies they are going to out into place.

That way it shows them you know they have to meet need and they have a letter from someone other than you saying what that is.