Does anyone have a child with SEN starting secondary this September?

[Titsywoo]

Fancy a support thread?

DS starts at the mainstream school his sister is at and I'm pretty nervous. He has an ASD and although he has been getting on well at primary in the last couple of years after a rough start, he is starting afresh as none of his classmates will be going to this school. He struggles socially and he finds school incredibly boring and a waste of his time . Also until now his school have been happy about him wearing black jogging bottoms and a soft polo shirt due to his sensory issues. Now he'll be wearing school trousers, shirt, tie, thick jumper and a blazer! I'm not sure he will cope with it to be honest...

He has a tour around the school in a couple of weeks with other SEN kids then has two induction days with everyone 2 weeks after that. I haven't spoken to the school SENCO yet as I was waiting for the primary SENCO to talk to them but she is being a bit slow so I think I'll chase her up one more time then go to them directly. There is an opportunity to talk to them after the parents welcome evening next month but I'm guessing it will be pretty busy.

Anyone else feeling a bit nervous/excited/terrified?!

[Butterfly1975]

Yes also nervous and excited for DD starting secondary this year!! She has mild CP and issues with anxiety, bit of sensory stuff going on too.

She's had some transition meetings and we've now met SENCO but still so many questions and I just can't quite get my head around it all!

Like you I have an older child already at the school which definitely helps.

It's worth asking SENCO about uniform regulations as DD will need relaxed rules around taking her blazer off (she can't regulate temperature) and can wear soft trousers as she struggles with the horrible itchy polyester ones.

[Titsywoo]

Yes I definitely need to set up a meeting with the SENCO asap. I'll get onto it this week. Did you just call them and ask to meet with them?

[Butterfly1975]

The primary SENCO set up our transition meeting but there's only one main school here that most of the kids go to so transfer to secondary is very straightforward!

Do you have any other healthcare professionals working with your DS as they can probably set something up and also attend the meeting?

[ilovesprouts]

Yes my DS2 starts September he's been going for visits and to go on the school bikes .

[Titsywoo]

So I met with the senco and she was lovely. Put my mind at rest about lots of things and have put some things in place for him. He just done his 2 induction days and they seemed to go well. Hope you arw all getting on ok :)

[vickibee]

my Ds also has ASD starts 2ndry in September, he has had extra transition days so he is familiar with the buildings and has also met key staff including SENCO. the school have said all the right things in terms of support but actions speak louder than word and will just have to wait and see. He has had a tough time at primary as he stood out as being different in a very small, middle class village school