Should i change my DD school ??? Really long Sorry xx

[twocutedarlings]

Hi,

DD how is 5 started school this september over they summer holidays she was Dx with Aspergers,

When we applied for a school place for DD in sept 06 we had no idea that she had aspergers, tbh we thought that she just had a developmental delay with social interaction.

She is in a mixed class Reception/year 1 of 30 children, there is one teacher plus a TA.

The only additional support she receives is 3 hours per week with a play worker.

School so far have been quite supportive, however DD class teacher has mension on a few occations that DD behavior is affecting some of the other pupils.

The schools teaching system means that the children are moved around to various classrooms with differant teachers for each activity, i have just been given the a copy of the record that they playworker writes up at the end of each vistit, and during a 3 hour session DD was moved between 3 differant room 4 times (ie from her classroom to a room for freeplay, back to her classroom, then to the IT suite). At the end of the playworker record she says that she had expected DD to really enjoy the IT suite as kids with Aspergers often do, however DD just went off in her own world, I must add that given the fact that she had been passed from piler to post im not suprised atall. But this is the way that things are done every day at this school.

Upto now she has had various problems settleing in, and to be honest im just not sure what to do, do i stick with this school whom have been supportive but dont seem to be that much experiance of working with ASD, or do i look for another school that have more experiance and a traditional classroom setting.

[beckytuesday]

Hello,

As you'll probably have gathered from my other thread I don't have much of a clue what to suggest but just wanted to say I feel for you. What a shame they can't just let her stay in one classroom all day and sort herself out. You're having to weigh up the huge upheaval of moving school against the day in day out hassle for her of being shunted between classrooms.

I can only suggest

a) give her to half-term to see if she can manage the changing rooms

b) ask if her movements could be cut down to a minimum - maybe she could have her playworker time in her own classroom while everyone does something elsewhere?

My instinct would be to stay put, as it is the devil you know and at least the school is trying to be helpful. I used to be a reception teacher and in my experience not many early years teachers (including me - but I'm gonna have to learn fast!) know much about autism as it's quite rare for it to be diagnosed this early. Good luck.

[twocutedarlings]

Hi Becky,

X posts ive just posted on your thread, lol [grim]

Her playworker who know my dd very well as she worked with her at pre school, is there to help her handle the school system.

i will ask if its possible for classroom changes to be kept to a minimum, but i have a sneaky feeling that school are really keen to try and get DD to fit in .

[beckytuesday]

Fit in - or just "become really easy going and tractable overnight"? I think they need to adapt to her as much as they can.

Sorry about crossing threads all the - I've not posted on mumsnet much before...

Am off to bed now as it's bound to be a tough day tomorrow. But let's stay in touch, i can't tell you how great it is to have found I'm not alone in all this.

Night!

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Hi Twocutedarlings

Three hours per week additional support amounts to bugger all in terms of a school week. What your DD needs is a Statement. Unlike these other plans a Statement is legally binding, will set out her difficulties and have strategies to improve her situation. She would get far more classroom one to one support. I would start applying for one now (yes I realise she is 5) but I cannot stress that enough.

Not unfortunately surprised to read that she is still having difficulties (I read your other postings); school doesn't really understand and your DD cannot through no fault of her own cope with her class moving around all the time. As for them trying to "fit them in" well its just not going to work.

You may ultimately have to move schools to find somewhere that is going to be more understanding of her needs. Whereever she goes though, she still needs a Statement.
Statements can take six months to set up so time is important.

The best person to apply for a Statement is you as her parents. Certainly not school, you have far more power than they do in this regard. You will need to write to the Chief Education Officer at your LEA (Local Education Authority) and give them six weeks to reply. They must reply by law within six weeks.

All that seems very daunting and it is but the above could help her no end in terms of her educational needs.

You are her best - and only - advocates.

[seeker]

Just to say that I think most NT children would find moving about like this very difficult at 5. I know my ds would and he's 6. Why do they do it? I've never heard of a primary school where this happens. My ds only moves to the hall or outside for pe/games and to the ITC suite for ITC. Apart from that they are in the same room.

[twocutedarlings]

Hi Attila,

Thanks again for your reply, Yes i know a statement would be the best thing for my DD, and i am going to apply for one. But because DD only started school on the 4th of this month school have said that our application would carry more strenghth if we hold off a while.

The lady from the earley years inclusion service did some observations on thursday and highlighted various areas where school could make improvements to help DD. However she also said that DD is very unlikely to to get a statement as she feels that DDs problems are transitional and not long term.

We are currently waiting for the Autistic Teaching team to contact school, im hopeing that they will be able to offer additional support for her.

My main issue here is that we could just be waisting our time even working with this school because of they way they run, and in the long term would it just be easier to find a more experianced traditional school. As there are a number of schools locally that we could have a look into.

But i feel so torn to be honest, as this school are willing to back me in applying for a statement.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Hi twocutedarlings,

Re your comments:-
Thanks again for your reply, Yes i know a statement would be the best thing for my DD, and i am going to apply for one.

You go girl!!. Look at IPSEA's website - www.ipsea.org.uk.

"But because DD only started school on the 4th of this month school have said that our application would carry more strenghth if we hold off a while".

Don't understand why they've said this tbh with you. If you hold off it just delays the whole application further, besides which the whole process from start to finish can take months.

"The lady from the earley years inclusion service did some observations on thursday and highlighted various areas where school could make improvements to help DD".

Good but these people only operate in an advisory capacity. It won't fill the gaps.

"However she also said that DD is very unlikely to to get a statement as she feels that DDs problems are transitional and not long term".

Unlikely to get a statement?. Her problems are transitional, has she no idea?. Sorry but this is pure and unmitigated BS on her part. Its designed to put people off applying. Besides which its not her decision. My advice is to apply for the statement now and if as likely the LEA turn you down, appeal.

"We are currently waiting for the Autistic Teaching team to contact school, im hopeing that they will be able to offer additional support for her"

Hmm, again their role is purely advisory. It won't fully plug the gaps.

"My main issue here is that we could just be waisting our time even working with this school because of they way they run, and in the long term would it just be easier to find a more experianced traditional school. As there are a number of schools locally that we could have a look into".

As said before ultiamtely you may need to find another school which is more understanding of her needs. You still need the statement though, it will make her school life more bearable for her whichever school she is in.

"But i feel so torn to be honest, as this school are willing to back me in applying for a statement".

At least this school are backing you, this is important. But again YOU must apply for the statement, not them. You can appeal if the LEA say no, the school cannot.

[twocutedarlings]

Thankyou so much Attila, im going to set the ball rolling straight away, im even going to hand deliver it to the LEA monday morning.

Its so hard to think straight when your emotions are so high.