Advice on finding a MAINSTREAM PRIMARY school that is ASD friendly.

[TheRealMrsF]

I can travel 6 miles to a school which has a ASD unit attatched...meaning that the whole school will be aware of ASD etc.

My boys won't be in the unit- they are not statemented and seen as too able by their current school to be statemented....so for now i will assume they are right...and look for a better placement.

However...(thinking of Chocol8!) i know there are people on here who have found a great mainstream school...with no ASD specific classes etc....and it is working.

There are approx 12 primary schools locally that may be 'perfect'.
I just don't know what to say when i phone them??

Feel like asking if they are ASD friendly or aware...or if they have a child there alraedy needing visual scedules and playground support...and therefore then i will be sure they 'know what i am on about',.

Can i for example ask to speak to a SENCO at a school as a preliminary step to see just what they are able to offer?

[jampots]

our school is ASD friendly and have many LSAs to support the children who need the extra! Where do you live?

[TheRealMrsF]

....wiltshire...nr BATH

[jampots]

ah more than 6 miles then!

speak to your school nurse who probably covers all teh schools in the area anyway. She may be able to help

[TheRealMrsF]

It's just this feeling that i may not have to go 'out of town'...and that there may be a school round here who have teachers etc who are interested in ASD.
There are a few 'negatives' about the school i have found....and i am scared i will move them agaion (only been at this school since april 2004)...and find that because they are not in the ASD unit...that it's no different to a 'plain' mainsteam school!!!!!

[jampots]

try looking here as you can access ofsted reports too

[TheRealMrsF]

that's a good idea.... i am alao goin to phone the ASD Outreach team who are based at the ASD unit...and ask them if they have visited any school locally who have a good attitude etc.

Just feel let down by the current school who because they have a Speech & Language Unit measure my son's needs/difficulties against those children in the unit who have little speech etc...the SENCO once told me that i aws 'lucky that my boys can walk and talk'

[TheRealMrsF]

THAT is brilliant!!
I assume i can read about SN provision etc on there.
TQ

[coppertop]

Ds1's school has been ASD-friendly so far - although I suppose it could change if his next teacher isn't as understanding. One thing that seems to help is having a SENCO who doesn't have a class of their own to teach, so it may be worth looking into that if possible. Ds1's school also has a sensory integration programme and a multi-sensory designated area. Again that is something you could ask the SENCO about.

Do you have any ASD support groups near you? Parents may be able to give you a better perspective than OFSTED reports.

[TheRealMrsF]

Thats great advice CT.....cos if a school has those facilities....means they know what we are talking about.

Current school has no idea about meltdowns for example.

it's a shame as this school seemed so good to start with....but when the TA starts to warn the child to "NOT NAG YOUR MUM about school"...then that starts to leave a bad taste in my mouth...as at the end of the day if they are hinting he shouldn't tell me what's going on at school...then that's like bullying in it's own right ...like "don't tell mum...or else"

[coppertop]

I'd be concerned about a member of staff telling a child not to talk about school. The teacher, TA and ds1's LSA all encourage ds1 to tell me as much as possible about what he's been doing/learning etc.