My son has just turned 4 and we are awaiting a formal ASD/ADHD diagnosis - it has been suggested that he is at the what was formerly known as Asperger’s end of the spectrum (sorry I have no idea what any of the correct terms are, still learning, trying my best not to offend anyone) with significant ADHD.
To summarise he is very bright particularly around numbers and letters (can count into the 100s, can do simple sums like 25+3, can write his name, can read simple words by sight but does not read phonetically if that makes sense, has an excellent memory, very loving and affectionate, is friendly and has good empathy (will alert preschool staff if another child is upset, becomes upset himself if another person is crying and needs reassurance they are ok and being helped) but has social communication issues so although he is verbal and able to answer closed questions and make statements, he cannot maintain back and forth conversations although this is improving little by little. He struggles to follow instructions when hyperactive and is very, very impulsive with zero danger awareness. He is toilet trained although this took me a really long time! No issues as yet with noise/lights/sensory issues. He can have meltdowns when tired or when something triggers him.
He is due to start school in September. We have just got the news that the LA have agreed to issue him an EHCP which mentions throughout he needs a high level of
adult supervision due to his hyperactivity and impulsivity, my friend who is a teacher has read through it with me and believes it to be pretty good albeit a couple of
details I need clarified and then have the final draft all agreed and ironed out.
Every professional who has met and assessed my son has unanimously recommended he attends mainstream primary with a high level of adult supervision. This is what the EHCP recommends.
I fought bloody hard for that EHCP after they turned down the request to assess twice. I was crying with relief when it was finally agreed to issue him with it.
The relatively new manager at the preschool he has attended for the last year dropped a bombshell on me on Friday that she thinks I haven’t thought enough about special school for him. I said this wasn’t what was recommended at any point by multiple professionals who have seen my son over the last year and she said “they don’t tell parents the truth and that’s where I come in”
I made the point that I’m sure developmental paediatricians, ed national psychologists, SEN advisors etc etc etc have had to have difficult conversations with parents before and tell them things they don’t want to hear but she continued to dismiss this. She admitted later in the conversation she hadn’t yet even read the draft EHCP recommendations.
I was so offended that she told me repeatedly if he was her son she would be thinking about the bigger picture of special school. I spend every waking minute worrying about my son’s future. It literally consumes me.
she also said all of this not in the context of a meeting but out of the blue at the preschool gate in front of my son and a couple of other parents who had arrived to collect their kids.
I am absolutely livid at how she has arrogantly dismissed what’s been recommended for my son, inferred repeatedly I’ve not thought enough what’s best for him, and did all of this in front of my son.
It’s left me questioning so much - I had thought for the last year he’s been looked after by a team who care about him and understand him but the way this new manager spoke, I got the vibe that he’s viewed negatively and spoken about negatively amongst them. if this conversation had taken place 6 months ago, I would have walked away and never gone back (I obviously realise I cannot unsettle him by enrolling him in a new preschool for the last 3 months of the summer term
before he starts school in September).
Two questions here really - number one,
is anyone with ASD experience able to advise whether mainstream or specialist school provision is most suitable for a child who presents as my son does?
Question two, am I within my rights to say I don’t want this woman anywhere near transition planning for my son? And as she’s the nursery manager who’s self appointed expert on all topics apparently and is placing herself front and centre of his transition planning, can I actually refuse consent for her to be involved? How does this work?
Any advice or pointers gratefully received.
I am in such a low place with all of this at the moment. Worrying how life will be for him and desperately don’t want to make the wrong decision for him.