Wwyd? School issues

Maybe because it's mainstream?

Ok I've read through the posts again (sorry I'm tired!) and I can see they've said from warning to restraint so I'm assuming the restraint is where someone is in danger. I still don't think it's right to punish a child for echolalia and being unable to complete work when upset. Surely if a child is upset, they need support, not warnings and punishments. I'd be worried that this school is no longer equipped to meet DS's needs and I say that as someone who feels like I can't always meet the needs of my students due to the pressure I'm under. I have students with ASD who struggle to sit still because of their needs to stim. If I'm honest, I find it distracting at times but I wouldn't punish them for it as they can't help it. Same with the echolalia.

Echolalia (a asd trait)

being unable to complete work when upset

Being rude to staff

Why on earth would any child need to be restrained in these situations? (Unless I've misunderstood OP's post!) I understand the need to restrain a child if they are posing a physical risk to themselves or others but surely they don't feel the need to restrain him for the above? It sounds to me that the new teacher doesn't understand how to work with OP's DS or simply doesn't have the capacity due to how teachers are being stretched at the moment. I say this as a secondary school teacher who is seeing an ever increasing number of students with SEN in their groups. There's something not right here OP, I wouldn't agree to my child being restrained for the above reasons! I'd either be going in to see the SENDCO or looking to move schools. That percentage of teachers leaving in one year is also very worrying!

You are living in cloud cuckoo land! The school have a duty of care to other children and staff, they cant let a child go round assaulting others, trashing the school and other people's things, or making it so others can't feel safe and learn. The school do not need the ops permission.

I’m sorry that this is where you are. The fact that he disliked school and you feel that you’ve lost faith suggests that a new setting would be useful.

In the meantime, I’d be asking:
who would be laying hands on your child? What training have they had? Does this include de-escalation techniques? Ask to look at the recording methods for physical intervention. Staff are legally allowed to do this, when there are risks to the child of others, with particular techniques which should be taught and assessed. However, there must be a robust recording process.

What are the “issues” with echolalia? Is your child a gestalt language processor? Do the staff need additional training to understand and support?

Sensory breaks: are these being supported? There should be a better plan than “letting him out of the room”! Are there sensory circuits or a sensory diet in place? With a 1:1 these could be facilitated quite easily and could help before a crisis is reached.

Sorry! Feels like a bit of an essay. I’m a teacher in a specialist setting, I’m very keen that children should have the support they need to access learning!

Do not give them permission to use ‘restraint’ on your child. I’m disgusted that a school would have the audacity to ask a parent if they would give permission for their child to be manhandled by random school staff who probably haven’t been trained otherwise they wouldn’t have worded it like that.

@24Dogcuddler is spot on.

I don't understand this. Restraint is only allowed to be used as a last resort where your dc is at risk of hurting himself or someone else. They are telling you as a courtesy because they don't need your permission.is your boy autistic? Ime year 5 is when behaviour problems in boys with SN really ramp up.

What does your dc want to do? Is he open to moving schools?

Id actually be a bit freaked out about being made to sign a form about physically restraining my child.

Does it actually say they'll punish echolaliea? That seems very wrong. Have they not tried other strategies? I see that in class of 30, one child repeating a sound could be distracting, but that's not a reason to restrain. It should be removal and distraction until ready to return.

Definitely ask for an early EHCP review. Are his provisions happening? Does the EHCP actually state full time 1.1?

His EHCP, or at least internal school paperwork, can and should include provision around what to do when things go wrong. For example, if he refuses to leave the sensory area, then he may need a different area provided for when he needs a break, such as a tent in the classroom.

What support is he getting during unstructured time? If he is getting physical, then something should be in place to prevent the need for restraint.

What is the plan for work refusal? Would he be able to complete unfinished work at home? Or would it be it be better for him to write off incomplete work?

Have they completed ABC or STAR analysis to understand behavioural patterns?

These would be some of the key questions I would be asking in the review, if I were in your shoes.

In terms of the restraint consent, that's odd. The legal guidance say school stacf have every right to intervene with restrictive physical intervention if the child is a risk to self or others, significant risk to property or disruptive to the good order of the school. This should only be at the end of proactive support for behaviour, and attempts at non-restrictive interventions. Only doing it with an parental permission is not good enough. At an extreme, if a child were choking and staff did nothing because they didn't have permission to intervene physically, then the school would be in breach of their duty of care.

Apologies for the typos, may have had a couple of glasses of wine 🙈 before someone jumps on me for being a reacher who can't spell/ use basic grammar.

It sounds like the school have put a positive handling plan in place. It is a specific plan for children who are highly likely to be in a situation which is unsafe for them or others )so those who have shown physical behaviours previously).

It should be a goto plan for supporting him if he is in crisis, and include signs for staff to notice that he is escalating and the strategies that are lost effective for him to de-escalate. The last point on the plan is physical restraint and the point of the plan is to try and avoid that. And even that is about identify the safest way to move him out of the situation e.g. the nearest safe space in the school and best route there.

The worry for me (from a teaching and education background) is the sudden escalation of these behaviours making the PHP necessary, when they have not been present before. It really does indicate that the school are not.meeting his needs like they did previously.

Yep. I’d move schools.

I agree, I would be questioning this robustly, especially when it hasn't been used before.

My DS is autistic and had similar with a new teacher in y5, it went downhill and was quite traumatic for him. Year 6 was a write off and he moved to Special school for y7.

I would contact your LA and ask specifically for the caseworker to attend too. And maybe approach SENDIASS too. I would honestly be putting pressure on the school to get things back on track. If no joy complain to the HT and escalate to the govs if needed.

If the school has always met his needs before, I would be pushing hard for them to sort the provision out.
Definitely ask for an emergency review.
I suspect it is less capable teachers needing support.
If school are struggling to meet his needs they should be getting in support from specialist teachers/EP etc to advise on his provision.
Hopefully that will get thinks back in track but if not, and you get to considering a non mainstream option this will be important in establishing that this is what is needed.
With just over a year to go until year 7 transition I would try and get things back on track at the current school.
If you call an emergency review your caseworker can hopefully push school to take appropriate action too.

That sounds awful, why would they even punish echolalia? And why restrain? Restraint is only justified if he is hurting others or himself. Even then, I would expect them to try prevention, for example, 1:1 in playground or keeping him away from known bullies. You could move or you could formally complain to try and get changes.

I’d follow my gut and move him. They aren’t showing signs of supporting him or wanting to be inclusive.

I would never sign permission to restrain my child unless they’re known to be a risk to others. If he’s struggling and they can’t manage him, they should call you.

From what you’ve said, it sounds like a sinking ship and I wouldn’t want him to go down with it.

Would he be open to a new school? Could he look around with you so he feels it’s a collaborative move? He sounds like a bright child, he may see a different environment he’d like to try.

Sounds like the school isn't meeting his needs so yes I'd move him. What other schools are near by and can they meet his needs

Teachers can use reasonable restraint anyway to protect the safety of children in their care. The fact they've asked you to sign this means they are being over transparent about it. Is it a specific plan for him, or a generic on applied to him? There's a difference and you need to know.

It sounds like you both like his 1.1 and he did well with them last year, have you spoken to them about his behaviour and what they think is causing it?

I’m not sure I understand the permission to restrain, surely it would only be done when completely necessary for his or someone else’s safety?
Dd was attacked and repeatedly hit by a SN child last year and he was restrained by 2 members of staff to stop him. If his parents hadn’t signed a form would they just have to let him carry on?

If restraint is a possibility they should have an individual behaviour support plan in place which you should have a copy of and should be discussed with you. I agree that it sounds like they are not sharing information with you.