Is everyone, everywhere ND - I seriously am confused.

All of them because PIP is for 16+.

Any child in a group education setting would almost certainly do better in a 1:1 setting.

so yes, anything that takes resources away from a 1:1 tutor type situation is probably stopping your child from reaching their full potential.

however the schooling system is set up to educate all children. You couldn’t give 1:1 tutoring to all children it’d take too many people and too much money.

so choices are made. The younger the child the more adults you generally need - you can’t easily look after more than three babies under 1 for example. Most nurseries have a preschool room that can be one adult to 13 pre schoolers.

children are grouped by age in schools to make it easier to educate them.

if you genuinely want the best for your child a series of 1:1 tutors plus social activities is probably the best but most cannot afford that. Hence group schooling.

My parents were at school in the 60s and early 70s. They are both autistic and both went to 'normal' comprehensives but didn't do very well. My sister and I are both autistic, as are her children, and a lot of my wider family. I don't think anyone who knows us would be surprised by that! Some of us are able to work but struggle with mental health, change etc and some will never work, marry etc. The difference is now that we've been diagnosed where as school by dad was just suspended/ punished a lot and my mum was a nervous wreck. For me, it has to be a good thing that people are understanding themselves more and being treated with greater kindness.
However, I work in education and at my particular state comprehensive we are close to 50% of our latest cohort being on the SEN register - it rises year on year - and I don't think we can continue to think of neurodivergance as an SEN that needs something "different" because soon enough ND children will be the greater majority in the school. Education needs to be re-considered as a whole so it's more inclusive, relevant to how people are living now and helpful for the kinds of careers and jobs people actually go into. It's a big,big ask but "the problem" of SEN (and the associated costs) won't be resolved until this is done.

We claim DLA. It takes several days to fill that form in.

You have to be kidding!!!!

Specialist schools aren't a one size fit all either.

I'm not against 'bases within mainstream ' if done properly. DS was well served by an autism centre attached to a mainstream school, meaning he could gradually increase his tolerance and actually get an education.

It was small, calm and autism-specific, though. A larger, mixed-condition, chaotic base would have done none of those children any favours.

I think it’s hard when it’s almost impossible for young people to buy houses, get well paid jobs by just walking in etc

Most parents want their kids to succeed in life (obviously), and if that means getting their child support in whatever way possible, then they will do it.

You say to just let children be, there will always be not-so-clever kids - these kids will struggle in life without additional support compared to previous generations. Kids these days need to succeed so if a child is having struggles, parents will be more inclined to get this diagnosis to access as much as possible to help their struggling child.

At the same time, I do think lots of lazy parents put the ND label on their kids. I do also believe that life is incredibly different to how it was years ago, and the world is in a rather sorry state.

I can’t imagine that helps the situation!

Me neither. It’s absolute bollocks and usually used by the parents who have made this label up as an excuse for shit parenting and their kids disgusting behaviour

Do you know how many ND children have their education ruined by NT children?

ND children are 3 times more likely to be bullied with 80% experiencing bullying. This happens in classrooms and other areas of school. Many are in no way disruptive, quite the reverse. Many are just trying to keep their heads down and to blend out of view.

My sister was diagnosed with ADHD in her early 40s. She's a high achiever but my god the difference after she was medicated. She has absolutely soared and she just seems so much happier and calmer. What was ignored when we were kids - now isn't ignored and these are conditions that can be helped, so why not help?

No it's def not the fault of the child. It's the fault of the system and the politicians.

You don't think

an asd diagnostic report from a multidisciplinary team
salt report
ot report
school reports
an ehcp
camhs report

is robust evidence?

I know. It's horrendous. I thought Labour were supposed to help those who needed it. That's the opposite to what they are doing.

I’d expect a parent to take the kid out so people could watch the film in peace. How selfish.

And that’s the fault of the ND child, is it?
My ND son never disrupted anyone’s learning. It still wasn’t the right environment for him, not least because he was hideously bullied due to his disability by the NT children.

🤣🤣

I'm sure the current workforce will really miss you.

If they can manage in mainstream and aren't disrupting others' education / learning, that great.

Do you know how many 'NT' kids' education is ruined / disrupted every day by unsuited kids being in mainstream schools?

The send reforms which the gov are pushing on with will do the exact opposite of this. They actively state that they will keep special schools for those with the most need and want the majority of kids educated in mainstream with bases.

Provision won't be to meet their needs it'll be defined and from a set list. There will be more not less disruption to kids in mainstream and less support for kids with send. Every parent not just parents of send kids need to have a look at what is being suggested especially if you already feel that your child's education is being disrupted by send kids.

Agreed. But it isn’t the fault of the ND children that those schools don’t currently exist. It took us 3.5 years and thousands of pounds to get our child into a suitable specialist school. In the meantime he was being horrifically bullied in mainstream, and self harming in distress. Do you think us parents of disabled children want them in that environment?
I also have 2 NT children, so from an education perspective had experienced all sides. Knowing that the other parents at the school felt how you feel about my child being at mainstream school but there being absolutely nothing I could do about it nearly broke me. It did break my son.

I'm sorry - I cannot stand the term "Neuro Spicy"

Video games. And poor parenting. My taxi won’t come soon enough, I’m out of here on my motorbike!

I know!!! Just appalling.