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SEN

Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

Original poster

ADHD in secondary Grammar school

36 replies

Whereisthesunny · 06/03/2024 10:27

Ds is in yr7 and keeps getting in trouble in the afternoon for shouting out as struggles with focus by then. Any suggestions i could ask school to try. He is not medicated. He is allowed breaks but it still happens.
Would also be interested in those who chose grammar for their ADHD child and moved them later on. Son hates it and wants to move school and i can’t see if this would be better in local secondary as surely ADHD would be still affect him the same way.

OP posts:
OhCrumbsWhereNow · 14/04/2024 00:29

The problem you might find if you move him is that you get far less support than you do now - especially if he is bright and achieving, as the grammar will probably have far fewer SEN kids and almost certainly far fewer with complex needs.

There is so much pressure on resources right now that in our experience if child is not suffering hugely from mental health issues or failing everything then you are pretty much on your own. Disruption in class is likely to just result in an awful lot of time in detentions.

Is there a reason you haven't tried medication? It's been completely life-changing for us (high-achieving 15 year old with ADHD and severe dyslexia).

Phineyj · 13/04/2024 22:51

If he himself would like to try a different school, there would be no harm in looking into the position re in year admissions, going for a tour etc?

Going on my experience of teaching in grammar and in comprehensive, there will be more kids like him in a comprehensive.

He's obviously bright to have passed the grammar tests.

Better to consider a move now than get to year 9 and find it's too late.

Headfirstintothewild · 12/04/2024 20:22

Request to speak to the SENCO again. Even though DS doesn’t have an EHCP, does he have an IEP? You could request an EHCNA yourself.

Lots of secondary schools have social/nurture groups.

Is the toilet pass acting as a pass for movement breaks? They should be separate and DS needs prompting to use the pass for movement breaks.

Many with ADHD do find school difficult, but much more can be done to support DS.

Original poster
Whereisthesunny · 12/04/2024 20:16

Thanks for these. He is in year 7 so not sure if the social/nurture groups are more of a primary school level?!
He has had a meeting with a mentor i think a couple of times. Will ask what the outcome of that was when we are seeing them.
Last time i spoke to senco was about 3 months ago after parents evening and we agreed on the movement break for him and he was then given a toilet pass to use when he feels he needs it.He does not have an ehcp.
this is a grammar school and i get the feeling that they don’t want him there.
He has voiced several times that he wants to move school to his local one to be with his old school friends but i feel for him it’s just a superficial reason as he actually finds secondary rules hard to obey but i feel these problems will be there locally too.
So based on this i think he is a hassle for school and they would rather he moved.
The call today didn’t highlight any major incidents but lots of low level ones that even the head of year agreed is down to his adhd.
Am i wrong to think that we can’t aim to perfection here and it’s expected to be a bit of a tough ride due to his adhd?!

OP posts:
Headfirstintothewild · 12/04/2024 18:29

I would go back to starting with the original questions. Have you spoken to the SENCO? Is there an IEP in place? Is DS having movement breaks or does he needed to be prompted to like he only uses the toilet pass if sent out? As well as proper movement breaks teachers can help my engineering movement during the lesson e.g. using DS to hand out books. Does the school offer sensory circuits? What is DS doing and eating at lunchtime?

In addition to those, do they have a mentor who can work with DS? Have they looked at placement within the classroom? Do they have a social/nurture group?

Original poster
Whereisthesunny · 12/04/2024 17:20

I think without knowing ds it’s difficult to judge or suggest.
He is super articulate and acts very mature one to one and is a pleasure to be around.
His issues arise when he is in class or ant break time amongst his peers and is trying to dominate or be funny or feels anxious or frustrated about work. That’s when inappropriate behaviour happens.
Social anxiety i assume is part of it but maybe to top it with adhd is not a great mix.

But again i wouldn’t say he would be happy at home without other children around.
Its a very difficult and fine line achieving contentment with him

OP posts:
Original poster
Whereisthesunny · 12/04/2024 17:13

We have been called in for a meeting as they are struggling with his disruptive behaviour of shouting in trying to be funny. when they take him out of class he seems better but u guess they can’t go on like this.
My son requested to go on a behaviour log again as he feels he does better when he has to be accountable but again so just had a call for mum&dad and ds to come in and have a chat about how to go forward.
Any advice on what else i can suggest to meet his needs?
He’s been given a toilet pass which allows him to go out for a break but he doesn’t use it unless he is sent out.
Im not sure what else i can suggest to them to try

OP posts:
Headfirstintothewild · 06/03/2024 14:47

You should request a meeting with the SENCO. Have you ever had a conversation with them about the support DS needs? Does DS have an IEP or similar if the school calls them something else? Do you have teachers email addresses?

Original poster
Whereisthesunny · 06/03/2024 11:04

his teachers would know what exactly is happening but there is no communication from them. it always passed on to the head of year to contact me

OP posts:
Original poster
Whereisthesunny · 06/03/2024 11:03

I don’t know the answer to most of these questions as by the time i hear about issues it’s got to the head of the year and all these details are lost.
i get secondary is not as hands on i don’t ever seem to hear from the sen department.
i would change school i think before i put him on meds but might have to consider it

OP posts:
Headfirstintothewild · 06/03/2024 10:34

Is DS actually having breaks or does he need prompting to have a movement break?

What is DS doing and eating at lunchtime?

Does or can the school offer sensory circuits? If so, timing these to help after lunch may help.

Would you consider medication?