Anyone in education supporting a child with PDA?

[Sometimeswinning]

Have been working the last year with a child who has been diagnosed PDA. Took me a while but I’ve finally got it and seen so many improvements. Anyone in education in the same boat?

Your approach has been used, I’ve used it. The result has been injury, evacuations, disruption to learning.

So no. As I’ve said upthread an alteration to an individuals learning does not mean they think they will get a free ride in life. It does not mean they won’t succeed at school or in the future. It means school will become a safe place. Then they can thrive.

Being tough does not help a learning disability. It’s like saying to someone snap out of that seizure and get back to work.

https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/behaviour/demand-avoidance

Since you mention EHCPs, you are obviously in England. Using the terminology used in England, PDA is not a learning disability. In England, learning disability is a diagnosis in its own right. Although some may have ASD with a PDA profile and a learning disability.

My point is how I deal and approach PDA. How I survive daily with how PDA impacts a class. My view as an LD is far better than someone with a view it’s a choice and behaviour which can be fixed with tough love. If a child is not diagnosed with Autism do we ignore PDA profiles?

So I get your point, but respectfully this is about hints and tips. I’m not writing a book or carrying out research. This is about what has helped me build a bond and not get hit and kicked as much as I was back in September, October and November.

I didn’t say anything about forcing DC. I was commenting on you calling PDA a learning disability when it isn’t. Using the correct terminology is important.

Of course a child who isn’t yet diagnosed with ASD but has SEN still needs support. I didn’t say otherwise. Support in schools is based on needs, not diagnosis. I was commenting on the diagnosis being separate to that of a learning disability diagnosis.

Is the school happy you're using a workbook from The Works? Why do you not offer White Rose sheets or whatever maths scheme your school uses?

Because they don’t give the choice. If I give a sheet from white rose I need to emulate a lesson and I’m not a teacher. If my child will happily sit through a lesson and do the work then brilliant.

However, if I see my child deregulated, not listening, trying to get others to join in with their chat then I need something quick and easy and accessible.

I would love to be given support from my school. Many TA’s and teachers do not get it and I’m in that situation. Hence my AMA.

Does the child’s EHCP include training for staff?

That’s not what an EHCP is for. I’ve yet to read one which covers staff training anyway! Do you work in education?

PDA isn’t actually recognised in my LA, so we have no guidance or help from inclusion or EPSS for it at all.

I'm sorry you're not being given support. I'm surprised by your answer - I would have thought WR was pretty accessible. Grammarsaurus follows the WR steps almost exactly but has a Working Towards sheet which is easier. I agree if they're doing some maths (or whatever) that's better than nothing.

Do you feel you are able to meet the provision stated in the EHCP?

EHCPs absolutely can cover the training, qualifications and experience of staff! It is part of what they are for. LAs often don’t unless forced because it costs money - many EHCPs are poor.

For example, some have more general training (e.g. PDA society’s PDA for Educators course &/or PAST’s level 3 PDA course) as part of their child’s EHCP. Some have individualised/bespoke training (e.g. from Clare Truman, PAST, Corrina Wood at Platypus or an EP) as part of their child’s EHCP.

I don’t work in schools but I work part-time TTO for an organisation who supports parents who have disabled DC. Over the years I have supported numerous parents to secure good EHCPs, including training/qualifications/experience of staff. I also have 3 DSs with EHCPs. All three have the training, qualifications and experience of staff working with them included F of their EHCPs.

I’m very lucky, as I say I have a high needs class. A few times through the year I have done the plasters lesson with them https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1D21SUUs1E/?mibextid=wwXIfr
we all need different things - then we just refer to it if we get an ‘it’s not fair!’
I have kids that need movebresks, kids that need ear defenders, kids that have fidgets, kids with standing desks, kids with wobble cushions …. We all need different things to learn.
I do actually find that while he is drawing or building a Lego model, or playing with play dough he is listening to the lesson input more often than not.

I know you weren’t asking me but no I absolutely cannot meet the EHCP requirements of all of the children in my class…. The ‘individual’ interventions I am supposed to do for the children with them total 19.5 hours.
Sone are also contradictory- such as have a visual timetable for one child, and for the little boy with PDA I am not supposed to refer to what is upcoming in the afternoon as it heightens his anxiety if plans change.
I have a TA with me for 1.5 hours a day.
Thats before you think about all of the other children in my class.

And I only envision this getting worse with the SEND white paper

What if the child isn’t working towards? What if they are working beyond? PDA does not mean academically behind.

Being given a worksheet from WR and being told to complete it is kind of what I’m avoiding. It results in scribbles, binning and sometimes cut into confetti. So I would go as far as to say I avoid worksheets. Especially those way below or above or even at their level of learning. It’s a minefield. One day it works. Next day it doesn’t.

Mine don’t. This isn’t really about that. I feel you have an agenda which isn’t what I’m experienced in. I read my EHCPs (I have 5 this year) I work hard and deliver them.

Im reaching out to TA’s or teachers who are struggling and passing on what I’ve learnt and works for me. Sorry if you felt I was arguing a case. I’m not. Feel free to start a post about what you seem pretty passionate about. I’m sure I’ll comment as I do like a PDA chat.

Im just a TA who’s enjoying my job at the moment. Nothing special.

I don’t have an agenda. You said “I would love to be given support from my school. Many TA’s and teachers do not get it and I’m in that situation.” My question about training, qualifications and experience was in relation to that. It wasn’t a comment on how hard you work or a judgement of you. At the AR, you could bring up training.

I have written into my son's EHCP for the OT to provide training to the staff. If they would actually go, I feel it would be very beneficial.

Sorry, I was trying to be helpful. I assumed easier was better because you said the workbook you have from The Works is accessible.

I'm a SENCO and class teacher so I totally get this. I was asking the OP specifically as they do actually seem to be 1:1 with their child; I wondered if they felt able to deliver what the EHCP stated. Your situation sounds terrible - 1.5 hours of TA support isn't going to be anywhere near the national £6k funding per child so I'd be questioning where additional EHCP funding is being spent. (I appreciate notional funding isn't ring fenced.)

I’m a TA and not included in ARs. I’m not really here to comment on how EHCPs are put together. I read mine. I act on mine and ensure targets are met. If not that’s not really on me either. That’s for everyone above me to put in place.

If I have 5 EHCPs is that not least 2 staff? No? Then I adapt. No advice on how to have them in class for 45 minutes? I’ll improvise. That’s the advice I can give.

Sorry for the misunderstanding. But this was more about PDA and the classroom. I may have digressed.

As in straight to the point and no lesson needed. Plus she do page one or page 27. She won’t need me to support her. Sorry, all advice is good. Thankyou.

Even if you don’t attend the AR meeting, if you don’t have any input into the AR, that is poor from the school/LA.

If I have 5 EHCPs is that not least 2 staff?

That will depend on what is in F of their EHCPs.

Absolutely. Thankyou. And yes because of F I mention 2 TAs.