Secondary school - what adjustments has yours made for your ASC child?

[AllTheGoodOnesAreTaken]

Just trying to get an idea. Thanks

DS was in mainstream for year 7 and 8. The resonaboe adjustments made were

• no homework
• no detention
• no PE (but he decided himself to try for a while)
• laptop for written work (should have been provided straight away but he didn’t get it until year 8)
• no language lesson on year 8
• a quiet space for breaks/lunch
• a lunch pass to skip the queues

Then when DS was really struggling he was on a reduced timetable.

No language lessons from half way through yr 7
Reduced timetable of lessons but in school full time. He has additional 1:1 support lessons for maths, English and science. Weekly pastoral support session. TA in all classes for yr 7 and 8 but this has reduced to just core subjects now (which my son prefers)
He has a pass that allows him to go to pastoral support at anytime if needed (he’s not used it for a long time though)

DD is in an exam year. For exams she gets:
Own room and invigilator for exams.
25% extra time in exams.
For maths, gets to use a times table square because her mind goes blank and gets completely flustered just thinking about times table.
In general:
No PE.
Time out card.
Quiet area for breaks / lunch if she needs it (she doesn't always).
She's allowed to wear headphones in class if she needs to.
Understanding if she needs to take a day off school to recharge.
She goes to a tiny school though still mainstream. I moved her from her huge secondary where she did not cope at all. But they also gave her no adjustments there so who knows, she might have.
I hope your DC gets what he/she needs.

My DC is very able so able to access the curriculum. The concessions are due to anxiety and MH issues:
No PE
In Support for form time and pastoral time, also break and lunch, when necessary
Specialist external support
No pressure about her frequent absences, due to MH issues
The school has been excellent, due to the expertise of some staff with ASD but also, working in education means that I know what to ask for and how to ask for it.

Ds1 is allowed to use the music practice room at break and lunch (playing the piano is his obsession/thing that he does to calm down.

Ds2 has a pass that allows him to leave the classroom if he is feeling overwhelmed.

Dd has a pass to leave lessons if overwhelmed. She can go to learning support to continue with her work or read/listen to music.

She has a weekly pastoral session.

She/we have never been challenged about any time she has off due to anxiety.

My DS is Y8 in a large comp. He gets:

Laptop for written work (and touch typing club until he got to a fast enough typing speed)
A "time out" pass that allows him access to the support hub when needed.
Access to the support hub for lunch.
TA support in the classroom (not one to one).
Extra time in tests.

We also discussed with the senco before he started, but have not needed:
Homework for core subjects only.
Dropping language lessons.
A quiet space/extra time for changing for PE.

Able to go to the SEN dept whenever he fancies and is overwhelmed

Can use a phone to record lessons/take photos of the board

25% extra time in all tests and exams

Laptop if he wants to use it (either his own or the school's one)

His attendance is way below when the EWO get involved but he/I get no hassle

He has a passport which all his teachers get - they all know he's autistic and what adjustments he needs to help him access the curriculum

They will typically put in place any reasonable adjustments I ask for. Compared to primary, it's night and day. The SENCO is brilliant and really advocates for the kids with additional needs.

DS3 is year 7, ASD, dyslexia, visual
Impairment. He has a One plan, no EHCP. Big secondary school, although no 6th form.

He has a pass to leave the room if he needs to, don’t think he has ever used it. He is supposed to have a laptop for longer bits of writing. He gets this in English, but Geography & History never remember. He’s also supposed to get printouts of the slides used in class to help scaffold his notes. I am waiting to see how year 7 goes before making a fuss about this as it never happens.

He’s doing okay at the moment. It is a tricky transition.

DS3 had: (ten years ago)
Pass to leave lessons
Awareness about forgetting games kit, etc
Regular pastoral meetings
Reduced homework

Dd (masking ADHD very well)
Eventual pass to leave lessons after struggling
Teachers needing to be told she had adhd at y11 parents evenings
Being contacted by a sixth former asking her to do an interview about her adhd by email
Constantly being belittled for forgetting things

Both independent schools

DS is now in Y9, he has:

PE in a small "inclusion" group, no outside rough stuff playing rugby, football, etc
His own TA in the majority of classes
Allowed to leave a noisy class and work in the corridor or inclusion pod with his TA
Allowed to have his lunch in the inclusion pod
Allowed to leave class five minutes before others so the corridors are quieter for him going to next class
He gets advance notice of fire drills and alarms where possible
TAs will keep him up to date with changes before they happen, so he can cope with different staff, etc.
A fortnightly social skills class
They also do reasonably frequent confidence building days for pupils with AN, so he has trips out every month.

I don't know if he will get extra time in exams (he writes very slowly) but he did in primary, I will ask about this. I have mentioned his using a laptop instead as he is a quick typist, but haven't heard anything about it.

He couldn't cope in Y7 at all, then COVID closed the school and he couldn't cope with home schooling so had to return. Was a lot easier on him with reduced numbers in school. Behaviour was good in his primary school, he really struggles with disruptive behaviour in secondary, which is unfortunately all too common.

This school have suggested applying for an EHCP for him, as they believe he will need extensive support throughout education and beyond. It's hard to hear but at least it feels like they care about his welfare.

Out of curiosity, did anyone's DC get any concessions on uniform,. such as not having to wear a tie or a blazer?

This is so helpful, thank you everyone!

@PerrinAybara my DS had a clip on tie to start with but didn’t like it as he didn’t want to be different. The SENCO also said he didn’t have to do up his top button but he was regularly stopped and he found explaining more uncomfortable than doing the button up.

This has reminded me that DS also had a card he could show if he wanted to leave early. He also had an EHCP with lots of extra support including 1-1 hours - it didn’t work out as the environment was too overwhelming and DS didn’t t like feeling different.

DS3 has an EHCP and has 1:1. The 1:1 meets him at the entrance in a morning and delivers him back there 5 mins before the end of the day.

He has a personalised timetable so he gets all the therapies and interventions in his (SALT/OT/physio/Lego therapy/CP/ELSA/social skills support/touch typing) and doesn’t have to attend lessons he finds overwhelming e.g. art, DT etc.
Moves lessons 5 minutes early.
Doesn’t attend assemblies.
Use of laptop and assistive technology.
Time out card so he can go somewhere quieter.
Toilet pass
Quiet room if he needs it for breaks/lunch/during lessons
Lunch pass - although he doesn’t use it as he takes a packed lunch
Allowed to wear ear defenders or noise cancelling headphones.
Exam access arrangements - laptop/extra time (depends on subject), rest breaks, separate room.
Prior warning of lesson content and sent any work sheets and copies of notes prior to lessons.

Thank you this thread is really helpful as my DD will be starting yr7 in Sept but doesn’t have a EHCP. Can I request some of these adjustments without one? She will have had a private ASD assessment by the time she starts secondary (we’ve decided to go private as told 3yr wait list otherwise) and I’ve been asking school for the last 3yrs already and been fobbed off as high functioning & her anxiety only really started to impact in school last year. She is now on the SENCO list at primary school at least.

Coming back to this thread does anyone have a year 7 starting this Sept? My DD is autistic but doesn’t have a ECHP, we’ve filled in a transition passport thing but I think they are going to do a very much “see how she gets on..” we had same response at primary as academically bright but emotionally really struggling with anxiety around school. By the end of primary school she would only going in when I handed her over early before school to LST and was struggling a lot emotionally.
I’m dreading the next few weeks as I can feel the emotional pressure cooker building at home already from her. Anyone else? Ideally I like to secure the option of a laptop for some lessons and executive functioning support but not sure how to or what could help? She’s needs prompting for everything as anxiety fills her mind & she just forgets loads of simple things, but then does really well on academic tests so they think she’s just being “silly”…

@MermaidSwimming99 We we’re you and DD failed to transition in a spectacular way

IF you have problems be prepared to apply for an EHCP, don’t wait, don’t accept them trying to fob you off with things like ‘it takes time’ ‘she’s too bright for an EHCP’

Hopefully it will all go well but if it doesn’t there are lots of us here to offer support and guidance

If it helps, DD has just finished her A levels and is now about to start her degree, support at Uni seems much better and easier to obtain

DS1 had a time out pass he could use, and could also leave his lesson 5 minutes early so he didn't get stuck in a crowded corridor. He could also go to The Hub whenever he wanted.

Was allowed a locker, which were like hens teeth, so that he could keep his books and kit at school as organisation was not his strong point.

Had weekly pastoral lessons.

During exams he was able to go in a room and read the questions out loud to himself to help him process. He had a scribe and 25% extra time.

DS has now finished uni, and they were also really helpful and supportive.

Time put pass
Toilet pass
25% extra time for exams

SkiRun0077 it is a bit of a late reply, but yes some of the adjustments can be put in place without an EHCP. Have you spoken to the SENCO?

MermaidSwimming99 have you spoken to the SENCO? There is more to SEN support than academic achievement, don’t be fobbed off by others saying DD is academically able so there’s nothing they can do.

With DD2 we have found DSA a much easier process and more forthcoming than support in school too.

Thanks yes I’ve tried with SENCO at primary limited results until she started school refusing in yr6, and I was proactive in direct contact with the new send team at secondary which got her a couple of extra transition days in July which did go well but there were a lot of students there on the send list some with and some without ECHPs. She’s the classic masking girl until she falls apart, it’s hard to know what she needs a ECHP for and what are relatively small adjustments that can be made just with a diagnosis and some dialogue. They don’t make it easy do they!

sorry to hear @Tomnooktoldmeto about your DD at secondary but brill that she’s now off to Uni, I hope it goes well.

I have one going into Yr 10 and one going into Yr 7. Both have an EHCP and full time 1-1 support. They have full time use of an IPad and can type/voice record/photo etc as needed. They both wear adapted uniform: black joggers, white polo, black v neck jumper (no blazer or tie). No French, music or Art (sensory issues).

Able to leave lessons if overwhelmed and continue in SEND room. Access to sensory room as required. No assembly. Adapted PE sessions. Lunch pass so always first. Able to snack in SEND room whenever needed. Able to drink in all lessons (all children not just mine). Therapy dog in school, Lego therapy and rebound therapy (youngest), CBT (eldest). Able to use ear defenders/noise cancelling headphones and music whenever needed. SENDCO is amazing. I love her!! 😍😁

No ASD diagnosis here but the school will still offer adjustments to kids to help with anxiety etc too.
DD allowed to use a different bathroom (OCD)
Kids are allowed to leave classrooms early to avoid noise/business, wearing ear defenders or noise cancelling headphones is allowed, more time allowed for exams etc. These are just the ones that are obvious, there will be unseen ones too.
School have been very supportive. Pastoral care very good.