Is this a reasonable adjustment or do I need to get a drs letter for packed lunch issues ?

[packedlunchproblems]

Ds has ASD (and possibly ARFID) . Only eats certain foods and lunch every day for years has been sugar free squash, a banana, a pack of mini breadsticks, a babybel and a big petit filous pot. School have changed the rules this year and now say only water or milk. Do I say it’s a reasonable adjustment and keep sending the squash or will it require a drs letter to allow him to continue to have this as it’s the only thing he drinks

I would ask to talk to senco and discuss it when them. They should be able to sort it out.

I might have to go in as I called and emailed last week and they didn’t get back to me and he’s come out each day upset and hadn’t drunk anything as was told not allowed

I’d stick it in a metal bottle so they can’t see it.

Nothing to do with the GP. School can sort however they prefer, coloured water bottle, flavoured water etc or can enforce their rule

If you need a dietary adjustment, and school require medical proof, then yes you need to supply that proof

DD just pops her squash in a metal water bottle and noone knows the difference

Put it in a different none see through bottle. Send an email into school explaining. If they have an issue with it they will need to get back to you.

I’ll have to try and get him a bottle that he will accept as currently only has it in the packaging it comes in

Ahh I see yes that makes it trickier

Why does he need squash for lunch? Does he not drink water? If he won't drink water then I'd suggest you see the GP to discuss how to address that as long term that will cause issues

A reasonable adjustment has to be considered reasonable by both sides. You can’t unilaterally decide.

it seems absolutely reasonable but you need to work with the school, not go around dictating.

Is his ARFID in the process of being diagnosed?

If the sugar free squash is fairly colourless, just don't tell them?

DD was the same for years. I distinctly remember the lockdown trauma when we couldn't source Johnson's sugar free apple and pear!

At age 11 she's suddenly decided she can drink water...

Alternatively, you could try an Air Up?

This sounds like a reasonable adjustment to me - speak to the SENCo it will be easily sorted.

@Andwegoroundagain it says in the OP?

And squash is mostly water. No-one's going to get dehydrated drinking squash are they?

This is a very very common problem.

Sorry I wasn't clear if it was that DS refused to drink water point blank. I didn't realise it was a common problem but it does seem a bigger long term challenge so I guess I'd still look for some support.

OP says her DS has ASD and probably ARFID (avoidant restrictive food intake disorder), @Andwegoroundagain. ARFID often goes hand in hand with ASD.

The GP’s advice will be let him eat or drink whatever he will eat and drink. A DC with ARFID would rather starve than eat or drink something other than their safe foods.

Are you really so ignorant? Or did you just not read the OP?

I apologised above for my error. I was not clear on the fact that the DS refused everything other than squash.
I said I was not aware it was a common problem. But thank you for calling me ignorant because that's really helped me understand more
@BobandRobertaSmith a genuine thank you for taking the time to explain as I just hadn't really understood and I do now

It beats me why schools have these ridiculous rules?
My severely autistic son goes to a special school they give him medicine I struggle to get down him
He likes it in fruit of the forest fizzy Pop so that, s what he gets ,realise this probably isn't feasible on mainstream.
But I don't get why they implement these rules and don't consider children with autism.

In any decent school the rules are adjusted for those who need it with no question

They should absolutely not be asking for a GP letter unless they are prepared to request it directly and pay for it.

My ds has arfid and sensory issues and the school has struggled over the years to understand how this affects him. After me going in to speak to them they now accept he will only have what he will have. It's a very very difficult thing to deal with in the first place and lots of people think you can just tell them to snap of it and eat properly. If only it was that easy! I'd certainly go in and speak to senco who then need to let the teachers and support staff know about it. It's really unreasonable to expect a child to go all day without any drinks so they must accept he will only have juice.

Don't be so silly.
Squash IS water. With squash in it. 🙄

Reasonable adjustments do not require medical evidence.