Worried about ds going to secondary

[Imagoodperson999]

Ds will be going into year 6 in September. Im really worried about him starting secondary school. He has autism is on an ehcp. He's had his ehcp updated recently. He's working at year 1 level.

He's very sensitive and can get withdrawn emotionally/mentally. He will completely close down and won't/can't communicate.

SENCO have said he will be ok at mainstream secondary. With support and neutering.

I find it hard to believe a secondary school can be understanding of him . Have the time and patience to listen to him and be neutering.

I have spoken to one secondary school which my dd still gos to and my adult son went to. They said Ds would be put on the lowest level which makes sense. Home work must be done. The thing with this is they do sparkx? Sorry I may have got the name wrong and if they don't get 100% right they get detention.. so ds will get punished for not knowing answers . He also can't obtain information very well . So he could have been helped with the answer in class but he won't remember that by the time he gets home. And that would be in school at well so he would come across as if he's nkt paying attention. He can't start hus work on his own so he will just sit there and not communicate.

He's ok socially with friends.

But also I know SEN school would not be suitable for him.

I just want him to be happy . Not scared of going to school. Not punished for having special needs.

Home education would not be suitable and private is out of the question

There is a middle ground. I work in an enhanced resource provision in a mainstream high school. We have a small class of 6 year 7 pupils. They spend a lot of time in the provision but do go out to some mainstream with a high level of support. Definitely worth asking if your LA has any ERPs in your area

We have lots of SEND children in mainstream secondary. He’ll be fine. Please look up the difference between ‘nurturing’ and ‘neutering’ though, as you’ve expressed twice in your post that you want the school to neuter your son!

Op it’s really important that you visit schools nearby you but also that you google for independent schools as they are funded by your ds EHCP or APs (alternative provision part of mainstream (ms) but often small classes).
my ds was 2 yrs behind but completely overwhelmed by the size/noise/sensory issues of ms, as well as learning demands.

missed most of yr 7 of ms, but started independent schools yr8, missed 3 days in a year. The right environment will support his learning.

at your ds learning level I would expect specialist to be most suitable, check out their attendance criteria on the school website.

plan for phase change for EHCP, as EHCP yr7 decisions are earlier than others, decision by Jan!

Sorry, haven’t RTFT but as a recent secondary maths teacher, it is very unlikely that his needs can be met at this level in a mainstream secondary (unless his EHCP comes with significant 1:1 funding, which I’ve never encountered). I say this having had at least one child in each bottom set working at this level for the last couple of years. Even with a TA for 50% of lessons, which is about the maximum I’ve seen, there will be plenty of other students in the class who need support. A child at KS1 level will not be able to access any (I really mean ANY) of the class work and will be left doing basic arithmetic with a set of blocks or completing Twinkle sheets that are easy enough for them to do unaided. Progress will be limited. It’s a nightmare for an already overwhelmed teacher having to plan a whole extra lesson every time. We wouldn’t set homework for a child in this situation as none of our online resources are suitable. I understand that an increasing number of schools have a separate group for students at this level who spend most of their academic lessons with SEN and primary level teachers, which could work, but none of our local schools have this.

🤣 oops I will likely do the same again. I
Will look now but o will probably forget and probably writing the wrong word. I will forget that to 😔 I will look now

OP you need to have a really good chat with the schools in your area both mainstream and special and see which ones would best meet your child's needs. I work in SEN post 16, and find it very unlikely that a mainstream secondary would meet your child's needs. I sometimes work with adults who are at about the level of your son, and their biggest problems often stem from the fact that post primary school, even the easiest work provided was way too hard for them so they made little progress from that point. You need to look at actual schools.

As an ex teacher, with an AuDHD daughter, we home educate.

My experience is that teachers don’t have enough understanding of ND to be able to provide adequate support for the majority of ND kids. Some thrive, some survive, many struggle.

Are you aware you don’t have to follow a curriculum for home ed?

Fml

neutering castrate or spay (a domestic animal😭

Yeah, it’s just one of those that you don’t want to get wrong lol 😂

OP I also think you should look at specialist provision. If your son is working at Y1 level he would be at the right level for all of the specialist schools and the resource bases in my area, who vary between working 3 and 5 years behind expected level. A resource base is a separate part of a mainstream school for kids with SEN. I don't see how a mainstream secondary class can meet the needs of a child working at a Year 1 level.

My child is working 2 years behind and is at a special school. We had to fight to get it agreed again for secondary but we did it. I don't know why you think a special school might not be suitable, there are so many different kinds. Have a good look at all the provision around you. Find out if there are any support groups in your area where you could get advice. I found talking to other local parents invaluable as they know what's possible. Don't just take what the Senco or anyone from the local authority says as true.

🤣🤣😆

Home education would not suit us. I know I dont have to follow the curriculum. But I have learning difficulties myself. Im not good academic wise not even standard. Im not good with social side of things . And im likely to isolate ds. Not on purpose.but it's likely it would happen and I don't want that . Plus my other children will be resentful.

On top of that he has a name that common for dogs 🤣

I don’t understand this. If your child is currently in year 5 and is achieving a year 1 level, surely he’ll never cope in a mainstream secondary school?

Thank you. I never thought of that. Im going to see what local groups i can find.

And yes senco kind of does my head in . It feels like im brushed of when I ask something or dont understand. When they are meant to help.its like they don't care.

Im wondering this to. But the school dd gos to said they can likely reach his needs. And they said quite alot of children at simlar levels to him go to the school.

OP I say this kindly - ignore the sendco. Go to the specialist setting and see them for yourself. They will know far better than the mainstream school. My daughter is just finishing her excellent SS and is moving on to an excellent local special college. She was at the level your DS is at, it is absolutely the best place for them. Apply to the special school. Ensure it is written in the EHCP - ignore what the sendco advices, it’s your child not theirs. Also please get it done asap as they sort the SS allocation earlier. Good luck x

Also the mainstream school may think they can meet his needs, but this will be at a MUCH lower and reduced level of expertise.

Do you have a support group in your area? I work in Salford and we have a group called SIASS that advocates for families

I understand. My son is in year 6 and he is academically average or a bit below but his emotional level is like a 3 year old.

Ok I will do.is it worth emailing all of the schools both SEN and mainstream?

I think im going to contact sen at his primary as well. Because i need them to be clear i mean I thought the secondary just see the report i put pictures up off. I have no idea about the other parts till someone told me . I feel like they are sending me in blind.

I think there may be something similar im going to look now

Be careful with SENDIASS. Some are good but too many repeat the LA’s unlawful policies.

decision by Jan

Secondary phase transfer EHCPs must be finalised by 15th Feb rather than Jan.

If he is achieving Year one and only putting three letters together there is no way that the bottom set of everything in secondary is going to work

Im not sure why you think it would?

It’s really important that his EHCP is accurate and represents him as this is what will be sent off to potential schools. Maybe get some local SEND advice with this.