If you have a child with autism that can be violent..

[Colouroutsidethelines]

How do you feel when you find out they have attacked school staff? How do you respond?

I am a teaching assistant. I was playing in the garden with another staff member and four children who all have an autism or ADHD diagnosis.

The child I was playing with in the construction area is in year 4 and very articulate. We were conversing nicely, talking about his favourite cars. He then got up and walked off and before I stood up, he had gone behind me, picked up a large wooden log and cracked me hard over the head with it.

It caught me completely off guard and I did cry with the pain as I ran inside to seek first aid.

Curious to how you would respond if this was your child.

We’re talking about an 8-year-old child with a disability with a staff ratio of 1:2. Personally I don’t see it as ‘assault’ when I’m hurt by children at work, it’s part of the job in special education and has been at every school I’ve worked at. Of course it’s not always staff’s fault when a child hits out at them, but often there are things the staff member has done which go against the positive behaviour support training we’ve had. Nobody in my school would ever be crouched on the ground with their back to a child who is stood up and around objects like logs, it’s just common sense that you don’t leave yourself vulnerable to a kick or a hair pull etc in that situation when working with children with SEND. You should have eyes on the children you’re working with and you should be mindful of where you are in relation to the child.

I'd apologise and I'd be upset it happened. However, if I'd been telling the school my child needed 1:1 or other specific supports and the school hadn't been taking any action on that or had denied he needed it I'd also be angry that the support wasn't in place to prevent the incident.

They are lumped in one small room which used to be the library. We can’t have that now for the other children to benefit from.

We use the Nursery or Reception garden for movement breaks throughout the day. We try to follow a curriculum but not much work gets done due to the constant disruptions and behavioural issues. It’s relentless.

None of these children have an EHCP.

Sounds dreadful. Go off sick and don't come back for a good while. You've been treated awfully by your employer and the parent.

As I’ve said, numerous times now. We were sat down together playing and talking. He doesn’t like to race around the garden like the others. He seemed calm and happy to tell me about his special interest. When he got up, I got up but he got behind me before I stood and hit me. It literally happened in an instant.

There were logs as it’s outside in nature! Dear me the victim blaming is rife tonight.

Honestly, You’re asking the wrong questions.

Go back to your leadership team. How are they, your employers, going to keep you safe in future? How are they, who claim they can meet need, going to keep that child safe in future?

If the funding/staffing isn’t right, SLT needs to refer the child to the LA and explain they can’t meet his needs.

That is absolutely diabolical. Particularly for you but also for the children involved. Honestly OP I’d be looking around for a TA role in a different school if possible. This isn’t safe or fair. I can’t believe the parents of the affected children aren’t raising hell both with the school and the LA to be honest - is there a lack of parent engagement generally at the school?

I honestly wouldn’t be going back to this job. Especially if you are paid peanuts. You don’t sound very valued.

I agree with this. I work with people with autism and learning disabilities. I'd never expect any empathy or interest in my wellbeing from their families. I do expect it from my manager.

Now its a known risk, slt do need to have a risk assessment in place for this child going forward.

Did you fill out an accident form.

It sounds like something my AuHDH child would do. He has poor impulse control, he get taken over by a mad notion and can’t stop himself. Something like trying to knight you and misjudge how heavy the log. Then generally extremely upset when someone gets hurt. But the upset doesn’t show as upset in the moment because he is so embarrassed and overwhelmed so he comes out fighting.

As a parent I would say how sorry I am but also to the school - I told you so. I am so sick and tired of fighting for the right support in school. And I keep saying someone is going to get seriously hurt if you don’t take this seriously. What are you doing to safeguard my son, other pupils and staff? Not you OP before I get jumped on - the school.

Of course she’s allowed to be upset. She’s allowed to be looking around her for some empathy and kindness but it’s her management and colleagues that should be providing it, not the child’s parent. I’m usually happy to blame parents for many things and often ‘side’ with the school when there are threads complaining about them, but in this case, the school management is completely at fault.

What right support stops this though? Out of the blue, zero triggers, just grabs the nearest object and whacks somebody over the head with it?

Yes

I expect empathy and care from one human to another. Especially one who has been physically hurt.

But what can the school do if there simply isn’t funding? If they can’t actually afford to employ more staff? If there aren’t any specialist school places? I really don’t know the answer.

Sounds like ADHD lack of impulse control where kids just do dangerous things to themselves or others without being able to think or stop themselves.

Parent laughing in your face- another sign of ADHD in the parent as that was an entirely inappropriate reaction to what happened but again was likely an impulse that bubbled up.

Medication could help both.

If I were the parent I’d be looking into getting assessed myself and I would work with the school and my child on how to harness the energy of a dangerous impulse into positive action.

Do you feel safe/well enough to return to work tomorrow? head injuries are pretty rotten.

After the accident report your employer should be looking at 'could this havr been prevented, how can we stop it again' so you can ask what the out come of that was before you are put in the same situation again.

Not really. But if I don’t go in then the other staff member in the unit is alone. They won’t cover me.

They could apply your EHCPs for all of these kids. They come with funding. And it would mean kids who really can’t manage mainstream could be moved to somewhere more appropriate.

My own child has asd/adhd and I teach in a mainstream school, working mostly with SEND pupils.

My own child has lashed out at home in the past but doesnt now, because she is articulate and she knows she will be held accountable for her actions.

Children who are assessed to be suitable for mainstream school and articulate should be held accountable for their actions. If a child has deliberately picked up a log and struck a member of staff it is not the fault of the member of staff for having their back turned. While SEND should be considered, the child should still be held accountable for their actions and should experience consequences.

Those people saying 2-1 support are very lucky. In my school we have had mainstream classes of around 30 where over half have asd/adhd. They are lucky to have one part time TA between them.

To answer the question- if my child had done that they would have severe consequences at home, removal of privilages, and i would be requesting a meeting to ask what I can do at home to ensure there is no further incident.

I hope you are Ok- the situation you are in sounds unsustainable. There are many other schools just now in the same storm.💐

Why haven't these kids got EHCPs? If they can't even be in the class they would definitely meet the threshold. Your SLT seems awful which im very sorry to hear.

I'm in London and aware our schools are better funded than other parts of the country, but this is shocking that the kids are just being babysat all day.

Someone asked what the best "solution" to this is and honestly, it can be ADHD drugs. My DS isnt violent but he would previously often do silly things without thinking. We paid privately and are privileged enough to be able to pay to see the doctor anytime we need to reasses dose etc (DS my most calm/responsible child now!). I know the reasons for it being difficult to access on the NHS but waiting months for diagnosis then having to wait months if you want to speak to the doctor again to make medication changes - it's obvious things like this are sadly going to happen :(

Thank you for getting it! Unless you work in a mainstream school and see what we are up against every day, you’d have no clue. It’s soul destroying.

We had a child last year who was pre verbal and violent. Range 5. Specialist provision came out to assess him and said they couldn’t meet his needs. Then how the hell are we meant to!?

It sounds like this crucial bit:

Children who are assessed to be suitable for mainstream school

has never actually happened though.

We had staff training last week on ADHD. There is a 5 year waiting list in our area.