School(s)

[Nel81]

Hi, my son is 7 and has been home 3 yrs. He completed nursery, reception and yr1 in a mainstream school but had many social,emotional and behavioural difficulties there. He was lashing out a lot (at home too) at staff and other kids. School called a pcr meeting and applied for a LA maintained IDP and a move to specialist provision. The LA panel decided on a school for him based on these issues and he started there in Sept. He likes it there and likes the staff. There was a meeting on Wed with his teacher, our post adoption social worker, our disability team social worker and myself. His teacher doesn't feel he is in the right place. Last dec the psychologist from our adoption service carried out a cognitive assessment and he scored very low on it, basically toddler level. School are going back to the LA to ask why they chose them and not a school for learning difficulties as she feels this is where his issues stem from. I feel guilty now for agreeing to the move but they said it was the best place for him. I don't want him to have to move again but I want him in a school where all of his needs get met and where he's safe.

Has anybody else dealt with similar?

Hi. That sounds hard. I take it you are not in England as you haven't mentioned an ehc plan - it sounds like the LA didn't assess him properly. With an ehc they would get an Ed psych involved to check IQ - it is too easy with adopted children to suspect behavioural issues etc.

What kind of school is your son at right now?

My elder daughter went to a school for learning disabilities but not til secondary. The children who need this sort of school usually love it.

Thanks for your reply. We're in Wales and don't have ehcps. I think the LA maintained IDP is the equivalent, which we do have. We've had ed psych involvement and she was happy for the adoption psychologist to do the assessment as she was previously an ed psych, and it meant he could be assessed quicker. He's now in a unit for social, emotional and behavioural needs but his teacher feels that his behaviours are not as extreme as the other children there and she's worried that he's going to get hurt because he doesn't understand the other children. His previous school was mainstream but he spent the majority of the day out of the classroom with an adult.

So did the ed psych look at his IQ? Tbh you don't want to be in a school for kids with behavioural problems if that is not his primary need. You might find his behaviour improves significantly once he is in the right environment.

It doesn't seem like it. I will move him if they allow it but I just feel bad that this wasn't sorted before he started the new school and that he'll have to adjust to a new setting again.