to think helping a child change for PE should still be allowed!

[lisad123isasnuttyasaboxoffrogs]

schools gone nuts!
DD1 has Autism and part of that is that she struggles with certain clothing when getting changed. She cant pull her socks on very well, cant tie shoes but also cant lift dresses over her head.
So today sent her in her summer school dress and she had PE. She couldnt get her dress off, and asked teacher for help but he said he wasnt "allowed to help her"!
Had to get another 7/8 year old to help her :(

Its in a classroom full of pupils! what would be the rule if she had a physical disability?

Think things are going a bit mad when a teacher cant help a child and they are left to struggle

Some nutty patents here too ;)

OP-If she doesn't have a 'care plan' then draw one up with the school. This will include the areas in which she needs help, including dressing for PE. If the TA is off again they will have another one come in to help her.

As long as other females present under safeguarding rules then it is acceptable for a male member of staff to assist any gender. Everyone who now works in a school and has close contact with the children will be either CRB checked or have a POVC in place, even lollypop people have to have this.

If you have a child with additional needs you need to communicate well with the school. School provision has changed so much that i do apprieciate that people do not realise the set up that exsist but all of these situations have statutory policies in place to cover them.

Redroxy- that was along time ago and the system and the law has been overhauled many times since then.

I don't accept that CRB checks are any kind of guarantee, they are a 'snapshot' and that's all. Predatory females are just as likely to abuse a child as predatory males.

I think that there has to be some kind of commonsense approach to helping pupils though, it's ridiculous that a child would be allowed to go out, whilst in school care, half-dressed.

I don't know what the answer is. :(

There is an approach and a guideline for it but if parents are unwilling to go and speak to the school then those who run it are not mind readers. The head is not aware of situations unless they are told.

As i said the system has changed, schools want parents actively involved. Parents need to lose the fear of speaking directly with the school, they won't be viewed badly because of it. You entrust these people with your children five days a week during the majority of their waking hours.

Disregarding the CP issues of being 'allowed' to help (what nonsense),
I teach reception - I usually tell children to get another child to help them if they need it as there's one me and a lot of them!

I am also aiming for them to become increadingly independent. We really mean it when we say we would prefer a child be able to come to school able to dress and undress by themselves rather than already reading. And before I get jumped on - yes me and my TA keep an eye, and jump in and teach how to take a jumper off or put a coat on; and assist where needed. Our aim is independence but we would not watch a child struggle or become distressed.
For our children with IEPs, we use these to guide what we do. Often a target will be related to getting changed (or partially changed) independently.

Is there the same paranoia about male nurses on children's wards? I am now wondering. I have never heard it expressed, only about male teachers, which seems bizarre.

The guidelines in social care is that there should be a female with a male member of staff to do personal care. There isn't a problem with two females and a male. Also i have young family members who work in nurseries and females are allowed to change the children in isolation but the lads aren't. These are unchecked in anyawy because of their age. So there is a suspision of men that doesn't exsist towards women.

my dn in reception and often requires help with buttons he is always directed to another child for help. Guess its about time and organisation along with encouraging indipendance and support for each other I assume. maybe he shouldnt have said its not part of his job, I suspect gender has very little to do with it

"Is there the same paranoia about male nurses on children's wards? I am now wondering. I have never heard it expressed, only about male teachers, which seems bizarre."

That's because in Daily Mail Land, nurses are all angels, and teachers are all lazy, socialist jobsworths. It's only a small step from lazy socialist jobsworth to pervert.

Can I suggest that the clothing be altered? Can a child with Dyspraxia manage to do velcro? A strip behind the buttons...and another behind the holes...

Children with diferent SN's can manage sometimes velcro and there are elasticated laces etc but they still need guidance and help sometimes especially in primary school.

Ridiculous... of course the teachers should help a child. .. And they should cuddle a little one (0-7 yrs about) when they are crying and sad.
The worlds gone bloody mad!

I'd speak to the school.

DD has a physical disability - missing arm (and no doesn't qualify for any statement or helper assistant)

She receives assisitance from class TA as required as do the other kids.

One of my concerns is what help will be available higher up the school - after Yr 1 there is no class TA.

parent helpres are used for this at our school.

Write to school? - make sure they have a plan in place before the next PE session?

dixie-surely she is classed as having a disability so will still qualify as having additional needs so therefor you can insist on an IEP for personal care reasons?

Thanks.

At moment is coping brilliantly in reception and not needing help above peers. Her self help skills are one of best in class according to teacher All those hours of practice have paid off.

More for future I have concerns when peers catch up and overtake. She used to have IEP in nursery.

She can be given a 'mentor/helper' when needed, if its what you both want. It's natural to have concerns but there will be solutions available. I don't know if we are lucky where we live or with the people i have mixed with (when camping) but i am finding that people and children are so much more open to disability it makes the future really positive.

"Ridiculous... of course the teachers should help a child. .. And they should cuddle a little one (0-7 yrs about) when they are crying and sad.
The worlds gone bloody mad!"

Everyone on this thread agrees with you. Except one loon. And, sadly, it's the tiny %age of loons that bugger things up for the rest of us.

If you are referring to me Seeker . . there is no need to be rude/arrogant/accusatorial please.
I am supporting the OP actually. I just didnt see the part that it was a male teacher. In my opinion whatever the sex of the teacher I think at primary school age they should be allowed to help a child. A male nurse would help a girl and visa versa.

I think you might find that that seeker is referring to redroxy and her reference to the Soham murders.

Really ? Oh ! Well I have read REdroxys stuff... I see.....

Jellyvodkas - you were not the loon in question! Sorry if I wasn't clear.

ok...but I can even see Redroxys ideas about if you were a parent at the school where the Soham girls went to. Personally i would freak if my child went there and probably take my child out and run...
It just seems sensible to say if nurses/doctors of both sexes can deal with children , boys and girls , then so should teachers too.

Run where? The chances of your child being abused or killed by a relative are so much greater than by a non-relative.
There's a thread currently running in Primary ed on Male teachers in primary schools. Perhaps this thread could answer some of the other OP's questions.