to think this is very disruptive??

[macdoodle]

I probably am being unreasonable and am prepared to hear it.
My DD1 has just started secondary school, she is in the "more able class" (this is what its called by the school ).
In this class, of about 20 odd, there is a boy with SN. He has an assistant for every lesson, and from what my DD tells me I guess he must have some form of autism.
But every single day, she is coming home with stories of what "X" has done. Thinks like having tantrum, which takes 20mins to calm down disrupting the lesson, shouting at the teacher, grabbing or hitting another child (and once a teacher), throwing all his books and stuff on the floor (numerous occasions), storming out of lessons etc etc.
Now the kids all seem to think this is hysterical (and great fun that almost every lesson is disrupted by "X"), but every day I am a bit , it just sounds very disruptive, and DD is starting to sound more annoyed than thinking its funny.
She does however say that is is clearly very bright indeed.
I know he has just as much right to be taught, but at the cost of disrupting a whole class of children? AIBU?? I can't quite decide TBH, and so far it doesnt appear to be affecting DD1's abilities, but we are only a term in.

[YouTheCat]

I wouldn't even mind if there wasn't much choice if what was available was good and appropriate. That's the problem. Despite the 'every child matters' tag line, most schools are a one size fits all approach and it just doesn't work when children have additional needs.

[MissBetseyTrotwood]

It's the issue of the 'one size fits all' that we have a problem with. I take Pagwatch 's point; it's so much easier for the school to push the blame for a situation on to one child.

So an example of this is my DS' current school. He's starting to refuse school in the mornings (think sitting on the pavement and throwing his school shoes into the road), largely because he hates phonics. For lots of reasons he finds it hard. My solution (or one I'd like to try)? That they take his group and do it in a quiet room - better acoustics, no distractions. Their solution? "No. Because there's no way we could find an empty room for 5 children to do phonics in every day. Let's get a Learning Mentor to come to your house every morning to come and take him to school instead." That way, the behaviour is his fault and not part of a bigger, complex picture that they're part of too.

Sorry if I was over aggressive last night Trigglesx . Long, defensive day over DS and then at work and I was still in that mode.

[MissBetseyTrotwood]

Just taught 'Animal Farm'.

The 'All Animals Are Equal' but some are more equal than others always makes me think of 'Every Child Matters' but some matter more than others .

[Ponyo73]

I can't believe how much this thread has affected me. At first, I agreed with the poster's comment. I thought, "yes, why should my child's suffer because of one child"! After reading every single post going round and round in circles, with posters who have experience with kids with sen, I have nothing but respect and admiration for you. Not only do you have to battle the system but you have ignorant people wanting to segragate our kids. Feel like crying as there is so little empathy, especially a forum that is I dedicated to mothers!

[Ponyo73]

POLTERGOOSE, thank you. I feel as if I have had the slap you need sometimes when you are I'll informed, cosseted and self centred! Sorry if I sound like I'm going to self-flagellate with the daily mail but really have had my eyes opened. I honestly want to hug everyone that has has to battle for an education.

[SauvignonBlanche]

Well said Ponyo

[hazeyjane]

And me. [Flowers]

[hazeyjane]

Oops

[Ponyo73]

Thank you Sauvignon and zzzzz, flowers and wine back at you. Sorry, am a little thick with the sending of emoticons. Will work it out one day. This thread has made me feel like giving back, one day!

[Ponyo73]

And Hazeyjane, sorry. Is there any way that this issue could be brought to the public' s attention more. I.e. This Morning or Lorraine? Sorry if I sound naïve and this has been discussed but it seems that there is so much nonsense discussed on these programmes that surely a subject like this could be influential and may create attention.

[StillSlightlyCrumpled]

Coming in really late to this though I have been reading it, with a myriad of emotions.

I consider us lucky that there was a good SN school for DS2 to go to when mainstream was just too much for him. Amongst the relief and hope (finally we had hope!) for DS was the relief for me not to be in the playground everyday. I hated that the 1:1 came out to me every day in front of everyone & I hated that all the other parents knew about his difficulties.

I dread to think where we would all be now, 3 years on, if he had been made to stay in mainstream education. I'm fortunate to live in a county that isn't too bad at SEN / SN provision - thank goodnes.

[Strumpetron]

Sadly the OP hid the thread ages ago. I'd like to know if anything's been said or if anything is improving in the class.

[IsabelleRinging]

It seems it depends on the school. Watching Educating Yorkshire and the support and provision for pupils who don't have SNs but do have behavioural issues due to social and emotional needs seems huge, and it appears to pay off.

[Trigglesx]

It's not just down to the schools though. There are tons of variables...

schools - are they supportive, are they doing everything they can to support the child

parents - do they know what the child is entitled to in regards to support, do they have a support network themselves, do they have the time and energy (and sometimes money) to fight the system for their child

LA - are they obstructive, do they encourage proactive support in the schools?

other students and parents - are they supportive, do they undermine the school's attempts to support the child

and tons of other factors as well.

ANd then there's the diagnosis routes...

We went through school nurse to get appointment for paediatrician, because our GP was ill-informed and insisted that ASD/ADHD is a mental health issue and would only refer us to CAMHS. CAMHS in turn also referred us to paediatrician as they said paed had to assess and provide diagnosis.

In many areas of the country, it's a paed that dxs. In other areas, it's CAMHS.

It's very hard for parents to negotiate where they need to go to get the assessments and support needed. Why is it different in different areas? How are parents supposed to know when it's so convoluted and confusing? Shouldn't it be easier to go through this process so that children get the help and support they need sooner? (as well as the parents getting help and support to cope)

[IsabelleRinging]

Just that there are some schools out there that are doing a great job!

[Donkeyok]

You shouldn't have low expectations of a child's behaviour because they have special needs. That can be quite insulting and damaging. Education in this class aims to be inclusive therefor proportional time allocated for all. Obviously if the teacher is unable to teach whole class with the support of the TA a new strategies needs to be implemented. Secondary teachers are subject specialists and do not usually have extensive knowledge of individual conditions and refer to individual education plans given by SEN dept. Whilst they need to provide for the learning of all it has to be managed in the shared environment. If this were happening in my classroom I would want more intervention and possibly withdraw child until I had made a more detailed learning contract with them. I have taught children with different degrees of autism in various ability levels and they have not been the most disruptive pupils in fact in many cases they have been the gifted stars.

[IsabelleRinging]

No, they didn't show children with disabilites, but I imagine if the support is there for for the child they focused on tonight, then I am sure support would also be available for a child with a statement. After all, as you said yourself on another thread, if a child is having problems in school, the cause doesn't matter, they have SEN and still need the support.

[purplebaglady]

Donkeyok, l do agree with all your wise advice. U taght me good

[Donkeyok]

Thank you Bag lady you were not my star, infact you are still being disruptive