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.

If class was being 'disrupted' by shouting out, happy noises, tapping, things of that nature, then I would agree that the Nt children need to learn to tolerate and to a certain extent ignore the disruption.

However, ignoring violence? When they may justifiably fear being injured themselves at any moment?

And what about the poor boy? As I said earlier meltdowns happening that often and of that intensity indicate that his needs are not being met either.

So no one's needs are being met in that class, clearly something is not working, I see nothing wrong in suggesting that things need to change. Maybe the boy would feel more comfortable in a different class, geared towards his difficulties, with the view to reintegrating him gradually back into mainstream over the year? Maybe his TAs need more training? Maybe his teachers would benefit from training? Maybe the classroom environment needs auditing to see if there is something (eg lighting) causing him sensory overload? There are many different things that can be tried. Saying that things can't continue as they are is not that same as saying 'I don't want that boy in the same class as my DD'.

OP

You describe my son - he's currently year5

I am facing the battle, yes battle to get him to specialist provision in Secondary

Do you actually know how many places there are in THE WHOLE COUNTY in my area for children with average attainment with Autism... That's unit provision to enable them to access mainstream and eventually GCSEs whilst balancing their integration carefully to reduce sensory overload.

23

TWENTY FUCKING THREE

that's places not intake, by the way and in my county all 23 places are taken and will be for intake Sept 2014 and possibly my sons intake in Sept 2015.

I am living in hope that admission criteria for other units change in the next year or so - that will take us to 38 places which are still all full.

There is a government agenda for inclusion - whether the kids and staff can cope or not.

So easy for you to look at the situation and judge that there is somewhere better for him to be educated.... When you have absolutely no idea what the reality is out there...

I wouldn't worry OP he'll probably fail miserably in mainstream then be moved or excluded

I am usually the first to say that yes all children are entitled to an education, etc but your sweeping generalisations earlier on about there being perfectly adequate special schools really gets my goat.

Same here Doris
I would love my DD to be out of mainstream and in a school that can help her develop socially
Away from the pressures of 30 kids in a small classroom, distraction and noise and the ever increasing pressure of performance
Where are these schools and who will pay
I have heard it said of my DD- she shouldnt be in school
Well where should she be then?

That makes me very sad dayshift as I agree that whilst inclusion is great for some kids, it isn't always the best option for others.

Like it or not kids always pick on others with differences be it ginger hair, glasses, being above intelligence etc. None of that is right, but it happens and is difficult to rectify. I should imagine it is very difficult to balance the emotional and social needs of a sn child with that of a good education.

Each case is individual and there should be enough provision in either sn schools or mainstream, so that each parent can choose the option that is best for their own childs social and academic needs.

Oh SN is a trump card...

That's why I am facing a potential legal battle to get my son the education he NEEDS

I didn't see anything contentious in your post Khaleese I hope you get an explanation from MN.

I don't think the OP is BU. Everyone wants the very best for their child and IMO should not be criticised for expressing concerns that their child's needs (whatever they are) are not being met.

Of course children need to learn to be tolerant of each other but violent behaviour in the classroom is very frightening for all children and a parent is right to be concerned about the mismanagement of such behaviour.

I agree with you Twiggy71 but judging by many of the responses on this thread this will be seen as disingenuous. Can't believe people are saying that because the OP has expressed concern for her Dd that means she isn't concerned for the young lad at all. She is concerned for her Dd and for him as far as I can see. I have taught in a highly inclusive and brilliant school for many years. When it works it works it is brilliant. Sometimes it doesn't work and it is stressful and upsetting for EVERYBODY.

khaleese you said that 'your heart sank' when you heard there was a child with sn's in your child's class, that is disabilist. Hth

SunshineMMum, that is a very good point...many people probably don't realise that there isn't anywhere near the specialist provision needed.

I agree lila

Good post

Oh it WS your second part, that was deleted, maybe because you said you knew 'they were sn due to their behavior'

They are not sn, they HAVE sn there is a difference. And a child being disruptive does not mean they have sn's.

I am aghast at the amount of disablist threads to be found on MN at the moment. Wtf is going on?

Sorry, just saw your post DayshiftDoris.....23 places!!! That is so shocking and outrageous.

I think lionheart made an excellent point.

You ANBU IMO OP. I would be concerned too!

Dayshift Doris ... 23 places - that's a heck of a lot better than our LEA which has the grand total of "0". Oh and they refuse to go out of area too!

There's such a lot of anger on here and I find it really frightening. The OP wasn't saying anything like the things that were suggested here. She has every right to talk to her child about her child's day - to suggest that is gossiping (on either side) is really awful. Of course she has the right to stand up for her daughter and she was not suggesting this boy should be sacrificed at the alter of her daughter's learning. If half of her daughter's lesson is lost through anyone's behaviour then the school needs to look at whether the set up they have at the moment is working.

Just as an aside - if the OP sent her daughter to a private school, she wouldn't be having her classes disrupted by anyone. Those of you who send your children to private mainstream schools should think about your arguments up there - now that is discrimination.