To think teacher shouldn't have asked DD this?

[MardyMarie]

DDs usual teacher has been taken ill and so she has a new teacher for a few months minimum who started after Christmas. DD is in the process of being assessed for high functioning autism and the hospital sent the questionnaires to the school. Rather than answer honestly or wait until she got to know DD better, the teacher sat her down and asked DD the questions and filled it in based on her responses

AIBU to think this is completely not the idea? DD might say, for example, that she would prefer to go to a party than a museum but realistically it isn't to socialise - she would spend the whole party avoiding socialising, avoiding food, crying at the unpreductability of party games and only looking forward to organising and hoarding the party bag at the end.

My three have asd questionaires were filled out by teacher and second together.

Not suitable for a child to answer the questions at all...

Not acceptable. In my school, if the teacher was unable to complete the form it would be given to someone who knew the child well ( a previous teacher, T.A for example). I'd speak to the head or sending to try and get the form 're done.

No, this is not acceptable. I can understand that a temporary new teacher would have a massive amount on her plate but no, this does not serve your daughter.
This affects the whole of your daughter’s future and you need to state your concerns to the school in writing, not via telephone.

She's already sent the form

Can you phone whoever the form was being sent to and explain how it was completed. They could ignore those responses and send a new form.

No, these assessments are hard enough to get to this point without some fool intercepting the form?

Make a call to the medical secretary and explain what has happened and ask for a new form.

I’d then email the head of year and ask for an appointment with senco t9 attend so you can all try and sort this mess out.

I’m really sorry you have had this set back. It’s all so frustrating already!

Is it possible that the teacher just thought she was doing a good deed and filling out a form?

I wouldn't jump down her throat straight away. Just a quiet word that you don't think the form should have been filled out that way. I feel like there's a lot of teacher bashing on here when in reality the vast majority are just trying to be helpful and do the best job they can.

I will call the hospital and explain how it was completed but I can't see the teacher taking kindly to me criticising her way of completing it which then might skew her responses

Ah, right. Please don’t phone,or if you phone you need to follow it up via letter. Has the form gone to the LEA? You need to put it all in writing, send registered post. Obviously phone and explain your intention but you need to state clearly, in writing,that this form has not been filled in by someone who has any significant knowledge of your child.

No teacher bashing silvous. I'm a teacher so know how busy you get. I also am a mother of a child being assessed for asd so know how difficult and slow the process is.

No need to get cross with the teacher, but she did make a mistake which needs to be sorted and quickly. Any good teacher has the best interests of the child at the forefront of their minds. I have made mistakes in my job but I apologise and do my best to sort them out. That is what is needed here.

Tbh I doubt ds's teacher who knew him really well would have been able to answer whether he preferred museums or parties without asking him as they tend to happen outside of school. If your dd prefers parties regardless of the reason then that's what should be ticked. They are simple choice questions and only one part of the assessment. You'll be able to give your perspective as well and more detailed information about how she behaves in an environment like a party.
My dc who has asd has always loved parties for the record. He quite likes museums as well but would definitely go for a party if he had to choose.

No this teacher shouldn't have gone anywhere near it. We have filled this out for ds.

No this teacher shouldn't have gone anywhere near it. We have filled this out for ds.

Schools are sent out a separate form directly from the hospital that needs to be filled in by staff.

OP, you should contact the hospital as suggested but you also need to speak to the SENCO at school. They should easily be able to get hold of another copy of the form which the SENCO should fill out (they can ask your DD's previous teachers or any LSA's that have worked with her if there are any questions they can't answer).

Do we know that this teacher didn't seek advice from support staff who know the child?

The SENCO hasn't even observed DD, despite her scoring very highly on my version of the questionnaire and having being referred for the ADOS. I feel that the school are really not helping the process.

The SENCO should have been involved. She should have observed your daughter and also discussed it with the new teacher. I wonder if the secretary just passed it through. It sometimes happens that the most appropriate person isn't always handed it. It might have been addressed to the previous teacher.
I think you should make an appointment with the Head and asked for the SENCO to be present. I would also ring or better still email the hospital department.

You should absolutely follow this up with the school, but this teacher doesn't know your child and is new to the school - don't judge her too harshly. She maybe did what she thought was right without consulting - but the school should have told her about your daughters needs and let her know that anything regarding her should go through the SENCO.

This is very frustrating for you. The idea is to get another perspective of your dd.

This chance was lost by asking your dd the questions herself.

If the hospital won't send another form, then ask them to put a note on explaining what happened.

DS2's teacher filled out his form thinking she was filling out a form for DS1 - then there was tippex and faxing and the result was illegible - he got his diagnosis anyway based on the other forms and observation on the day.