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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Teachers helping my son put his clothes on the right way

198 replies

DUFFDADDY1 · 05/07/2018 08:59

Hello
AIBU
Last week When I picked up my son from school he had his top on inside out and his trousers were back to front. When I asked him why he changed his clothes he said that this had been due to going to Gym in the morning. I was furious that the teachers would leave a child in this state.
AIBU
just to add he has Autism

OP posts:
Nikephorus · 05/07/2018 11:38

OP did you ask your son if the teacher/TA had pointed out if his clothes were on wrong? Maybe they did but he didn't want to change and actually they're not at fault?

headinhands · 05/07/2018 11:39

I also have dc with autism and took the same view. A 1:1 is to 'support' not 'do'.

Fintress · 05/07/2018 11:40

I'd say it's pretty normal for any child of that age. My daughter came home in some states dress wise at that age when she had gym. In the warmer months more often than not she'd come home wearing her gym shorts under her dress.

EllenJanethickerknickers · 05/07/2018 11:42

Also, my DS's needs were greatest in KS1. He has developed nicely but at that age he needed someone supervising him constantly to prevent him disrupting the education of the other DC. His social development was very badly affected and his communication and social understanding was pretty much non-existent.

In KS1 children are learning much more than phonics and counting. Social skills and life skills are developing. Those DC with SN and SEN may need a lot of support both at school and at home to develop these skills. Toileting can be another issue for these DC. mainstream schools have to cater for this unless the government wants to fund special school places for DC with MLD. Which they don't. They'd rather have the most vulnerable and needy DC being looked after by the least qualified members of staff in a mainstream school.

Amy1996 · 05/07/2018 11:43

Teachers are not allowed to dress children

Bearlover16 · 05/07/2018 11:44

He has a TA allocated, to assist in teaching him, not personal care.

A TA WOULD be expected to help a child with additional needs with personal care going to the toilet, dressing etc.

Sirzy · 05/07/2018 11:45

Teachers are not allowed to dress children

Yes they can.

In most cases they don’t need to (including this case as the child can dress himself) but if needed they can help them.

EllenJanethickerknickers · 05/07/2018 11:48

Amy1996 sorry but that's rubbish. Do you have a DC with SN? Do you have experience of EHCPs? They are Education, Health and Care Plans. So dressing, toileting, eating etc all comes under care. Usually, yes, it's a TA who is assigned these tasks in a mainstream school. But in their absence? Of course teachers can help DC with these life skills. They may not have enough time to do so.

Stimmyplip · 05/07/2018 11:50

Some nasty replies here, sorry op.

I'm sure you must feel defensive of your son. Having an autistic brother I can understand how you feel.

I would expect a ta that's assigned just to him to help him yes.

I think some of you have little or no understanding of autism or what it's like to be the parent of an autistic child.

Bearlover16 · 05/07/2018 11:51

Teachers are not allowed to dress children

Erm yes they are. As stated previously my 8 year old ASD son needs help with all personal care. Who would change his nappy?

steppemum · 05/07/2018 12:09

Teachers are not allowed to dress children

he doesn't need dressing he needs support.
As a parent I have helped out at swimming lessons. In the changing room I have turned shirts/trousers the right way round and handed them to kids to put on, as they were struggling. One boy couldn't manage anything and I talked him through it. - 'hold it with both hands, put one foot in, that's right, now the other.'

As we lined up for the coach, I used to untuck collars that were twisted in at the neck, I asked - shall I sort your collar for you? before I did it.

What they are not allowed to do is personal care eg wiping bottoms, without prior arrangement

Tomatoesrock · 05/07/2018 12:16

Aw poor chap, Can you ask to school for extra help on PE days. They probably would not have time to check each child but if you ask they might have extra help.

I do not know why they get a class of 4 year olds to dress and undress for PE. I know it is better in the long-term for development. Our DC wear the school tracksuit in on PE days and do it towards the end of the day.

Normal uniform other days, it saves you buying 2 trainers too.

Daffodils07 · 05/07/2018 12:23

My 11 year old who has asd needs help and support to put clothing on.
He really doesn't care though if it's inside out/back to front but unfortunately other children can be cruel.

petrolpump28 · 05/07/2018 12:58

Many people and children make mistakes fact. Many small children have problems organising clothing and sometimes, if there's something more interesting going on cant be bothered.

Fatted · 05/07/2018 13:03

My 5YO regularly comes home with clothes on the wrong way round, shoes on the wrong feet etc after PE. They're encouraged to dress themselves.

Have a word with the TA. Find out if he's been left to struggle with it himself or if he is receiving help. I'm guessing this is your concern, that his disheveled state means he's not getting support he needs.

TittyFahLaEtcetera · 05/07/2018 13:49

My DS (also on the spectrum) finally cracked dressing himself in Year 4 (8/9 years old). Before that he would need help from the TA as he was slow, easily distracted, had poor motor skills and would have probably been quite happy to do the rest of the day in just his pants! He was holding up the class from moving on to the next subject, so with my permission they decided to have the TA keep him on track, remind him what came next and how to turn his clothes the right way.

At home I let him dress independently, but then we stood in front of the mirror and checked ourselves and each other (I'd sometimes put something on inside out or back to front for effect). I was doing all the same stuff as school but it took him much longer to grasp. When he first started dressing himself at 3 he would just pit his clothes on over his pyjamas. He still occasionally forgets and starts to do this. He also needs prompts to dress appropriately for the weather, otherwise he'll wear a vest, t shirt and heavy hoodie in the height of summer.

He's 11 now, and the other day I overheard him say crossly "Oh FFS!" (Yes he did use the letters only!). I called out if he was ok and he replied, "I'm so rubbish sometimes, Mum, it's just taken me three tries to get my shorts on right!" We laughed about it, as I had the same experience with a dress last week.

I think OP is overreacting by being furious, but the school could offer him more guidance so he grasps things quicker. It does take children with SEN a lot longer to master these skills, and they usually need strategies to help with this. And the strategies need to be used at school and home. Kids with SEN can't just learn a new skill over a weekend at home. It takesmonths of repetition. If it were as easy as some posters suggest, I'd have an 11 year old who could tie his shoelaces.

DUFFDADDY1 · 05/07/2018 13:51

Hello Fatted , dishevelled does not bother me . In fact when I was at school I was untidy at school.
We are trying to encourage him every day to try to put his clothes on the right way round.

OP posts:
Strongmummy · 06/07/2018 17:50

Was he getting teased about it ? If not, why would you be furious?!?! The teacher doesn’t have time to check all kids’ clothes. If his teaching assistant was with him she could have done something, but again if no one noticed/he wasn’t made to feel bad I really don’t see the issue

silky1985 · 06/07/2018 17:54

why dont you make it easier for him to know which way his clothes go by putting colourful labels in them, you teach him that it goes on the inside and goes at the back then you wont have to worry

Witchend · 06/07/2018 17:58

Ds used to consistently come out after pe with trousers, sweatshirt backwards. Tshirt socks inside out.

In fact he started a fashion at one point of the boys choosing to wear the sweatshirt backwards.

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 06/07/2018 17:59

They’d be rearranging loads of kids if they did everyone that was wrong.

Thisisnotreallymyname · 06/07/2018 18:01

YANBU,
He has an allocated TA. It would take her 2 mins to either help him, or just comment that his trousers were wrong way etc.

Sirzy · 06/07/2018 18:17

The op has ignored people asking for clarification of the role of the ta, he has already confirmed that they aren’t with him for the whole day though so that bit could be a complete red herring!

Fresta · 06/07/2018 18:17

7 year olds are highly likely to notice a classmate with their clothes on backwards!

BewareOfDragons · 06/07/2018 18:18

We have 60 Reception children! I don't have time to check every one when they get changed ... they're supposed to know how to do it to a large degree ... and an inside out shirt is not a big deal frankly.