To send my SEN child to school?

[NeonQT]

Hi, I’m just asking for peoples opinion really. My child attends a special school for social, emotional and mental health. He has behavioural problems and problems with his emotions aswell as dyspraxia and ?adhd. My original plan was to send him to school Monday as his friends are still going and I still want him to get a education and routine, and I’m not sure he’ll actually co-operate with me trying to get him to learn.

Since last night I’ve had a bit of a change of heart and I’m thinking of keeping him off since it’s safe to do so and I have 4 other children so feel like there’s not much point self isolating them if he’s still attending school. I’m at home with them anyway so don’t need childcare. Obviously this Covid19 is getting more serious day by day and now I’m not sure.

Keep him home. It’s a non decision surely? Why would you risk sending him in to bring something home or to pass something onto others?

They should have just shut the schools totally.

He won’t need treatment. Children don’t
That is not certain, although likely. Kids have been hospitalised.

If you can safely care for your son at home he should stay at home. He will not be educated it will be a childcare service and I know a lot of schools are not keeping to usual class groups, usual staff or usual routines.

Thank you all! Think I will keep him home, don’t think the seriousness of it really hit until yesterday.

If you can safely care for your son at home he should stay at home. Teachers themselves will have difficulties coming in and they need people to work with them in helping reduce numbers.

Also, if youre worried about him disrupting your kids. Surely the same applies for school and it will make it harder for the teachers?

Its so hard isnt it op. I didnt mean to be insensitive btw. My son has adhd and im chronically ill. Its going to be so difficult.

If you can keep him at home, please do. You will then free up a place at school for a child who is potentially unsafe at home

Thank you all, don’t worry I don’t take offence There are some things there I didn’t think of.

I think you have made the right decision. I have been keeping my son with severe autism off for the last week and it has been very hard but ours and others health is the top priority.

I also think that key workers children are more likely to pick up the virus from their parents and pass it round the schools that remain open.

The school is just basically child minding, so children aren’t receiving education as such. Therefore it makes sense to keep him at home.

Send him in. The exception for children with EHCPs is there for a reason, they need that extra support and learning.

The school is just basically child minding, so children aren’t receiving education as such.

That is definitely not the case in special schools.

Hi OP,

I’m a teacher so will still be working over the next few weeks. Whilst I cannot possibly know what other schools are doing, I’d like to share my perspective on this.

If your child goes in, it will not be education at all, it will be babysitting. His regular teacher or support worker might not be in every day, as a lot of schools do not need the whole staff in, so are doing a rota where everyone takes it in turns. We are only having 8 staff a day based on our numbers instead of the usual 40 odd. The children will have activities to do and toys and games to play with. They will also be able to go on the playground but will likely not be in their own classrooms as there won’t be enough staff to have every child in their own classroom. They will probably be spread out over a couple of classrooms to allow for proper staff to child ratio and also to keep the group numbers small.

I know you said you still want him to get an education but there will be no formal learning taking place. At our school it will be children from ages 3-11 all in together. It’s just not possible to teach like that. The day will be very different to what your son is used to- timetable, staff availability, environment, children who will actually be there vs children who would normally be in his class- and this may distress him more.

You also have other children at home. Every day your child will be mixing with other children who might be regularly exposed to the virus through their parents “frontline” work in helping people with the virus. Those children might not be sick, they might not have symptoms but they might still be carriers. Your son might then bring it into your home and pass it to you and your other children. If you get sick, do you have people to care for your children?

I know this situation is less than ideal but I personally would not be using school services unless I absolutely had to. By staying away, we can hopefully slow the spread of infection down. That’s why schools have been closed. I’m using the word might all the time as, like everyone else, I don’t know what will happen with this. I would speak to your school for advice and see what they have to say. Good luck OP and stay safe. x

I’m in the same position, child with autism and severe learning disability in a specialist college unit.
They said they are open as normal next week. My child will struggle a huge amount at home and have constant meltdowns. They really need routine. For that reason I feel I should send them in but then I think morally is that right.

I have to decide by tomorrow evening.

Just thought I would say that I did one day of homeschooling with my autistic 5 year old (plus 2 others) and really struggled. I was getting hit, scratched and bitten all day. Yesterday I emailed his teacher and asked for help to keep his routine as similar as I could. She was amazing and sent me copies of all the maths tests/spelling sheets that they do in class so I could print them out. He is still biting, hitting and scratching me but nowhere near as much.

I would keep him off if you can. I am in a similar position with a dd with severe autism who is desperate to go to school after two weeks off in isolation. I am a key worker so I have arranged or her to attend just a couple of days I am working. The staff at her school will struggle if all the kids go as they all have EHCPs. Plus, there is obviously the potential for virus spread. I am also not convinced that the message about mild symptoms is correct. Whilst they may be less likely to suffer serious severe symptoms, some young people and adults do get very ill and some have died.

judicoolibar we're not talking special school here though?

Apologies. Re read post and it is special school. I stand corrected!

I have two kids with autism and adhd. One is in a specialist school which has shut. The other has an ehcp in mainstream and could go in but isn’t. The education delivered will not be the same. The routine is unlikely to be the same. And I’d rather not put my kids in harms way especially as the kids attending will be those people in the front line and more likely to come into contact with the virus.

My son has an ehcp so ive been offered to send him in but I have declined.

I do think the ECHP is to blunt of a tool to use. DS2 needs 24 hour supervision and school is more respite than education. When not at school he a comprehensive respite package. TBH he should be and probably soon will be at a residential placement for his and mine safety. I am however keeping him off but only because my eldest from university is going to do the night shifts otherwise without respite we are at serious risk. I know others are going to his school but if it’s closes then social services will then take strain without the capacity to deliver.

You might find it closes anyway my sons SEN school has, we have two SEN primary schools in my town and the other one is staying open for essential workers only ,( so some students from my sons school might go there instead )

You are making the right decision to keep him home.

I work in a school and from what I can see - its all very up in the air...(thats putting it mildly(!))- it's not going to look anything like their typical day anyway so is unlikely to reassure them. Routine will be all over the place. In school too. Best support at home.

As the mum of a child with similar difficulties I don’t think you’re unreasonable whatever you decide to do. It’s very hard to strike a balance at the best of times when your child has additional needs but right now it’s very much a rock and a hard place. My son’s special needs school is only staying open for key workers only- they’re very strict on that- but I won’t lie if I could and my own circumstances allowed (they don’t because partner is vulnerable) I’d be very tempted to send him in.

I could be wrong but I think keeping 4/5 at home is still a great help. It doesn’t matter that the virus could still get in and out. It’s just about slowing transmission and making sure each infected person infected less people. Infects no one is not possible.

Your other kids don’t bring it home. He could get it at school, yes, but it’s likely to happen later than if you had all of them at school. Also if, when that happens he just self isolates at home with the family. I have symptoms right now, it’s not so bad for the majority of young people. You’re massively reducing contact by just sending one in. Just do what you can do.