Zero tolerance schools and slant techniques for send - good, okay or terrible

[Zerotolerancetofun]

Dd is starting secondary next year. The school has a zero tolerance behaviour policy so very strict about everything (uniform, homework, behaviour etc). They are also bringing in this new teaching technique called slant that the kids are meant to follow - about how they sit/pay attention/look at the teachers - it sounds very Draconian.

Dd has ASD and significant levels of anxiety and I am concerned how this environment will work for her. I think she will be terrified of making a mistake and getting detention for minor mistakes, but of course if this approach stops bullying etc then that is a good thing for her.

I'd love to know how other people's DC have got on with this type of school. Particularly if they have ASD, but also NT children too.

@Florenz

Yep. Quite the rare person who’s completely happy with all of their duties at work. Might be possible in lowly jobs with zero responsibility but I’m preparing mine for more than that.

Probably the same parents who in a few years will be ringing their childrens workplace to complain about "unfairly" their child is being treated because their employer expects them to actually do their job without constant moaning and excuses.

@Florenz

Or the ones who are relentlessly moaning to their child’s university lecturer despite said child being aged 18. Honestly embarassing.

But adults can choose their jobs. If you had a job like that it would be your choice, and you would have to live with the implications of that. Most parents or kids don’t get the luxury of choice.

Schools didn’t tend to give out detentions for trivia 20 years ago, and yet we don’t have an epidemic of workers forgetting job critical equipment.

@CryHavok

But even when you choose your job or profession, it is quite the rare person who is completely happy at all times with every single duty, policy or procedure. Best to just prepare your kids well to deal with things they may not be overly happy about. If we are talking about general school rules here that’s just a basic level of resiliency. We are not talking about abusive practices here.

Every job has niggles. If I feel that on balance my job has more negatives than positives I switch employer. If I’m being unfairly treated I take it up with my union. Young people have none of those options.

On MN “resilience” just means people taking all manner of shit just to make life easier for someone else. Speaking of resilience, the head of my local MAT didn’t seem to display that trait when a lot of parents got together to fight his uniform policy. Should he have gone back to school?

Sit Up
Listen
Ask Questions
Nod
Track the Speaker

You can't dispute the first two, surely?
The other three are tips but hardly draconian.

@CryHavok

Should he have gone back to school cos a couple of parents weren’t too happy about uniform? I should imagine so yes lol.

Parents who don't like SLANT schools have a range of other schools to choose from. If parents don't choose to send their children to SLANT schools, they'll go away. But in fact the opposite is true and they are massively oversubscribed.

The tantrum when he realised that no one was going to cough up £50 for cheapo polyester trousers with naff piping down the leg was a site to behold. Was that resilient or?

What about supporting children to come up with the adaptations that work for them. These young people will have to deal with their neurodiversity for life, they need to be supported to be able to function outside the rigid school environment .

It really doesn’t matter how many times you punish a person child with AS for not making eye contact it will not make a difference. It’s the same as punishing someone for having red hair or short sight. Why do people think that terrifying an anxious child will turn them into a functioning fulfilled tax paying member of society .

That’s simply not true in my experience. In my city the school that is oversubscribed is the one that has minimal school uniform (students can wear anything they want as long as it’s not impractical, revealing, dirty, ripped or emblazoned with anything offensive, there is an optional polo shirt) has common sense rules that promote decency and respect for others, and only give detentions as a last resort. It has excellent GCSE results and behaviour. Parents support it because they are confident their children are being treated fairly. Notably this school is LEA.

Meanwhile, the local academies that do SLANT aren’t nearly as popular, with one offering what amounts to free wrap around care in a bid to attract working parents.

If the market was truly allowed to decide my area would have loads of schools like the former and none like the latter, because that’s what parents want. However, academies are being forced on parents and children by Government.

This won't sound nice but I'd be thinking if a school has to resort to that sort of heavy handed policy it must be a really bad environment. I'd avoid it.

@Florenz you do realise that most parents do not have a 'choice' of Secondary school. In 'Average Town England' the choices are basically School A or School B. The OP said her 2 local schools are the same Academy chain. That is not a choice. At all.
Many towns now have no Local Authority run schools. If you don't like the style of a specific academy chain there is no alternative.
In my opinion every town/area should have a LA run school that are true comprehensive schools for every single child whatever their learning methods are.
This doesn't mean no rules and discipline - just treating everyone with respect.

@CryHavok

So he lost his shit, had a tantrum and you expect him to quit his prestigious no doubt long-standing career? I mean sure, it sounded like he acted like a bit of an arsehole but throwing the towel in after one incident isn’t resilient. That’s just giving up. Perhaps he can reflect on his behaviour and move forward.

Helicopter parents?! This thread was about children with additional needs and how they cope in these super strict schools. Comments like this are so ignorant and discriminatory.

If he had true resilience he would have reflected that maybe the parents had a point and not lost his rag. It was funny though because he argued that his stringent rules were all about helping children develop resilience.

@CryHavok

We have no idea as individuals his level of resilience but you’re not coming across too hot yourself trying to break a head to the extent that he would like to leave because you didn’t like the polyester uniform. It’s a bit sad really. Being resilient, and being able to reflect on your day to day working life are actually two different concept. Things go wrong all the time and the shit hits the fan, it’s how you reflect and move forward that models true human resilience.

Its really interesting that you and @Florenz resort to stereotypes when arguing with people you disagree with.

You are correct that employers can have nonsensical policies, however, people can ultimately move employer. Most of the employers I have are aware of this and are receptive to their staff coming up with ways of improving. Unlike schools which will spuriously argue that parents who “don’t like” their rules are “free to move their children elsewhere” despite every school nearby being part of the same MAT.

This particular head is all about “no excuses” until it’s him that fucks up. He’s driven several parents to off-roll their kids so I hope you’ll forgive me for enjoying him getting a taste of his own medicine.

A lot of employers, some in the private sector and a lot in the public sector will pretend to listen to your views and then quietly just tick the box.

No stereotyping here I’m afraid, just realism. You can move you child. Even schools under the same umberella are different. Well they are in my locality. Schools within the same trust are all different depending on their leadership, demographic intakes etc. Parents have much more say than they do in private schools.

If you had an issue with the uniform fair play for raising it but expecting the head to leave over it, is a bit silly.

@CryHavok

Well I’m with you there. I’ve enjoyed many a demise of certain SLT, however I still wouldn’t blindly believe what my year 8 son ever had to tell me about his school life and I’ve got better things to do with my life and time than nit picking over every single decision that the school makes. Yes I am on my child’s side but ultimately my child does have to conform to their rules if he is to stay and progress at his school. So yes it’s a case of don’t like it, lump it cos they sure as hell ain’t gonna please even parent or child.

Ultimately my child is entitled to an education, so I’m not going to tolerate a hostile environment.

I do think it’s worth remembering that this thread is about children with additional needs not badly behaved children . It’s interesting and sad that some people on this thread basically think they are one and the same

@CryHavok

Hostile? Do you usually catastrophically describe places? It’s school. It isn’t actually a prison. Lots and I mean lots of children cope just fine.