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.

@CryHavok

So what’s it to be then? Reasonable questions? Playing war? Head teacher getting his “arse handed to him on a plate”, expecting him to quit because he was challenged by you over uniform and “not taking any shit”.

Are you jealous of teachers may I ask?

I am sure judging from your responses they have every right to presume you’re aggressive. You are.

Interesting responses. Those saying just choose a different schools - there is no alternative as the only other school is part of the same academy and same policies.
Dd doesn't have an ehcp so no ability to ask for a different schools.

@ItsMeAgainYesHowDidYouGuess2 I work full time so no way I can homeschool her. Correspondence school would not work given DDs needs.

I’m not jealous or teachers at all. I’m very happy with my life.

If I have an issue I try to address it reasonably at first, so I asked the school:

Is it appropriate to change the uniform to a much more expensive alternative when we’re in the midst of a cost of living crisis?

And

Why is my kid being sent to isolation when he was the one thumped?

Both very reasonable.

i had to take a harder line when they tried to fob me off.

My son goes to the same high school I went to as a child. In my day, it was a supportive environment with teachers who could both teach and behaviour manage. Detentions were a rarity and we had the opportunity to learn from our mistakes. Of course we had rules and order and consequences, but we did not have constant threats, punishments and daily detentions for minor infringements. The school now has SLANT and 'go4schools behaviour management' and it nitpicks over virtually everything. I am terrified of the school as a parent and my son does not thrive there. The school is like a prison. I would love to move his school, but it is not an option as I can't get him to a more desirable school.

It is interesting that some people have said SLANT leads to an ordered environment and no bullying. This is not the case at our school- there are frequent fights and physical bullying,some of which is probably due to the restrictive and pent up environment in the classroom. I don't find the school well run in most respects (pupil premium is incredibly weak, for example). If I asked a member of SLT about their SLANT policy and for comments on changes/ updates to the theory etc, they wouldn't be able to answer me, they wouldn't even know.....

I understand CryHavoc completely. I listen to and support my child. Many kids don't tell their parents anything and suffer in silence. I have communications with the school, as some of the things they do are not based on best practice. We are allowed to challenge SLT, so I don't understand why some posters here think expulsion will be the result for having a different stance! Schools do make mistakes, it seems some people here think all teachers and SLT are infallible, yet all kids are monstrously badly behaved. Interestingly, our school now holds governor meetings at 4pm on a Monday, to ensure most parents are unavailable to attend.

I was academic and shy at school, yet got on well in a noisy classroom-I can't understand the concept of not being allowed to talk to your friends in class at all, which is what this school now does. I don't think a controlling environment works for anyone and it doesn't replicate the real world.

OP- go with your gut instinct, you know what's right for your child. I don't get the point of SLANT, especially in relation to other scientific research.

👏🏼

You sound like a lovely. Many teachers actually hate kids