Alternative Provision or Online Learning?

[ButterfliesnWaterfalls]

Hi all,

Posting here for traffic.

DS12 ASD attends a good secondary, mainstream school. Yr 7.

Going through a diagnosis privately for ADHD.

Has had issues socially with boys.

School have decided to put him in Alternative Provision - so 4 students in class.

Already his self esteem is low, he thinks he’s “stupid” and “dumb”. I’ve reassured him he isn’t and that everyone is different.

Current flight path is 2 for most subjects.

Any ideas how to get around this…? Or what has worked for your child? Has AP worked for you?

I know everyone is different, and what one works for one child doesn’t necessarily mean it will work for another, but it would help to know what kind of things to expect.

We can homeschool/online educate - whatever would be better for him.

But equally don’t want him to miss out on school life and skills that brings.

Does he like the class? Does the needs of the other children match his?

If the needs match it's better than main class but that's not saying a lot tbh

I'm on the whole a huge fan of homeschooling, although for ADHD I'd recommend you take a well structured approach (gg to online schooling with set class times) and include much physical activity (swim, les mills exercise on demand, cycling, walking).

Many SEN kids I don't think get much positive socialisation at school. Best do the socialisation in something they are interested in (chess cadets (either police or armed forces), pokemon, magic the gathering, lifeguarding etc). In retrospect this always seems the most ridiculous argument for inclusion and mainstream schooling, socialisation in schools is so rarely a positive experience

Problem with AP is all too often they dump a load of kids with completely different needs in the same room. I've seen noise sensitive kids with ADHD sensory seeking kids and wondered why the behaviour in the room deterorates. It not much better if they all have ADHD. if they have multiple kids with ADHD, that is usually accompanied with some kind of poor executive functioning. they can end up setting each other off, not their fault just what happens biologically

Thank you for your reply.

Alternative Provision will start in Year 8. So we won’t know until later.

I agree with you regarding socialisation - it’s more of emotional stress and anxiety really. Navigating friendships and children being awful to him.