Any primark school teachers

[Myduck]

On Friday I received a report from the educational psychologist who came to see DS in nursery. He’s 4 and is autistic. He’s due to start reception in September. She has told me she thinks he’ll be better off starting in a mainstream school. That’s fine. He will apparently have his ehcp by the time he starts so I understand.

Reading the report has shocked me a little at just how much extra support he’ll need. I’m now worrying if mainstream reception will be a bit much for him and if the teacher will be able to cope with him.

Obviously primary teachers not primark

Do what you think is best and make sure the EHCP is specific and quantified otherwise the support may not be given and you'll not have a leg to stand on.

I’m a primary school (reception and year 1 currently) TA.

I would suggest looking at all the schools locally that could be an option including specialist. If you feel specialist is the best fit for him now then I would fight for it for entry at reception. I have worked with some young people who desperately need specialist placements but parents are having to really fight because they are currently in mainstream and there is a shortage of places for specialist so local authorities keep saying no.

Just because they've recommended that much support doesn't mean he'll actually need it. But better to take as much as you can get, especially if it is funded, and reduce it later.

You need to look at the provision that's available, first of all autism is a huge a spectrum, most LEA special school will cater for kids with learning disabilities and autism ,if your child does not have additional learning disabilities, are there are any schools with autism hubs ,these tend to cate for children with no additional learning disabilities, but might struggle in mainstream some children do very well in mainstream with the right support.