Wwyd? School issues

[notsureyetcertain]

My son is autistic, he is 9 in mainstream school. He has a ehcp and higher level funding, he has a full time 1:1 for his emotional regulation and processing issues. He is working at or above age related.
until this year (year 5) he has managed quite well in school in fact last year he had an amazing year, no issues at all he enjoyed going to school and did well. I’ve never had any major concerns about how they manage him.
This year he has a new (to the school) teacher, unfortunately there was a mass exodus last summer and there are 7 new teachers (in a junior school where only 11 teachers are employed) All three of the year five teachers are new. He had have his 1:1 from the previous year though.
initally there were a few minor issues (messing about, shouting out), I spoke to the teacher each time and made suggestions to support him (based on what had worked previously) these were ignored. He then got bullied by a boy in the class (with other children joining in). Thankfully that boy left the school. Since then there has been a few issues of hitting that’s been mentioned. (3 in one term) They also have issue with his echolalia, I’ve asked about strategies they can use but again not sure it’s being implemented. He hates school and doesn’t want to go

Recently I’ve been given a behaviour management form to sign saying they will use restraint where necessary. I’m concerned that that would be extremely distressing for him (as a person who doesn’t like to be touched) and I’m concerned they are not being honest about his behaviour and what’s happening in school. (He doesn’t tell me anything)

I’ve lost trust in the school and I’m also aware they brought a new extremely strict behaviour policy in this year and there has been 12 exclusions since all Sen children.

Would you move schools? Bear in mind there one year left.

Are you in West Yorkshire?

I would ask for a meeting on the back of the letter to discuss what is happening and how they are supporting your child, that should help you decide whether you need to move him.

What a difficult situation to be in. As a starting point, can you arrange a meeting with the SENCo to discuss this fully and see if they can provide the teacher with support in using the right strategies and adjustments? (You may already have done this, as you have clearly been in communication with the school.) I’d be reluctant to sign the form without some significant discussion with the school. I’m not certain, but I thought that there was statutory guidance around this and I’d want to understand if/why they are taking this any further. Also, it’s about knowing what sort of support other schools would provide. Is there a feasible alternative and would your DS cope okay with the move? My DN moved to specialist provision from Year 9 onwards and is thriving, but I know that there is a desperate shortage of places.

South Yorkshire

its tough isn’t it, I could move him and it be worse but I’m concerned they will exclude him and it will be harder to get him to go to school and to move schools

Arrange an emergency EHCP review as something is going wrong at the moment
Is mainstream the right setting for him?

Agree with PP - you need a meeting with the SENDCo, his teacher and the Head.
Send them a list of your questions and request a face to face to get the answers (as you’ll likely have follow-up questions).
For the school to request permission to restrain him, they need to explain the necessity, especially given how distressing it will be for him.
You should also ask specific questions about why they feel his behaviour has deteriorated since last year - is it related to changes in personnel, or is something else going on.

Good luck! x

I think so he’s managed every other year and last year had a excellent year his best yet

So sorry that this is happening. If so many staff have left it may feel like a different school and the ethos may have changed.

You do need an urgent meeting and to arrange an EHCP review.
Things to ask or consider would be

Has anyone observed him in class to unpick changes and current needs ( SENCO or advisory teacher from an outside agency)

Has there been. STAR analysis (Setting Trigger Action Result? ) to understand current difficulties

Does he have access to support for sensory needs fidget items, ear defenders, sensory breaks or sensory circuits

Is there an individual behaviour plan in place rather than expecting him to follow whole class/ school expectations

Have Staff received ASD training or positive behaviour management training?

Are staff trained in safe handling e.g.Team Teach
This approach teaches “ safe handling” as a last resort and teaches a 95 % de escalation model
What de escalation strategies are in place?
The word “ restraint” should not be used and unless in extreme cases where safety is a factor ( and especially if staff aren’t trained in safe handling) it should be a hands off approach.

Quote the equalities act as they can’t “ have issues” with his echolalia it is a part of his autism
This may have increased due to his stress levels.

You could also ask to meet with the SEN Governor

Hope you get some answers. You could take someone from the Parent support service ( look on your Local Offer) to support you in the meeting.

@24Dogcuddlerthank you I’ve made some notes. I’m actually on the board of governors so I have a bit of knowledge of how they are failing Sen children currently. The Sen governor left four months ago and hasn’t been replaced.

I wouldn’t be giving permission to use restraint without knowing what approach staff are trained in, the reason why they think restraint is needed, other strategies they have in place and whether the provisions of his care plan are being met at all times. I’d also want a copy of their restraint policy including how they will debrief your child and other children who may be distressed by observing another child being restrained.

If restraint is a possibility they should have an individual behaviour support plan in place which you should have a copy of and should be discussed with you. I agree that it sounds like they are not sharing information with you.

It sounds like you both like his 1.1 and he did well with them last year, have you spoken to them about his behaviour and what they think is causing it?

I’m not sure I understand the permission to restrain, surely it would only be done when completely necessary for his or someone else’s safety?
Dd was attacked and repeatedly hit by a SN child last year and he was restrained by 2 members of staff to stop him. If his parents hadn’t signed a form would they just have to let him carry on?

Teachers can use reasonable restraint anyway to protect the safety of children in their care. The fact they've asked you to sign this means they are being over transparent about it. Is it a specific plan for him, or a generic on applied to him? There's a difference and you need to know.

Sorry forgot to mention his 1:1 left last term he has another 1:1 who he knows and has been at the school a long time. She ok but not as good.

It’s specific. It lists reasons they might have to discipline him and the stages of discipline from warning to restraint.
The behaviour issues are-

Echolalia (a asd trait)

Wanting to leave the classroom when upset (he’s supposed to get sensory breaks)

being unable to complete work when upset

When having a sensory break not wanting to leave when someone else needs to use the sensory area

Having altercations with other children (a polite way of saying the other children make fun of him which upsets/annoys him)

running away (as far as I’m aware this happened once and school admitted they managed the situation badly, he also didn’t leave the
premises)

Being rude to staff (never had issue with this before but he certainly has a abrupt way of speaking so I can believe it)

Sounds like the school isn't meeting his needs so yes I'd move him. What other schools are near by and can they meet his needs

I’d follow my gut and move him. They aren’t showing signs of supporting him or wanting to be inclusive.

I would never sign permission to restrain my child unless they’re known to be a risk to others. If he’s struggling and they can’t manage him, they should call you.

From what you’ve said, it sounds like a sinking ship and I wouldn’t want him to go down with it.

Would he be open to a new school? Could he look around with you so he feels it’s a collaborative move? He sounds like a bright child, he may see a different environment he’d like to try.

There are two schools nearby that I feel could be a good fit. I’m going to have the meeting and maybe request a visit with these schools. It’s all dependent on tif they agree. But I will also see how school manage this.

That sounds awful, why would they even punish echolalia? And why restrain? Restraint is only justified if he is hurting others or himself. Even then, I would expect them to try prevention, for example, 1:1 in playground or keeping him away from known bullies. You could move or you could formally complain to try and get changes.

If the school has always met his needs before, I would be pushing hard for them to sort the provision out.
Definitely ask for an emergency review.
I suspect it is less capable teachers needing support.
If school are struggling to meet his needs they should be getting in support from specialist teachers/EP etc to advise on his provision.
Hopefully that will get thinks back in track but if not, and you get to considering a non mainstream option this will be important in establishing that this is what is needed.
With just over a year to go until year 7 transition I would try and get things back on track at the current school.
If you call an emergency review your caseworker can hopefully push school to take appropriate action too.

I agree, I would be questioning this robustly, especially when it hasn't been used before.

My DS is autistic and had similar with a new teacher in y5, it went downhill and was quite traumatic for him. Year 6 was a write off and he moved to Special school for y7.

I would contact your LA and ask specifically for the caseworker to attend too. And maybe approach SENDIASS too. I would honestly be putting pressure on the school to get things back on track. If no joy complain to the HT and escalate to the govs if needed.

Yep. I’d move schools.

It sounds like the school have put a positive handling plan in place. It is a specific plan for children who are highly likely to be in a situation which is unsafe for them or others )so those who have shown physical behaviours previously).

It should be a goto plan for supporting him if he is in crisis, and include signs for staff to notice that he is escalating and the strategies that are lost effective for him to de-escalate. The last point on the plan is physical restraint and the point of the plan is to try and avoid that. And even that is about identify the safest way to move him out of the situation e.g. the nearest safe space in the school and best route there.

The worry for me (from a teaching and education background) is the sudden escalation of these behaviours making the PHP necessary, when they have not been present before. It really does indicate that the school are not.meeting his needs like they did previously.

Apologies for the typos, may have had a couple of glasses of wine 🙈 before someone jumps on me for being a reacher who can't spell/ use basic grammar.

Definitely ask for an early EHCP review. Are his provisions happening? Does the EHCP actually state full time 1.1?

His EHCP, or at least internal school paperwork, can and should include provision around what to do when things go wrong. For example, if he refuses to leave the sensory area, then he may need a different area provided for when he needs a break, such as a tent in the classroom.

What support is he getting during unstructured time? If he is getting physical, then something should be in place to prevent the need for restraint.

What is the plan for work refusal? Would he be able to complete unfinished work at home? Or would it be it be better for him to write off incomplete work?

Have they completed ABC or STAR analysis to understand behavioural patterns?

These would be some of the key questions I would be asking in the review, if I were in your shoes.

In terms of the restraint consent, that's odd. The legal guidance say school stacf have every right to intervene with restrictive physical intervention if the child is a risk to self or others, significant risk to property or disruptive to the good order of the school. This should only be at the end of proactive support for behaviour, and attempts at non-restrictive interventions. Only doing it with an parental permission is not good enough. At an extreme, if a child were choking and staff did nothing because they didn't have permission to intervene physically, then the school would be in breach of their duty of care.