They’re seeking autism specialist school

[Ricecakesaremyjam]

DS 5yrs diagnosed ASD, ADHD and social communication disorder. In mainstream reception class, been awful, school have agreed can’t meet need. He has been discussed at a LA panel meeting and Autism specialist school is being sought.
Im so anxious about what this exactly means - so a school specialising in educating autistic children? He is academically able, friendly and sociable, but very dependent on routine and massive social communication issues, becoming very disregulated in school, running about, starting to lash out (at staff, not at kids). I’m worried about the type of school he could be sent to. I’d really appreciate anyone with experience giving advice or words of wisdom please! Thankyou x

I think I remember you from previous threads ?
I know there are private autism specialists schools, these tend to cost ££££ and LA,s try and afford them
Are they talking about autism Hubs ?
Ww have a few in my LA for those that are more academically able,they are units within minastream schools.

I used to be a teacher

I did some supply in a school for students with autism a few years ago.
It was brilliant. Calm and happy.

Staff were experts in each child (rather than a blanket diagnosis) and thus disregulated incidents I saw were few and far between (I appreciate that I was a guest though).

You could ask for a headteacher tour at one?

Different ASD specialist schools differ a lot. You should look at individual schools within travelling distance to see which would meet DS’s needs and which wouldn’t.

I woukd post in the SN Children Section @Ricecakesaremyjam. You should get done responses from MNers with experience in there

An autism specialist school could be just the right thing. Take the place if you can get it.

Sorry when I started my post you hadn’t had any responses. I can see that you’ve had some now

My stepson moved from enhanced mainstream to specialist education for Y1, having struggled his way through EYFS.

His school is an absolute godsend, they really are wonderful with him (and the other kids I assume).

Smaller class sizes and more support might be good for him if his needs are mainly social, and lots of SEN provision can and does cater for children who are academically able - it doesn’t mean necessarily he’s written off.

If his current school can’t meet his needs, and he’s disregulated when he’s there, this might be the move he needs. Have a tour of the school, ask ALL the questions, and see how you feel from there.

I guess really I just fear of the unknown. Worried that he could end up somewhere that’s totally wrong for him, worried he could lose his academic potential, worried he could pick up behaviours he doesn’t currently have.
I know he needs specialist, I’m just scared of what that might look like for him.

This doesn’t quite help with your question but I hope it helps with any worries for the future. I work at a university organising all the practical (not academic) side of undergraduate courses. 20 of the 300 students I work with have been diagnosed with Autism and i know 3 of them attended specialist schools (I’m not sure about 10 of them because I don’t actually need to see their applications/CVs). All of the students I work with are doing degree apprenticeships and are full-time employees for huge companies. We have a department dedicated to formalising reasonable adjustments. After that, I bend over backwards to make their experience as positive as possible. From talking them through what to expect for each module to ensuring there’s a quiet space when they need to decompress to assigning seating with someone they know and telling them in advance so they don’t worry. I regularly meet with employers and the majority are really supportive of employees who are neurodiverse. It’s obviously more common than it was 20 years ago but by the time your DC gets to that age, I feel like understanding and support will have moved on even further.

I think there's a great update tbh. Even between schools that are autistic specialist, they can be a difference in terms of provision and cohort.

My advice is not to be passive; try and connect with other parents locally (Facebook groups can be great for this) as well as Google searches etc about possible schools.

Fwiw, DS3s ASD school he attended from Yr3-6 was able to cater for those who were academically able.

It wasn't all smooth sailing as peer relations can be tricky, but his school was really good at rearranging classes if the dynamics really weren't workable. DS3 can actually be quite judgemental about others' behaviour, despite being the tasmanian devil on cocaine having trouble regulating himself and he actually learnt makaton just from being around others that used it.

But step 1, look into schools and just consider those the LA finds as well

My son has autism – severe, non-verbal. Understands basic things, but nothing complicated. He is at a specialist SEN school that mainly deals with children with autism. However, as ASD is a spectrum, some of the classes – like my DS’s - deal with children that are at the more ‘severe’ end of the spectrum, and some of them deal with the children that sound more like your son. And the children are so happy. Don’t write it off, could be the best thing that ever happens for him.

They won't put him in a school for kids with significant cognitive difficulties, they will be consulting with a range of schools.
I would research the options yourself as if you have a preference they have to name that unless it is incompatible with the efficient education of others (not likely if the school offer a place) or the efficient use of resources (they have already agreed specialist so that's less likely unless you pick a school that is wildly more expensive than the others).
It would be unusual in my experience for maintained special schools to have a curriculum offer for an able learner.

You need to be proactive and look at as many special schools as possible.
Look at independent specialist schools too especially as your child is a academically able.

My children go to independent specialist schools. A million times better then mainstream.

Go and have a look at the suggested schools - you might be pleasantly surprised. We moved from SE England to Wales to put our son into a specialist school for autism. It was an absolutely brilliant school and he did very well there. The classes are small, usually 6-8 students with a teacher and at least 2 LSAs.

My DS goes to an autism specialist school. He's been there since reception and is in y6 now. It's been really good for him. He hasn't picked up any behaviours he didn't already have. Academically he's following an adapted national curriculum. He really loves his school and is happy to go every day. He has friends, and we always get positive reports about his work and behaviour. That's all you can ask for really!

He can't be sent to a special school unless you agree
You can ask which schools are being consulted and go to visit them

IF you insist they stay in mainstream they will (until permanent exclusion)

@Ricecakesaremyjam

You need to take the initiative and go look at the options yourself, decide which one you want and fight for it.
My son actually went in the opposite direction from special to mainstream.
He was in foster care and adopted by me age 8. He has ASD and was significantly delayed because of his early experiences.
He went to 2 special school, both of which were amazing, he was in mainstream for most of year 6 and went to a mainstream secondary with a high percentage of ND students who were amazing with him.
I always say to people just find the right school and don't worry about whether it's called mainstream or special.
If the mainstream environment is wrong for him he won't learn, but he will learn in special with the right environment.
But don't be passive about it, research and visit with an open mind and make a decision

I did some of my training in a school for moderate to severe learning difficulties that also catered for autism. There were massive extremes in the students. Some non-verbal, some just aiming to develop basic life skills like go to the shops unaided, and some that were high fliers academically. It was an absolutely wonderful school. Maximum of 12 kids per class, and always an LSA. I wish all students could get the level of attention and support that this school provided. I understand being concerned that he won’t achieve his full academic potential in an autism school, but he definitely won’t in mainstream if they’re already looking at specialist schools at this age. He should still sit GCSEs if he’s able to, and he’ll be far more able to with the right support.

I know the school I am desperate for him to go to and have named this as my preference, only issue is it is a specialist independent so I’m presuming it’s going to be hard to get him a place.
I have called around the specialist schools within an hour of our house already and while they could meet his needs in some ways, I’m not sure he would have an appropriate peer group or if they could meet his academic needs? He is really bright but as he is on a permanent reduced timetable in school he isn’t actually learning much there. Despite this he can read/write at the expected level for his age and he can count into the thousands/has an exceptional memory to learn things by rote. Does anyone with experience know if this sound like a child who would be accepted by a maintained specialist?

In my area there are growing numbers of mainstream schools with autism hubs, so they might look at something like that if available.

@Ricecakesaremyjam

My son is now 21 and just finished 2nd year at uni and is thinking about doing a masters.
If I had one piece of advice it's to take the long view.
My boy did 5 GCSEs and a couple of Btecs. He did OK, nothing startling but enough to get him to the next stage which was a Level 3 Btec Engineering at college. Again nothing startling, he did OK- enough to get him to uni of his choice. I'd say he is now more or less academically where he should be. It took him a bit longer than other kids but he got there.
So try not to focus on where he is in comparison to other kids. As long as he is progressing that's fine, it's not the end of the world if he doesnt get 10 GCSEs, as long as it gets him to the next stage

My son, aged 11, moved to a specialist school last yr. I battled to get him there as mainstream was not good. It was torturous for him. He's very bright, reading she 14. Comprehension 15. But writing 7... Plus emotional regulation gas been a really issue for him. He's thriving there. But I went through the process of adjusting my expectations and hopes for him. Mainly through what our mainstream experience was. It's natural to have concerns and go through that same period of adjustment but if I could turn the clock back and get my son into specialist sooner I would jn a heartbeat.

@Ted27 Thanks. I would obviously love it if he did really well in school but more than anything I just want him to be happy, and to be able to do whatever he wants to do with his life. With my son only being 5, if I’m honest I’m still at a stage of feeling full of anxiety of how life will be for him/sadness if I’m really honest as I watch him struggle, worrying it will always be this hard for him, and for me too if I’m honest. I don’t want to also feel guilt I didn’t do enough to get him the right placement. I hate the uncertainty of everything.

Do you mind me asking if your son had a speech delay?

@TheTwitcher11 Hi, no I don’t mind at all, no he didn’t have a speech delay.