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Covid

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Original poster

Special needs children and coronavirus

24 replies

crazydiamond222 · 17/03/2020 06:31

What are other people doing that have children with special needs? My son has severe autism and is sensory seeking so puts everything in his mouth. He is therefore very susceptable to picking up bugs. My OH has health issues so I don't want my son passing on any bugs to him.

I want to keep him at home but at the same time I don't want to lose his school place and support as we had to go to tribunal to get it and he is getting on so well there. What are others doing in similar situations? If I keep him off 2 weeks with a cough that still will not take us to easter.

OP posts:

Bagelsandbrie · 17/03/2020 06:33

Same boat here - plus I have chronic health issues so should be in the 12 week isolating group.

I have spoken to the head teacher at my sons school and they say they will authorise the absence if I keep him home and it will not affect his school place. Speak to the school and see what they say.

I am dreading it all but I dread getting the virus more...!

ilovecakeandwine · 17/03/2020 06:35

My son has autism , at the moment I'm taking it day by day . School is open so will be going , he doesn't take well to change .
His clubs are now cancelled so that will upset him , he simply won't understand any of this . He also puts anything in his mouth so I understand.

flapjackfairy · 17/03/2020 06:42

I have 2 children with complex needs. The younger is v vulnerable and has been off for a week now. The older one is a foster child and soc Ser are insisting he goes even though he is also vulnerable and if he caught it and passed it on it would be catastrophic . I am defying them so far.
The school are authorising any absences anyway as being under exceptional circumstances so that is not an issue
I dread the thought of the oldest being off for weeks as he is autistic with challenging behaviour on top of his complex needs so it is no fun but better than the alternative.
It seems to me that there is no concern for vulnerable kids but only adults at risk as far as the gov are concerned as there has been precious little guidance on what to do about isolating them. I think all complex needs kids schools should be closed. myself

chicken2015 · 17/03/2020 06:47

So my child has autism so not a high risk condition , her special needs nursery has decided to close as lot of high risk childre go there, im concerned about the menta side of having her home for 12 weeks, im high risk so going to self isolate

Sirzy · 17/03/2020 06:51

I don’t know what to do. My Ds has autism but also has pretty bad asthma and is awaiting more tests to find out what’s going on in his lungs. But he also has had major problems with anxiety around leaving the house in the past which we have finally got on a pretty even keel so I feel like we are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Frustratedandworried · 17/03/2020 06:52

We have 4 autistic children and unwell so we are self isolating. The hardest part so far is keeping a routine similar to schools so they dont become distressed. The best part is we can spend all day sensory seeking in safety the playdoigh and theraputtys never seen so much use!

fedup21 · 17/03/2020 06:59

I want to keep him at home but at the same time I don't want to lose his school place and support as we had to go to tribunal to get it and he is getting on so well there.

I would self isolate for 14 days and then review the situation. You won’t lose the school place. Schools will probably have closed by then anyway.

Children with significant SEN can be so vulnerable-I wouldn’t be risking it.

ikeakia · 17/03/2020 07:08

My son has DS in a mainstream school, I’m self isolating him and his siblings as he’s only just getting back on his feet after surgery two months ago which led to infections and two months off school. I’m not taking the risk.

I’m going to contact them today re their school work as I already Home Ed one full time so I’m set up Home Edding all of them for the moment.

ilovecakeandwine · 17/03/2020 07:24

Children with significant SEN can be so vulnerable-I wouldn’t be risking it.*
physically my son is very well . He is non verbal and needs the routine so as long as school is open he will go .
We all know are own children and Sen are all different, while I know a lot this virus could become very dangerous and it's not worth the risk others are best staying at school like my son .

Zampa · 17/03/2020 07:26

My DD's special school closes today as with the number of staff in self isolation they don't have enough people to look after the children.

Spikeyball · 17/03/2020 07:30

Ds has asd and learning difficulties but no medical problems so is going in as usual. The school have their own version of a lockdown in place so no none essential visitors or parents allowed on the site and have said staff are under strict instructions to follow the social isolation rules. Also no out of school visits.

bemoreeverything · 17/03/2020 07:36

@Sirzy

We are the same with anxiety. One of my autistic D.C. is a school refuser and for the past while has been really settled with everything going smoothly. I have taken her out of school because her dad and I are both high risk, but I know this is going to be a huge setback when the time comes to return to reality.

Heaviestdirtyestsoul · 17/03/2020 07:36

My DS (7) attends a specialist school setting and has Autism, ADHD, Epilepsy, global development delay and a whole host of other bits and Bob's going on including an underdeveloped immune system. He loves school and it's an absolutely fantastic school- they are keeping us updated at all times and are really going to town on the cleaning and sanitizing of the school. Any sign of a cough and we are to keep the children off- I'm not so worried. His wonderful escort on the transport is also a teacher at the school and as soon as she had any doubts we would keep him off.

Original poster

crazydiamond222 · 18/03/2020 17:29

Just seen that children with ehcp are excluded from the school closures. So does that mean we will lose our places if we don't send them? Great way of exposing the most vulnerable to the virus.

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ikeakia · 18/03/2020 17:35

I can’t find that written anywhere crazy. Do you have a link?

Tiredmumno1 · 18/03/2020 17:37

sky news

Sirzy · 18/03/2020 18:17

I think it is more likely going to be a way to ensure that they are still given the chance to access what is in their plans as much as possible. When so many with plans will also be in at risk groups I can’t see how it can be made compulsory but i guess we will know more in the next 48 hours

Original poster

crazydiamond222 · 19/03/2020 04:12

Thanks Sirzy, I hope you are right. I am just so cynical where support for my sons education is concerned. His school is in London and we are outside so no idea how that is meant to work if a London lockdown is happening on friday.

How is everyone getting on explaining the changes? My son is completely oblivious at the moment but a little sad that he can't do all the activities he loves. He is getting lots of ipad time at the moment which is making him happy but not sure how this will work longer term.

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ElizabethMainwaring · 19/03/2020 04:26

I agree that it won't be compulsory for pupils with EHCPs to attend. Like Sirzy says, it's just to let parents know that their children are 'special cases'. I work in a mainstream school with SEN children many of whom have EHCPs and I imagine that I will be sending work home rather than teaching them at school.

zen1 · 19/03/2020 04:52

I’ve also seen on the news that children with ECHPs are classed as vulnerable and was wondering how attending school would work. My DC is in mainstream with full time 1:1. He has ASD / Dyspraxia / Speech and Language Disorder and other SLDs. He has therapies in school every week. However, the school are doing everything they can to close to everyone. There is no way he will engage with work at home.

As far as explaining the changes, he understands about the virus causing necessary changes and has been quite anxious. He’s been asking a lot if the virus will get into our house and when it will go away.

I have two others with ASD in secondary and no EHCP. One can’t bear the idea of staying at home and the disruption to routine. He is not worried in the slightest and is extremely logical and dispassionate about the whole thing. The other is the other way and terrified of leaving the house.

Sirzy · 19/03/2020 09:32

I got a phone call from our SENCO this morning to discuss what if anything we wanted/needed in terms of the school being open. She said they don’t know what they will be able to offer or where because of staffing. We agreed that for him being in with things so different would be counterproductive

Original poster

crazydiamond222 · 19/03/2020 10:24

Still nothing from my child's school. They have not even mentioned the virus exept for a cancelation of an event. One to one meetings are still taking place on site. It feels like they are living in a parallel universe.

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BatleyTownswomensGuild · 19/03/2020 12:59

We've just had an email from our Head saying they are still awaiting instructions from the DfE and currently couldn't confirm what the school arrangements will be.

ilovecakeandwine · 19/03/2020 13:22

I just got a text this morning to say that the school was having a meeting with the council today . I thought I may have heard by now I'm so anxious and keep feeling emotional right now . I really hope my child can stay in school , he honestly won't be able to cope without the structure,

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