Coronavirus and Autistic children

[Puressenc3]

Hi there,

First post on here. Not familiar with all the jargon yet, but I’m dad to a pregnant wife and a beautiful 4 year old boy. DS is diagnosed autistic, hyperactive and is hard work, now more than ever.

Our current situation is:

• Nursery (The Gower School) stated to all parents via e-mail that children with EHCPs will be supported. That was last Thursday.
• His nursery have rejected him permanently after the Coronavirus 4 school days later. The offer for support was never extended to DS. He is the only EHCP child at the nursery, and all his support services expect him to overcome a temporary sharp period of frustration to continue in mainstream school.
• DS is now at home with us for the foreseeable future with no nursery place or access to support flouring the crisis.

I appreciate that everyone is on their own in this crisis, and I don’t want DS to be a carrier and harm anyone.

However, we are only capable of supporting so much without burning out repeatedly, requiring even more significant physical and mental resilience than usual.

My opinion of the leadership at the Gower school is not fit for this forum. Disbelief and helplessness is the general theme.

Help! What can we do? We’re ready to accept that doing our part to help protect others is to care for DS at home, but if anyone has any insight please let us know

Honestly, I feel you need to step back and breath. Just for one moment. This is uncharted territory for all.
I’m not putting down the fact that the school may not be suitable or capable of meeting his needs or even of how they’ve handled the situation poorly. My opinions on some Mainstream schools would be filled with *
I have two SN children and this time isn’t about replicating school. I’ve been unashamedly giving them more screen time but only after a chosen task no more than 15 mins (and repeat several times). Using the timer motivates them and gives structure. The now,next, later boards help to Alleviate their anxieties around changes in routine. And I’m allowing them indulge in their special interests, then making something “educational” out of it.
My youngest has complex needs and goes to a specialist school.
My eldest also Autistic in a mainstream.
You have to get a grip, sorry if it sounds harsh, SN children are hard work. There’s nothing around that. Just dedication, fight( to get what your child needs) love and acceptance to your soon to be even more exhausting life with baby no2 on the way.

He has to jump, spin, flap or whatever hyperactive nuance he does because it’s his body’s way of self regulating.
Only if a child is at risk at home should they go into school.
Plus what if he brings the virus home to your pregnant wife???
If you feel school can not meet needs trigger and early annual review. I can’t give an informed opinion on the exclusion but I’ll be trying to find out if it’s lawful and have they followed their policies around exclusions. Is he is being excluded because of behaviours around his needs not being met? Check out Facebook groups regarding EHCPs. They are really informative.