ASD child and angry head

[Catseyesgrey]

Got an angry voicemail then call from depute head. My 6 year old ASD child was crawling in the classroom and not listening. He has started play therapy. They are taking quite a punitive approach seemed very angry. Ive suggested referral to OT. He gets no supports in class.

Play therapy is unusual for a child with asd.

does he have an EHCP? Is there a TA in the classroom who can offer some support?

that sort of thing is very disruptive and they will need to work out how to deal with it.

Schools don’t have resources to handle challenging children and it disrupts the education of others

While school resources are low they still have a legal responsibility to provide him with an education, that includes up to 10 hours of 1:1 support. By not dealing with it school are allowing the education of others to be disrupted.

How long ago was he diagnosed? Is he in yr 1 or yr2?

Have you applied for an ECH assessment? SENDIASS can help. Have school involved any other agencies eg language and communication or ed psych? I would ask for an urgent meeting with SENCO and class teacher to discuss any appropriate referal and what support they need to put in place.

If you have budget for 30 staff and you have 6 year groups and 30 SEN pupils how exactly do you expect the school to manage ? As you would need 36 staff

there are too many children needing one on one support and the budget isn’t there

and probably not enough specially trained staff even if there was budget

all children deserve education but I would deprioritise the disruptive ones if it mean more children got educated

Are you in Scotland? I ask because you refer to a depute head. Apologies if it’s not the case.

If the school hasn’t applied for an EHCP, you can do so yourself. The school should be using some of its resources to support your child.

What was the outcome of the voicemail and phone call? Were you asked to collect your child? Were you asked what works at home if he’s not compliant?

I agree that a meeting to discuss what support and strategies they need to offer. It sounds as though input from specialists is needed to give the school advice and strategies and what needs to be put in place to reduce instances like the one you describe.

Yes in Scotland. He is in p2. Its a play based learning classroom so they spend all day on the floor. It was the first occasion. We did play therapy privately as no in school support .

Thats a shocking attitude would you not try and see why is he overwhelmed?

The whole class doesn’t need 1:1. If you’re unhappy with the law the speak to your MP.

OP, I’m sorry I don’t know the Scottish system but in a play based setting crawling on floor is surely pretty normal. The same general advice applies, you need a meeting to discuss your concerns and you need to ask them what they are planning on putting in place.

While school resources are low they still have a legal responsibility to provide him with an education, that includes up to 10 hours of 1:1 support.

Do all children get that?

No child who need additional support due to their disabilities are entitled to up to that depending on their level of need.

I dont know the Scottish education system im afraid.

But i do know they have an autism tool kit on a gov website. Which might have some ideas for you?

There is lots people can do that isn't a one to one and it doesnt all cost money.

But one the most real things I've come across is a disregulsted adult isn't going to make a regulated child!

So an angry head sounds like a problem..

People on here can be so horrible, it's not the OP's fault that the school can't manage her son or that there's no help for him and nowhere more suitable for him to go. She doesn't want her child causing disruption I'm sure.

OP I don't know what they expect you to do, you can't control his behaviour when you're not there. They need to try to understand why he's behaving like this and support him.

Is there someone responsible for SEN at school? Maybe you could speak to them. The deputy head sounds clueless, being angry isn't going to help anything.

I'd take this further and tell the head you don't exactly feel reassured about the 'angry' approach when it comes to your additional needs child clearly needing extra support in class.

The latest suggests that 1 in 5 children have SEN

thats half a dozen in every class

there is often not budget for a TA per class never mind serveral SEN experts per class

and since no one wants to pay more tax that won’t get better

it’s also placing teaching staff under tremendous stress - you get the teacher suspended and there isn’t any money for a temporary replacement and that doesn’t help

the only solution is for volunteers to be in schools helping and the legal problems that could bring - a child can hit but you can’t restrain the child ? Doesn’t work.

How do you deal with your son when he acts out, OP?

Why play therapy? As a Senco, I’d recommend that for children with possible trauma, not automatically for a child with ASD. Has your DS been formally diagnosed and has he been assessed for ADHD?

And your point is?

Not in Scotland don't think. This isnt a very high needs child. He is very sweet most of the time. Very low support needs. He is maybe being oveooked. Inexperienced teacher I believe.

Take him a walk

Im a teacher from Scotland. Support in class is not great. We are lucky to have some form of support on some mornings or afternoons but there can be times when there is none. You should arrange to speak to depute/ someone in the school to discuss support that he may need. We have support plans that include different strategies to help your child. Nurture and providing support for childrens needs are a huge thing in Scotland, particularly now. Im sure the school will be supportive if you reach out.

I think you need to meet with the SEN lead and/or class teacher to discuss strategies that will help them with the disruptive behaviour. Clearly, taking your child for a walk isn’t a practical option when there are 29 other children to consider, so maybe you could suggest other ideas that may be useful.

Also, please consider the teacher’s perspective. There are likely to be up to 30 children in the class, some of whom have particular needs which all have to be managed. There may or may not be another adult to help, but there certainly won’t be enough adults to deal with disruptive behaviours unless a child has an EHCP funding additional support hours.

Alongside this the teacher has 30 children who deserve the best education, a curriculum to teach, targets to meet etc. Please cut them some slack and work with them to help to manage your child’s behaviour.

Isn't that what OP is trying to do, work with them to find ways of managing the behaviour?

Being angry isn't working with the child or parent to manage the behaviour. What is it supposed to achieve/communicate?

Thank you. We have a meeting pending but all this has happened while they wait for the term to settle. Bad idea in my opinion. Still no date set. Over a year since diagnosis no meeting to discuss the report. I get they are struggling. I've asked for OT input and play therapist. I think they let him go visit his old teacher and get a movement break after I complained. He is challenging at home. Movement breaks and firm boundaries are helping. I am cutting them a break, they are not cutting me a break with annoyed voicemail. Very unprofessional. He is a wee cutie not a monster y advanced in some areas and emotionally a bit younger. His teacher last year had no problems.

Sounds like a nightmare to have in a classroom with other children who want an education, I assume grade 2 or 3 and you couldn’t get them a ola e a SEND school this should help your case.
play therapy is usually for those with PTSD, not ASD.

Play therapy is unusual for a child with asd.

Is it? I didn't know that... I've had two professionals recommend play therapy for my autistic son?