Is private school the answer?

[finefatmama]

I started a thread on this in the primary education section and have been given some food for thought.

ds2 is 5.9yrs and in one of three reception classes in a popular catholic school His teacher hasn't had much success engaging him and we end up in a cycle of meetings about his behaviour and her stressing that she is not allowed to vary the curriculum as it should be 80% play and his child led activities are not 80% play because he keeps going back to the classroom to do academic stuff and will sneak back to class if asked to play, no she can't extend him as he HAS to do 80% play and she needs to focus on the kids who are behind in his class, he is naughty etc.

That has not been our experience at home or that of his other teachers - tutor, flute teacher, martial arts teachers, out of school and holiday club workers, babysitters etc .He is coping with all his activities and asked to add guitar lessons and football classes to his activities. We are barely managing to get him to all the lessons and coping with the ABA therapies for his older brother.

DH, who has been overseeing all his activities and currently works 9:30 to 2:30 within a mile from home, has been promoted to a full time role over an hour away. We are wondering if moving him to a private school will provide him with the right environment and all the desired activities in one place. We may have to stop these activities altogether and this may increase his boredom and perceived behaviour problems at his current school. I suspect the solution to defining and finding what constitutes the right educational balance for him is somewhere in between but can't get my head round it.

The schools around her are fantastic for disabilities but not really for SEN. Most parents I have spoken to send their kids to privates schools in nearby areas with varying degrees of success. How do you know when a school is right for your child?

[sashh]

He sonds ASD - but I'm not an expert, and this is the internet etc etc.

BUT I think he would benefit from being taught as if he is AS.

What is the tutor doing with him? Rather than academic stuff maybe the tutor could explain idoms, not taking things literally etc etc - ie give him the skills to survive in social situations.

I can remember being 5 and being told by a teacher "No more play dough", which I thought meant "Do not get any more play dough out, but you can carry on with what you have already". Then I wondered why I was in trouble.

I'm dyslexic (diagnosed) and possibly on the AS (undiagnosed) and social situations to me are something I have had to learn the rules of, as you would learn the rules of a game. What I find instinctive is not what other people expect.

[finefatmama]

I have been recommended a book by an english teacher called 'It's Raining Cats and Dogs: An Autism Spectrum Guide to the Confusing World of Idioms, Metaphors and Everyday Expressions' so here's hoping we make some headway in that department.

Thanks.

[strictlovingmum]

If it is the Indie school you are after, then keep it in mind they will all differ in what they have to offer, first port of call should be the Head and a very frank discussion on your part, in terms of what you are looking for.
It may very well be that your DS will benefit from small class sizes, generally less noise and calmer environment, if it is the sport and music lessons, one to one you are after, again some indie schools are better then others, look around, and lastly factor in the cost long term, once you have your DC in indie school it is a huge financial commitments long term.
Any behavioural issues will be flagged up promptly at indie school too, bad behaviour will not be tolerated no metter how clever DC's are and just because "you pay", good luck.
When and if you find the school that you really like, put him for a few taster days and see how he gets on.

[RiversideMum]

You are into year 1 now - are things improving at school? I wonder if all the activities that your DS does after school are contributing to his sensory overload? I've taught many children with ASD/AS and they often hold it together better at school than they do at home. Your child seems to be the opposite. If he is having to cope with sets of rules about flute, guitar, martial arts, football and so on, then having to learn rules at school, where self control and self reflection is required (rather than being told what to do by an adult) may be too much for him.

[finefatmama]

Thanks for asking. Year 1 is better as he does half of his classes with year 2 and his spelling homework seems to be a little more challenging (traditionally, gradually, concentration, celebration, imagination, extravagant, temperature, adventure etc). He still likes bumping into others and is in need of social emotional literacy. He says school is better, school dinner is yucky but there's no science (i.e. space and planets) and no times tables yet.

I called the OT to request a sensory profile and was informed by the OT in charge of DS1 that the autism referral list is closed till next year.

We have been recommended time out for reflection which we think will help. the school are adamant that he is in no way particularly advanced as per the national curriculum even though the ed psych's report puts his spelling and reading comprehension at 9 years and word reading at 14 years (is that hyperlexia?).

I'm starting to think he may just be refusing to perform at school especially with maths. The school have said that they only get so many SEN and ed psych days per year and such limited resources are better targeted at severe cases. they do not think they will be putting in too much into helping him due to constraints. We are thinking of changing schools anyway as the school have once again hinted if we don't want to accept what they are offering, there are other children waiting to take his place. DS1's school told us they get the same response whenever they try to implement autism programs as part of their outreach work at that particular school.

[sieglinde]

Short answer is no. Most private schools are wretched at catering for gifted children. Believe me, I do know; message me if you'd like me to explain.

[finefatmama]

sieglinde - have tried to pm you.

[finefatmama]

pm doesn't seem to be working today .

[sieglinde]

Hi, have made contact with ffm. If anyone else wants the same information, message me.

[RiversideMum]

Spelling and reading of 9 yrs is not hugely unusual for Y1. I'd say word reading of 14 is maybe a 1 in 100-150 in my experience (so anecdotal!). There is an issue with access to Ed Psychs - and it seems to be made worse by the fact that they are selling their services to Academies so the maintained schools are even more rationed than before - in our LA, we have to "bid" even for a child to get o a list to see an Ed Psych.

But what the school will be thinking as well is where will the appt with an Ed Psych lead? Usually they are a critical part of a statementing process. If the school does not think your child will qualify for a statement (and they are flippin' difficult to get these days) then they are indeed better (for themselves, not you since a statement = money) prioritising other children.

I think that a private school may or may not be the answer - although I've had several children in my classes over the years who have been "asked to leave" private schools because of SEN. What probably would be a good answer is to find a state school which has a better attitude towards SEN, with teachers and TAs who have lots of experience with ASD - because even if your DS does not finally get a diagnosis, there are obviously traits there that would respond to certain types of structures and ways of handling him.

[sieglinde]

Yes, good point on being 'asked to leave' private school because of SEN. I had a good friend who was asked to take her severely dyslexic but very clever son out of a top prep...

They are really not the Holy Grail, and IMHO are ONLY worth the money if you have loads. If you have 6 figures after tax, maybe.. They are not worth the sweating, straining, no-heating kind of money.

[slalomsuki]

Not an expert here on special needs but I have a son on a scholarship to an independent school which does cater for children with special needs and socialising issues. I looked at a couple of them before deciding on the one he is in and one of the schools just concentrated on the academic side and was proud of its results. But some of the kids including one I know have not developed or been supported to develop their broader social skills or the ability to cater in unfamiliar situations. I feel that while this wasn't an issue for my son it reflected overall on the school.

The one we chose has a programme where it caters and supports the development of the child as individuals and at the same time recognises that children develop and mature at different stages. We didn't go for the cheapest option but went for the one that we felt would support our child the best.
My point is that independent schools do not always provide the answer and the environment that you think is the best. Make sure that you talk to the head and also drop in to the school unannounced. Any decent school would be open to this. We went 3 time before we took the plunge and I feel it was the thing to do.

[finefatmama]

I know this is an old thread but thot it was worth updating.

We decided to move ds anyway as the deputy headteacher was still a nightmare somehow blaming parents for the inability of the supply teacher to control the class when the regular class teacher went off sick with stress for 6 weeks. Her parents newsletters includes statements like "...if you can take some time out your busy schedule to listen to your child read..." "we know you have better things to do but it would be nice if you can attend..."

We saw the nhs salt and paediatrician who carried out a series of assessments and have decided it's just the manifestation of asynchronous development. He started a new state school in january and he is doing amazingly well. loved by the teacher and his classmates who look up to him as the leader. He's a free reader on some Marpugo books and has decided to also pick up the violin at school in addition to his flute.

The Head teacher at the new school is supportive and trying her best to turn the school around. We had a follow up trial day at a school we had applied to when we were considering a move. He did really well and I think the head was quite pleased with his school report and the trial session as she offered us a 50% discount for the year of we accept their offer of a place. We'll be debating that a home as our LEA is in the bottom 10% of the counter although the school is in the top 100 most improved.

I am so glad we went with our instincts and moved him and rather than accepting the previous school's assessment.

[tiredbutnotweary]

Finefatmama - thank you so much for posting an update, many threads trail off and leave me wondering. Well done for following your gut, I'm so pleased for you and your DS that the move has worked well for him!