DS1 recently dx with ASD, we are going to meet with headteacher and they want us to say "what we need".... suggestions please?

[MrsShrekTheThird]

Whilst we're already doing stuff at home that works (and have done since he was 2yo, if we're honest) and DH and I work in ASD services, we have absolutely no idea what we should be suggesting that school can do. The only thing that we've come up with so far is that the 'games club' (encouraging turn taking and 'rules' in game situation, therefore 'fun') I'm sure there are more, err, significant things we could suggest, but have no clue. I'm not holding my breath either - two years ago, after he was diagnosed as severely dyslexic, I took them cream paper to copy his stuff on to, as it helps him a lot... but it was never used.
Anyone who has experience of what a child with ASD needs in a mainstream primary classroom would be a massivew help. TIA!

Depends on his needs, so you should sit down and think about what you do to enable him to cope in a crowded and noisy environment.
What are his key stress points?
What are his stress reactions?
You need to get it written down in bullet points for the school, and make sure they keep tabs on what they agree to do.
Bit worried that you work in ASD services and find this bit tricky TBH.

Yes, the Sn boards will be full of people with helpful ideas and a lot of experience.
Come on down!

Really it depends where he has difficulties but in very general terms things like
Visual timetables
appropriate seating to avoid distractions (some children like to have a wall behind them rather than other children)
social stories can be useful for some children
traffic light system to show when getting anxious if this is a concern
lighting and noise can be issues for some children
difficult points - assemblies - lunch -playground
organisation - sometimes useful to have task menus
clear instructions - avoid use of figures of speech which the child may take literally
but without knowing the child it's difficult

Obv depends on your son, but here are some things that have helped my DS:

• Allowed to walk out of the class when necessary (like during times tables tests :) ) This has been handled in many diff ways, but often they give him a set number of cards ( 2 or 3) he is allowed to use each day.....

• Not going swimming (in Y5 when it's compulsory)

• Lunchtime club - structured play (which he hated, but might work for your DS )

• MoveNSit cushion to minimize his movements

• Fidget toys

• Timetable on the board (not visual) - and no deviations from it :)

• Being introduced to any new teacher before he was taught by them

• Photos of his next years teacher and classroom given at the end of the prev year

• Being warned that a fire drill was going to happen that day

• Having a TA assigned to look after him during fire drill

• Being at the back of the line so he wasn't jostled so much

• Not eating in the hall on a bad day

• Having a Dinner Lady assigned to keep an eye on him

• Having someone ask him if he's OK before he goes into class after play / lunch

• Being excused from messy activities

• Giving him time to cool down before asking him why he punched the other kid

• Giving him somewhere he can escape to (and roll round on the floor)

• Not following him when he runs off ( inside the school grounds )

• Giving him a choice of golden time activities so he can plan what he's going to do in golden time before golden time....

Hi OP.

A few questions:

Are the school seeking expert advice along with your opinions?

A child with ASD should probably have a statement of SEN, laying out their needs and what provision the child needs to meet those needs. Has this been mentioned to you?

Is anyone else involved in advising you/the school on what provision might help your son best? SALT, Ed Psych, an advisory teacher, for example? Surely they are not asking YOU alone to advise them on how they can support your child?!

Not all kids with ASD need statements.

None of our ASD pupils have statements.

True.

But not all schools would tell the parents if they thought a child did need a statement.

It's good that the school are consulting with the parents, but not good if this is all they are doing.

But does that mean they don't need them?@mrz

A statement just makes the support you the school may well already provide the child with legally binding. Most LEAs don't want to make that sort of commitment.

Why not?
Schools have everything to gain from a statement and nothing to lose

Sometimes when you are laying down specific strategies and approaches that will be used, the parent is the best person to help establish what will work and what will not, as each child is different and the parent has the most first-hand knowledge.

excuse typos

My son doesn't have a statement, the school were committed to supporting him and kept their promises.

It means the children are achieving at appropriate levels and making good progress with the support the school provides and that their needs are being met appropriately.

Hmm, not necessarily true ^@mrsz.

Schools might get extra funding, but then they have to provide what is laid out in the statement. Statements can equal 'headache' for schools, depending on what the school is like. I have worked in schools where this has been the case, certainly.

Anyway, digressing slightly. Statement or not, as long as consulting the parents is part of wider process of investigating the child's needs and how they can be best supported - no problem.

You are lucky@Goblin. I think a brief trip oto the SN boards will show you you are in the minority.

Goblin often visits the SN boards

...should add:With a child that has no statement, if the staff change, the head changes, the TAs leave - your child's support is not safe without a statement. It can be whipped away from under you.

The SN boards are my usual location. Haven't seen you there yet.

So do I.

Look, I'm not rucking with you. I'm just saying as a specialist teacher and parent of a child with an ASC what I believe to be true. You are entitled to disagree.

I agree that a statement puts a legal obligation on a school and gives you something to make them toe the line, if my son's schools hadn't been supportive then I'd probably have gone down that path. As is, he's on SA+

I am a name changer. Bee here 8 years.