captainBeaky Sun 30-Nov-14 18:15:27
Hello, I'm posting here for traffic and would be grateful for any advice. My friend's DS (a very young 7) is having huge difficulties in mainstream school. He regularly breaks his heart about going, feels that he has no friends (although teachers say otherwise, but they have also said that other children look after him, almost like a pet.) He doesn't cope very well with the demands of school and is very slow in completing his work. He often gets dressed back to front. He is behind significantly academically (not that this bothers her, she is simply concerned about the affect this is having on his confidence)
He has recently been saying that he wants to die and has also said he wishes he was in a different family, even though friend and her partner are brilliant, loving parents.
She is extremely worried about him. He does seem very young for his age,and is often in his own little world. He is possibly somewhere on the autistic spectrum although no formal diagnosis has been made. She desperately wants to take him out of mainstream school but is not in a financial position to home educate.
A new Steiner school has opened about a 45 minute drive from her house. She went to look recently and felt it would be perfect for her son, but he is very unlikely to get a place as she doesn't live within the catchment area. Is there anything she can do? It is heartbreaking to know that he is so unhappy. Please advise if you can.