Year 7 daughter overwhelmed at secondary school despite support in place

[Tinkerin]

My daughter is in yr 7 started well but massively burnt out by around week 2 of term 2….

Since then she’s been getting gradually even more overwhelmed and anxious and exhausted.

Shes not being bullied and she’s is a fairly small school but she says the classes and corridors make her feel that she has to be alert for danger all the time and she’s fine the pressure of all the work overwhelming. Shes not yet found a best friend or small social group so she feels on the edge of groups.

She is having maximum support at school. Transition pass, 5 min to leave the classroom if overwhelmed, can wear PE kit , soft start…

But none of this seems to be working.

She says she needs someone to talk to at school each day but often that can’t be arranged. And even then , I don’t know if that would solve the issue.

Before half term I just couldn’t bare the anguish any more so she had Friday off but now is crying about going back on Monday.

She is getting assessed for adhd / autism next month but until then we can’t be sure of the underlying issues…

Any help / advice would be much appreciated

Thanks 🙏

Yes she’s on waiting list for nhs assessment, however as it’s so long, she’ll be having a private assessment in a month or so.

Did she make in it today?

Any clubs or anything outside of school?

Can you not read? She literally says she’s pursuing diagnosis for both ADHD and Autism in her first post.

She did although she was withdrawn and tense: I didn’t force her but she ‘sucked it up’ she’s used to that approach…. I honestly don’t know which is worse. The outbursts and meltdowns or seeing her so shut down and anxious.

It’s not at all unusual for ASD kids.
I work in pastoral care in a secondary school and would strongly advise that you don’t give her any more days off. I know it’s hard and have every sympathy 🥹🩷 But you wouldn’t believe the slippery slope that it can quickly become. I see it all the time, sadly.
Every secondary school in Scotland now has what’s called a Wellbeing Hub. Is there no equivalent to this in England?

@Tinkerinreduced timetable 100% the way to go. Well planned and managed can turn everything around.

This was me when I was in school. I couldn’t (and still can’t) explain to anyone why I didn’t like it and I just couldn’t cope being there. Every day I’d get on the bus and convince myself I was going to do a full day but sometimes I didn’t even make it inside the school when I got off the bus, on a good day I might stay until first break. As an adult I was diagnosed with AuDHD and it sort of made sense to me. My Ds also experienced the same problems and has been diagnosed with autism and is waiting for an ADHD test. I can’t offer any advice but you sound very supportive, I never had that and ADHD and autism wasn’t heard of as much back then.

It’s worth a try for sure. Don’t force her and if she needs a day off that’s OK.