For context: we moved at the end of May to a new location and subsequently my 6yo DS has started at a new school. He is diagnosed autistic (potentially ADHD too, but not diagnosed) and has so far coped really well in school. He's in yr 1 and has been doing 8-6pm from 10 months old. At his previous school he was doing 4 days a week of breakfast and after school club with no issues whatsoever - a few tricky days perhaps but never anything that warranted exclusion or a parent discussion. In addition, he has regularly attended mainstream holiday clubs for full days and again, we have never received any negative feedback or that they cannot cope with his behaviour. In fact, his previous school was always so positive and he had a really special bond with the afterschool care providers. I understand that this is all new and it has taken him time to settle - the school have been great and worked with him closely to help him integrate.
However, today my husband was told at collection that he is no longer able to attend the after school club with immediate effect. Right from the off we had issues with the privately run afterschool club - they complained to us about his behaviour and did say a couple of weeks ago if it doesn't improve then he wouldn't be able to come - which I thought was a little over the top after 4 sessions, baring in mind he has additional needs and has gone through a whole lot of change. I think he was very tired and not great listening, and basically said they didn't have the time/resources to spend so much time with him. As a compromise we started picking him up earlier each day (while still paying for a full session) to ease him in and they were meant to be finding a strategy to help direct his energy when he went in after school.
I have been told that no child has ever been excluded from the after school club, so it breaks my heart that he has been told he can't come back, especially when he is only 4 weeks into a new school - he has done a total of 11 sessions and to give up on him that easily is very upsetting. I am not saying he is an angel, but it feels just like they can't be bothered basically.
We need wraparound care in order to be able to work, so to be told with no notice whatsoever that he is unable to come back for the rest of this term (and no guarantee that he will be allowed back in September) is concerning for us as parents, not to mention confusing and upsetting for him at an already turbulent time for him.
Has anyone else been through this, and if so, what did you do? Are they 'allowed' to do this to a child with additional needs? I'd have thought they'd at least need to try to make it work.
We are seriously considering having to find another school. it's a village location so childminders or any other kind of childcare is thin on the ground.
Thanks in advance. First time posting, so please be kind.