Child overwhelmed at school pickup

[badbunnysadbunny]

Just wanted advice from others regarding transitions going into and leaving school.

My child has started mainstream reception. They have an EHCP and school is supportive. The set up for school pick up is that all the children are brought out by the teachers in their classes, and all the parents are stood in the playground waiting. The teacher of each class then calls each child by name when they spot their parent/guardian waiting for them, the child is then allowed to go.

For a typical child I imagine this is fine but for my child I think it is adding to the stress of the transition of leaving school. There are LOTS of moving bodies around and a bottleneck at the school gate itself. Lots of zooming scooters on the pavements outside school - you get the picture

Would it be a reasonable adjustment to request that my child leaves 5 minutes earlier to avoid the system they have for handover?

Do you guys have any other suggestions for how to make transition in and out of school easier? It’s the worst time of day currently 😖

Thanks

Does he have any safe objects such as headphones or a blanket or something?

He refuses headphones because he doesn’t like things on his head - I wish he would entertain the idea! He doesn’t have any safe objects at all, no.

He wants to get ahead of the crowds so once he’s handed over to me he then is desperate to get to ‘the front’ meaning we get seperated as I’m pushing baby DD in a pram, he can squeeze through smaller gaps in the crowd than I can with the pram.

He’s completely fine once home. But the 6 minute walk home itself normally involves crying or screaming

How old is he?

Leaving 5 mins early is one possible reasonable adjustment.

You could also try asking for DS to leave via a quieter entrance e.g. from the main reception.

I doubt it would be suitable for your DS, but where leaving at the normal time via the normal entrance would work if called first, that is a possibility.

Some DC find school transport easier. Is this something you have looked at/considered?

How is DS at walking home once you are away from the school? How is he walking at non-school times? Some find a harness or SN buggy/wheelchair helps their DC remain regulated, or at least remain safe.

You can get buggys for older kids?

Yes. SN buggies. You can get them for older DC and even teens and adults. DS1 is a teen and we have 2 (long story why we have more than one). He has a wheelchair but prefers his SN buggies.

Although since OP’s DS is 4 or 5 y/o, he may well still fit into a normal buggy.

I am lucky my DD SN child is only 3 right now but it would be useful information for the future

My DS has just started year 1. School finishes at 3:15 and he leaves at 3pm through the main reception to avoid the rush. Would it be worth asking school if he can leave 5/10 mins early?