7 year old hitting at school

[22primrose]

DS2 is really struggling at school. He seems to spiral every year in October. He’s in year 2 now. Moved him to a small primary school and he has 1-2-1 and ehcp. Medicated for adhd. On Friday he punched his teacher. I’m mortified, but I’m also at a total loss. I don’t know what else I can do to help him and I don’t know what else the school can do.
I can’t give up work. I have a medication review for him tomorrow.
I guess I just need some positive stories that he might grow out of it.
ive asked school if they want to rewrite ehcp to say they can’t meet need and not heard back.
would be be better in an AP!?

Did DS have good transition arrangements from Y1 to Y2? How did they go?

Other than 1:1 what support is in the EHCP? And is the provision in the EHCP actually being provided? What has the school already tried that hasn’t worked?

Schools don’t write/rewrite EHCPs. But, it does sound like an early review of the EHCP would be helpful - not necessarily to move placement but to look at what further support can be provided.

He didn’t really have a transition as he’s in a mixed age class so kept the same teacher and classroom. What he is struggling with is that 2 friends moved schools and he was closest to the now year 3s who are in another classroom. He’s allowed to do PE with them, but that gets threatened to be removed as a punishment.

It’s a shame the school didn’t provide a proper transition. Transition is about more than the teacher and classroom. This is something I would look at in future years.

I would speak to the school about using the removal of PE as a threat. That is unlikely to be helping matters.

How long has he been on meds for? What dose?

my son was very impulsive and would lash out at others. Since being on the right dose it’s stopped literally over night.

i know how awful this is for you as I was constantly feeling on edge for what he done next.

what happened for him to hit his teacher?

does he get movement breaks etc?

I agree threatening to remove him from something is only going to make things worse.

Hes on atomoxetine 6.25ml a day. I’ve had his meds review and the nurse basically said he can’t up it anymore because of his weight. He thinks he should be on combination therapy but they don’t offer it (I’ve had to go private because of wait times for everything) and that he should be assessed for adhd - which school won’t support as they think it’s just the adhd rather than co-conditions.

it is the worse feeling, I feel like arguing with them makes it sound like I excuse his behaviour, which I absolutely do not, but equally if adhd means it’s impulse and he literally can’t stop himself, what’s the point in removing things as the consequence - surely it has to be relevant to what he’s done.

sorry, it’s getting me so worked up!

I would request an NHS referral to look at trying a different medication regime.

Do you mean assessed for ASD as well? I would look at an assessment even if the school doesn’t agree.

Did the nurse mention about changing meds?

Assuming you mean assessed for ASD aswell.
It doesn’t matter if school don’t agree, look into getting it done.

What are school like in general with him? Are they supportive?
I know what you mean, it’s probably worth a meeting with senco and teacher tbh

Sorry yes, I mean ASD. My GP just says no it has to come from school.
what’s maddening though is that his 1-2-1 has said at pick up that she definitely thinks he has autism traits, so the sendco hasn’t even asked the people who work with him

You could ask for a RTC referral. That is via the GP. Alternatively, you could push the GP to referral to your local service even if normally they like schools to referral and complain if they refuse. A third option is to pus the school to. Get it in writing from the ADHD service that they think an ASD assessment is required, do the same with the 1:1, then have a meeting with the SENCO. If they still refuse, complain.