Struggling with teaching methods

[Favouritefruits]

I’ve had some great help in the past so was hoping someone has some good advice for me as I’m really struggling to know what’s right and acceptable.

I have a nine year old boy in year four he has a full diagnosis of ADHD and Autism, school have both diagnostic reports. His school teacher is apparently great with SEN children.

Despite having both autism and ADHD my son has a high IQ. My son sits alone in the class room away from other children his desk is directly opposite a window and he’s getting told off daily for looking out of it so now the blind has been closed permanently, I feel he was using the window as help to help him concentrate as school won’t allow his a fidget or anything like that as it distracts the other children apparently.

My son has now had the blind shut, has nothing to fidget with and is being told off for not concentrating even though he still gets 100% in his maths or whatever subject. Because he had nothing to aid him he’s biting his fingers to the point he’s no skin left on the pads of his fingers.

I’m meeting with his teacher next Tuesday for parents evening and I want to say something as I feel like it’s really bad but I don’t want to say anything if what he’s doing is a correct method, please can anyone explain his method or help me with what do say during the meeting?

school won’t allow his a fidget or anything like that as it distracts the other children apparently.

I would be challenging ^this. Fidget toys do not have to distract other DC. The school shouldn’t be having such a blanket ban. There are ways to help with concentration other than fidget toys too. For example, using blue tac, an elastic band on the wrist, resistance bands on chair legs, adding tennis balls to the chair feet, swapping the chair to a peanut ball/exercise ball/rocker chair, exercise pedals under the table or even a standing desk. I would also ask the school to relook at placement within the classroom.

Will DS use a chew toy/chewelry?

Does DS have proper movement breaks?

What other support is the school providing? What have they already tried thar hasn’t worked? Does DS have a SEN Support plan (these are called different things in different places e.g. IEP, ISP, one page profile, pupil passport, My Plan/My Plan+ but are essentially the same thing)? Does DS have an EHCP?

Is DS on medication?

@hibernatinghedgehog thank you for your reply, yes my son would have a chew toy but school won’t allow it due to ‘germs’ honestly it’s like banging my head against a brick wall! He has an IEP but it’s waste of the paper it’s written on, he’s meant to have movement breaks but they can’t give them any because they don’t have the staff apparently! He has been given a wobble cushion but I’ve been researching these and they shouldn’t be used full time all day like it is.

What a load of rubbish. A chew toy doesn’t have any more germs that the pen/pencil/sweatshirt sleeve/neck DS will chew instead.

I would remind the school they must make reasonable adjustments as per the Equality Act 2010 and they must make their best endeavours to meet DS’s SEN as per the Children and Families Act 2014.

I would request an EHCNA. On their website, ISPEA has a model letter you can use.

He’s not allowed a fidget? Sorry but wtf!
my son has a chewy necklace he wears everyday and no staff have battered an eye lid tbh.

movement breaks, I’m not entirely sure how it works in terms of if a staff needs to be present but my son takes himself out with a timer and comes back in.

I thought I wasn’t being unreasonable it’s nice to have the clarification so thank you all! I’m at my wits end with the school, just had an email today from an education physiologist saying they are unable to provide further care because school have ignored all contact and are refusing to engage with the service! I’m so annoyed and upset I really don’t know what to do next! I’m looking at other schools but it’s such a big upheaval for him it’s a last resort but I’m thinking maybe we are at that point now!

Omg your joking?! that is disgusting.

i would request a meeting with senco and headteacher for asap

whilst moving school is an upheaval and a lot of change, the one he’s at now sounds terrible.

Do you mean an educational psychologist? Who arranged that? I would complain about the school’s lack of engagement. Have you spoken to the HT? If you aren’t already, follow up all verbal conversations with emails to create a paper trail.

I would request an EHCNA before looking at moving school. You can move school and still request an EHCNA, but sometimes LAs unlawfully refuse because they say DC need time to settle in the new school. Now that isn’t lawful and you can challenge it, but I would stay put to avoid it.

@hibernatinghedgehog yes sorry auto correct I do mean educational psychologist.
my sons medical team have arranged it as a post diagnostic tool?

I feel like I’m going mad, my son has come home after I emailed to complain about the blinds being shut and he said the teacher told him it’s because the sun was in his eyes? But it just coincidentally happened at the exact same time he’s been told not to look out the window on multiple occasions, I feel bonkers implying this but I feel like they are now gaslighting him!

I would definitely complain about the school not engaging with the EP.

I would also speak to DS’s medical team to see if the EP will still meet with DS outside of school. It is possible for that to happen.

Thank you, yes I’m going to have to do something because this really isn’t right.