What should i do ?? a few school questions advice needed please

[genieinabottle]

Hi, DS (asd, and very passive in his autism) had his first morning in MS reception today (on action+) and i'm NOT happy!

We had a transition meeting in May with SENCO and EP, and they did a plan of everything that would be put in place to help him.

I quote:

• a visual book with various pics of his school for me to go through at home during summer. (we had to cry to get it but got it in the end).
• 5 settle-in sessions before summer. (DS got chicken-pos so missed out on 2, i querie more sessions but it was refused).
• A visual timeline with Pecs to help him in the classroom (well low and behold they hadn't prepare it and teacher's words were "we have one somewhere, i'll have to see if i can dig it out sometimes"
• Sandtimers were also to be provided (no sign of them today)
• A home-school communication book (no sign of it either, DS came home with an empty bookbag).
• Other agencies to be involved, SALT and autism outreach included. I know SALT is coming next month to see him and write his IEP targets for speech therapy, but autism outreach has not even been contacted yet.
• Some 1:1 hours were to be provided through the week but nothing was set as to how many or when.

When teacher came for home visit last week, going by the questions she was asking me it was obvious she hadn't read any of the reports , that have been cc. to the school. Nor did she read his communication passport from the language unit he attended last year.

So DS went in this morning, no timeline was set up, i queried to teacher who said " well we'll see what he is like first!" DS was hovering on the edges of the classroom by himself for quite a while before he settled at the cars mat. He wasn't talking but was signing makaton and making noises instead.

Teacher didn't feel the nedd to have a word with me when i pick him up, it was hectic so maybe she was to busy. But i'm none the wiser as to how his morning went.

What should i do re: the absent timeline and communication book?
Should i ask to see senco tomorrow and give her a nudge?
Shall i wait and see for the first week to be over?
Shouldn't the school carry on with his old IEP from nursery until SALt writes up the new one next month?

I'm tempted to buy my own and start my own message to teacher with "So how was DS 's first morning?"

Sorry for longgg post and thanks if you've read this far. I don't want to go in all guns blazing at teacher as soon as he starts, but I'm really concerned that the school is all empty promises and that DS will fade into the background as he did for 2 years at MS nursery.

Thanks for any advice.

Hi,

Poor you. Sometimes I really despair of some professionals. they just don't 'get' the fact that it takes everything we have to be able to hand over our little ones into their 'care'.

They need to understand that THE most important job in the world is looking after other people's children and they should do their damdest to make sure they do that job to the best of their ability.

If I were you I would buy a book and start it off asking about your son's 1st day. I think their communication is appalling.

Sock it to them. You Lo is precious and should have the best shot at education he can get and that means school staff getting off their bums and being pro-active.

Sharon xx

Thanks.

Yes i was thinking along these lines. It would have been nice to have had a quick word at pick-up time but i could see how busy they were. The communication book would have helped with that.

What a shame that all those brilliant things were discussed in the transition meeting and then not put in place for his first day. The teacher should have read the reports and been ready for your son. Unfortunatley you are not alone, transitons often do not go well and parents end up have to fight for the provision that their child deserves.
I wouldn't go in all guns blazing ...yet. But remind the teacher about the communication book etc. If nothing changes then make an appointment to see the senco. I wouldn't give them too long though maybe till the end of the week.
Good luck.

Thank you for reply.
Yes, i will do that. Remind teacher gently about timeline and communication book
and if nothing is done by Friday pick up time, i'll ask to see senco.

Hi genie

Certainly do the above - and apply for the Statement at the same time (you just knew I was going to write that!!).

@ Attila. Yes i had an incline

It really does seems like all of you were so right about " action+ isn't worth the paper it is written on!"