social skills issues

[ABatInBunkFive]

Hi all, it's been quite a while since i was last here, anyway we have no diagnosis, nor will we for quite some time, last i heard it was a 5 or 6 year waiting list for CAMHS who do the diagnosing here.

So i had a progress meeting at the school today except they had no way of monitoring any progress and acted like i was of the planet for asking if there were any aims or targets. hmm oh and they had no idea what i wanted, so if i could tell them what i want them to do that would be great.

Problem is i've no idea what they can/should/could be doing to help him.

Just now someone is using the book socially speaking by Alison Schroeder to help with his social skills in a 40minute group session, with him being the main aim IYKWIM

Also the teacher is using games or something in the gym hall to help with social skills.

So i guess my question is this - How should the school be dealing with this issue, what should they be doing to make sure that they are actually helping him, cause at the moment i'm just waiting for one of them to pop out saying whoo we cured him now f off. wink

oops this was meant for here but i posted it in SN - Education by accident So sorry for the double post.

Does he have an IEP? You have contact with the SENCO?

Pinched this from another thread for you.....

SEN Code of practice 4

4:6 Practitioners should work closely with all parents to listen to their views so as to build on
children?s previous experiences, knowledge, understanding and skills, and provide
opportunities to develop in six areas of learning:

personal, social and emotional development
communication, language and literacy
mathematical development
knowledge and understanding of the world
physical development
creative development

They have to set targets with goals in order to measure his progress...I think thats up to them not you!

Im sure someone with more knowledge on the matter will be along very soon....sounds frustrating.

sorry for stealing OP.

I'm in Scotland so no SENCO. Apparently he doesn't need an IEP as his needs aren't academical, despite them acknowledging that they don't need to be.

Could you explain your concerns / his problems a bit more?

Sorry, he is suspected ASD, his maim problem, at the moment anyway is social skills issues, other children thinking him weird, him getting confused or upset because he doesn't understand things properly.

Thanks to you both for replying.

Hi there, Am in Scotland and have an IEP for my son as well as an Additional Support Plan.
How old is your boy-is he at primary or secondary?

What do you mean by social skills?

• turn taking?
• reading body language?
• knowing what to say in a conversation?
• over-reacting to normal playground play?
• ?????

(Once you can work out exactly what you want to improve it will be easier to think of targets, measurements and interventions...)

Other children thinking him weird is not his problem - not unless it bothers him that other children think he's weird.

Hi thanks for the replies, ghouls - he is 8 so primary school.

Indigo, pretty much everything you've said, also he doesn't get the concept of personal space, he's very tactile.

It does bother him, he's aware that there is something different about him and he can get very upset if things arwe bad at school.

I am supposed to get social skills advice from both Autism Outreach and then when I found out that SALT did social skills classes in the summer holidays, I decided to ask them for additional help. In theory, they go into school and show the teachers and TAs how to do these things. And then they should work with one other child, small groups etc.

Alison Shroeder's book has been recommended too but last term they used cookery classes for social skills as well. I think for cookery class, target was to get him to tell other children what s/he needed next for a recipe and what to do etc.

Someone (maybe Moondog) suggested video modelling which sounded really good.

Sorry Bat, I don't have any answers.

My son pretty much has these problems. He gets a weekly social skills class run by a TA. I don't know what they do in these classes.

I know it will get better as he gets older.

My DS is really bothered that other people think him weird - yet it doesn't make him alter his behaviour at all.

I'm not really sure what other help I want for my son....

Hi Bat

I thought a 2 year wait for CAMHS was overly long (live in Fife) but 5 or 6 years? That really takes the . School should have a Support for Learning Teacher (equivalent of SENCO). Who attended the meeting at school?

I'm not sure what to advise regarding support but take a look here

Hi yanny, the support for learning teacher has no clue unless it is learning difficulties and he doesn't have those infact as she likes to put it so often he's ahead of the majority!

thanks for the link.

She was at the meeting along with the assistant or depute head, never remember whos who and the EP, who agreed that they didn't need targets double

On your county lea website there should be a guide to AS and ASD for teachers/ schools/ sencos... But you can get to read it online :)

Ours is called understanding AS and ther is also an ASD/IDP information for schools.
Have a google .. In these info packs are stratagies and 'things' schools can do .. Go through and just see what you think would be relevant to your ds.

Also NAS have an education section for professional and teachers .. Again go through and pinch what you think is relevant.

:)