How can I word this letter?

[starfish71]

I am mostly on here at the moment getting advice, support to do with my youngest DS but need some advice today about my eldest DS.

DS1 (12) has dyspraxia and although not formally diagnoised with ASD has many traits and does have social communicatiion difficulties. Started secondary school in Sept, finding it a bit tricky settling but coping quite well day to day and am proud of him, keeping an eye on him closely needless to say.

It may sound trivial but he is doing food technology this time, DS1 has great difficulty handling, eating new foods and has a limited diet. He will have to obviously take part in these lessons and the first one on Thurs is making a fruit salad. I want to make his tranistion co-ordinator aware so she can talk to his technology teacher and try to help him and not just think he is being difficult if he gets upset, feels ill or refuses to do it.

How shall I word the letter? Without sounding like a neurotic mum. Any advice would be grateful thank you.

this term I meant sorry.

Just 'blame' it on the dyspraxia - sensory issues are quite common with dyspraxia, so food can quite often be a bit of an issue

Yes think you are right tabulahrasa. Will just put 'as you will be aware DS1 had food technology this term and due to his dyspraxia he has certain sensory issues which include handling, smelling and tasting new foods. I am aware that this will make it difficult for DS1 to fully participate in the lessons. I would be grateful if you could speak to the technology teacher to make her aware of the issue.

Something like that?

Would it be worth ringing the transition coordinator?
I have found that secondary teachers respond better to phone calls than letters. The schools that the older Dd's attend have a system where by you can phone and get put through to the department office and then leave a message, IME they have been very good at phoning back , once at 6pm. Or it could be that I am just lucky.

The ones I have spoken to have always been very helpful, I think they quite like a bit of contact with parents occasionally..

You are definatly doing the right thing to contact them, because they often do tasting sessions, although the DD's have never been forced to try if they didn't want to.

Good luck.

Thank you ineedalife, I have just rang and left a message for transition coordinator as well as doing the letter.

Just hope they respond and understand.

Try not to worry, starfish, when you think how many kids go through secondary school I am sure your Ds won't be the first they have had who is fuuny about food!!

The first year of secondary is a steep learning curve for mums aswell as kids.

My Dd's went to different secondarys but I found both to be helpful and supportive.

They love to get the odd thankyou letter and tin of sweeties for the staffroom too. It s somthing that gets forgotten when kids get to secondary

ps, I don't work in secondary honest . But I have put one Dd through with possible ASD.