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SN children

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Original poster

Out of order comment by LSA

34 replies

Fightingforfairness · 09/03/2011 19:14

Regular but name-changed as you don't know who's watching!

Ds has just been given LSA for support following his final sm (sensory problems and suspected AS). Is often picked on by other dc's and can get quite angry about this saying that he's had enough of it etc...and can react by pushing children if they hurt him first.
He has had to help LSA paint an area on the playground and has been told that's his quiet area to go to when annoyed and upset. When another child asked LSA if they could have one they were told that they couldn't
" because you're not a danger to other children"
Ds heard this and is obviously upset about it but has asked me not to say anything to school because he doesn't want LSA to get into trouble. Have had various discussions about bullying with the school and the fact that he has not received any support to help him control his emotions. Am now really annoyed about this.

OP posts:

eaglewings · 09/03/2011 19:21

Really really shocked at this!!

My ds had a special place to go to but it was in the school building where he could cuddle on a bean bag with a book, not out in the public area!!

You need to talk this through with the school about why they have chosen this path and LSA

Original poster

Fightingforfairness · 09/03/2011 19:30

I will be asking how the square on the playground will be used. Does he just stand in it while the other children stare? Can he move outside the box when he wants? Grrr

OP posts:

EllenJane1 · 09/03/2011 19:30

That's a really inappropriate and insensitive thing to have said. I'm a 1 to 1 TA for a dc with ASD and I'm shocked. I have to ask, could your DS have misinterpreted the comment? If not I'd be worried that you don't have the right person working with your DS.

I'm sure your DS is no angel but to make that sort of comment in front of other children is extremely unprofessional (and just plain nasty.). It's not going to help your DS to improve his social skills if the person supposed to help him is bad mouthing him in front of his peers.

Hard call but I'd have a word with the Senco or HT just to make sure everyone is working to support your DS properly.

Teachers and TAs are human and will make mistakes, and have bad days but if this was one of the first days! Maybe not a hard call actually.

Original poster

Fightingforfairness · 09/03/2011 19:31

It's really going to help with his self-esteem issues!

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brandy77 · 09/03/2011 19:54

good lord, standing in a painted box in a playground is bad, surely there is a more private space, poor lad. as for the comment by the LSA, it is out of order but i should imagine its a just a comment that got blurted out and if shes told about it she would be really embarassed, so yes i would say something so she learns to think before she speaks

ouryve · 09/03/2011 20:02

WTF?

And is it supposed to be a quiet area (bit exposed for that, innit?) or is it really a time out area given a different name?

shaz298 · 09/03/2011 20:11

Comment completely inappropriate ........

Having a painted box completely inappropriate.......

Making the child paint the box..............words fail me.

This is bullying by adults!!! Not on and defninitely complain. AMybe start off by acting daft and asking how the 'box' will work and what their rationale behind it is and ask for it in writing so you have something concrete to complain about xx

Original poster

Fightingforfairness · 09/03/2011 21:39

Ds has now said a bit more about the box. Apparently it is a cool down area and he has to stand in it for up to 5 minutes at a time depending on the nature of the 'incident'i.e 5 mins for contact with another child,2 minutes for being rude etc. It is in a very public area too,not hidden away. How is that going to help him? He is meant to be allowed to go away to a quiet area when stressed not stand in a box in front of other children who already take the mickey out of him!

OP posts:

activate · 09/03/2011 21:46

a cool-down area is not inappropriate for a child

HOWEVER

the entire way this has been approached is utterly wrong

it is demeaning and degrading, it demonstrates a lack of understanding of basic neurotypical child psyches and of your own child's special needs

I wouldn't let this go - I'd be speaking to the head and SENCO and asking for an investigation and report (assume primary level) - what is LSA's trainign and experience ?

IndigoBell · 09/03/2011 21:46

This is not acceptable nor appropriate.

Make an urgent meeting with the SENCO and LSA to discuss what they should be doing when there is an 'incident'.

eaglewings · 09/03/2011 21:47

No no no do not accept this public bullying by adults

pinkorkid · 09/03/2011 21:55

It sounds inappropriate and insensitive for any child and all the more so for a child with sen. There is no way a member of staff should make negative comments to a child about another child.

If it is only used for your ds it sounds like discrimination because of his disability.

It reminds me of the incident in Scotland where a school used a caged area as a "safe zone" for a child with sen - and ended up making a public apology for their poor judgement.

Hassled · 09/03/2011 21:58

Please talk to the Head about this. Although presumably the Head knows about the bloody square already - if you get no joy there, try the Governor who covers Inclusion, or if there isn't one (and there should be) then the Chair of Governors. This is horrific.

EllenJane1 · 09/03/2011 21:58

I was concentrating on the shocking remark by the LSA and wasn't thinking about the box. He's not an animal at the zoo! Is this some sort of public naughty step? Public humiliation, more like! Just not acceptable.

Thecarrotcake · 09/03/2011 22:03

A calm down space should be a safe space where he is able to calm down. How the heck is he going to do this in a painted box in the playground!
It does not serve any purpose to help remove things that maybe overstimulating.
It is putting his weaknesses on show

it is IMO wrong in all senses.. And it is disgusting.

Making him paint the box is beyond anything I have ever heard!

And the comment was awful.

I would be very very angry and I would be taking this a lot lot further!

Am so angry for you!

Goblinchild · 09/03/2011 22:08

Totally inappropriate, it's not a cool down space, it's a pen.
Contact the inclusion team, complain to the head and governors.
Look up the details of the school in the West Highlands who got slated for creating a wired-off run in the playground for an ASD child, rather like tose in kennels.
They need a lot of input from outside agencies on how to manage ASD needs in school. Because if this is what they think is a good idea, they need a boot up the arse.

intothewest · 09/03/2011 22:28

Lost for words so will use all of the above

I appreciate your ds may not want to get the LSA 'into trouble'-she made a very inappropriate comment(more training needed for a start)

but I doubt whether it was her idea to paint a public humiliation zone in the playground (this would have come from higher up)-urgent meeting,straight to governors,minuted and take support with you

Goblinchild · 09/03/2011 22:48

This was the case I was thinking of.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scotland/8103069/Council-builds-cage-for-autistic-schoolboy.html

Original poster

Fightingforfairness · 10/03/2011 07:36

Thanks for all your comments. I have hardly slept and was up late composing letter to HT. Ds has this morning said he was asked to sign some sort of agreement about this as well. Said he didn't read it all so couldn't really tell me what was in it. Will be going into school early this morning to discuss this.

OP posts:

intothewest · 10/03/2011 08:32

How old is he ?I don't think he should be made to sign something without your permission-good luck with your meeting today

starfishmummy · 10/03/2011 08:45

Good luck at school today.

I agree with all the other comments about how applaling this whole thing is and hope that you get some resolution.

asdx2 · 10/03/2011 10:04

I'm appalled tbh my ds needs a space to escape to when he is finding life tough. At school it's called a chill out room, it's private and filled with things that help him (and others that use it) calm down. The painted box in the playground isn't a chill out area it's a spot for public humiliation, much like the dunce's cap of old. Totally inappropriate and to get a child to sign a contract agreeing to this when he is unable to give informed consent and without your knowledge makes the whole situation even more despicable.
Good luck today, give them hell, take notes and make sure that you insist that you get their response in writing.

eaglewings · 10/03/2011 10:12

My son had a similar spot to yours asdx2. It was (this will sound horrid but its not) under the stairs in the staff house where they had a kitchen and staff room. He had a bean bag, books, stress ball etc.

He loved it. the staff hardly ever walked past so it did not matter that it was open to the corridor but he was safe as staff were next door.

He had a small laminated red card in his pocket and he would show this to the teacher in the playground so that without having to say a word he could disappear until he felt ready to face people again.

He was able to become responsible for his own mood, learnt to recognise when he needed space and was about to get angry.

In the end the only times he hurt people in the playground or class was when another child started it and when they were restraining him (red rag to a bull)

Took most of KS2 to get the result but was worth it.

Don't let them fob you off and the school should never do anything without informing you first.

By working with the school you can use their good ideas at home and remove another barrier to your ds becoming a happy independent child.

but public punishment is no go!

pinkorkid · 11/03/2011 07:18

hi fighting, Just wondering how you and ds are getting on. Did you get a satisfactory response from the head? I hope they have recognised how inappropriate this was and have apologised to you.

FannyFifer · 11/03/2011 07:31

Bloody hell, they made him paint an area in the playground for him to stand in, christ, it's like making him into a freak show, surprised they've not got him a cage, what with being a danger to other children an all.

I would be telling the school that this is not appropriate in the slightest, god this is just awful your poor chap. :-(

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