Statement of SEN pros & cons

[smudgerelli]

After a 6 year battle my son was finally diagnosed with ADHD last year. He now takes Medikinet which has transformed his behaviour in class and he's now overtaking the other kids in his year. Last week it was confirmed that he also has Asperger's. However, we don't have a Statement of SEN.

My son is almost 10yrs old and I'm starting to think about his choices for high school.
I have 2 options Harwarden and Argoed High School. The 1st is close by, is mainstream, has an excellent rep and would otherwise be difficult to get in without being SEN. The other Argoed is also mainstream but has a specialist Asperger's Unit. It's much further away and my son would need to be statemented to get a place. There are pros and cons for both schools.

If my son was to get a statement of SEN would it go against him in the future? I'm worried that being labelled would hold him back in employment or further education.

I understand that he needs extra support at school. He has trouble maintaining friends and has suffered bullying in the past. His favourite subjects are maths and science and it worries me that being in a unit would hold him back and make him a target for bullying. Going to Harwarden High (without the unit) would encourage his independance, as future friends would be near by. Plus he would be pushed academically.

I'm scared of making the wrong choice. Does anyone have experience of this dilemma? Any opinions gratefully recieved. Thanks for reading.

How would anybody in employment know he had a statement?

if he needs extra help at school, the only way to guarantee that will happen is via a statement, there's no reason why he can't stay ms with a statement. At the moment when everyone is making cuts it may become harder to rely on the goodwill of a school to support. Secondary school is a whole different ballgame to primary, it'll be so much bigger with so many more dcs and much more stress. Personally I'd concentrate on getting him the best education now so that he stands the best chance for employment later.

My DS has a statement which has given him the support he has needed in school. It has meant that I have been able to choose the best local secondary school for his needs for this September. From that point of view it has been nothing but positive.

My DS was DX at 3 and it has always been bloody obvious that he has SN. I can see that it might be a harder decision if your DS's SN aren't so obvious. You don't want him labelled. But if he's getting bullied already I don't think a statement is going to make that worse. He should get more protection at school plus social skills help. And that label doesn't have to follow him into the workplace. Who knows what he'll be like in 7 or 8 years time?

Thanks for the replies. It's good to get opinions from other parents experienced in what I'm going through. I'm going to do more reserch into the Argoed School (with the unit). Both my son's Doctor & School Psch recommended the unit. It was another professional who put doubts in my head. I guess with all the funding cut backs recently. The only place to achieve guaranteed extra support, would be at Argoed.

Can anyone recommend a book for parents caring for a child with Aspergers?

Hi

We are in a similar position worrying about secondary schools, my ds1 is 9 and was dx with ASD in January.

I understand your concerns about statements, I've been through all the same worries myself, but have been reliably reassured by lots of people on here that it is absolutely the best thing to do in order to get him all the help and support he needs and we are just starting the process now.

With regard to books about ASD, the three I found most useful in the first instance were

Tony Attwood's Complete Guide to Aspergers This is the one most people recommend.

Parenting a Child with Asperger Syndrome I found this book really reassuring and positive.

Appreciating Aspergers Syndrome Written by the same person as the previous book (Brenda Boyd) this one is a nice balance to all the clinical information etc.

My ds is going to secondary this year and I managed to get sm finalised a few minths ago. It has been such a relief to get this in place. If I hadn't ds would have had to go to local school where all the bullies he has problems with go to. As it is he is looking forward to going to a good school with an excellent Senco. I would jump at the chance of a school with a specialist unit but have none nearby and ds has no dx. Have found sm to be a good thing although very hard work getting it. Good luck.

Generally I think statements can only be positive but just wanted to say if you are going down this road then I would request a sa asap as the statmenting process takes at least 6 months to complete.

Hi smudgerelli,

re your comment:-

"If my son was to get a statement of SEN would it go against him in the future? I'm worried that being labelled would hold him back in employment or further education".

Please apply for it asap as these things can take around 6 months to set up anyway. You can make the application yourself, you do not need school to do it.

My son is now in mainstream secondary and with a statement (he's had this for several years now). It has only helped him and he has thrived within school. It has not and won't go against him. Infact with the additional needs your son has the only way forward is now a Statement.

With regards to further ed no-one is going to bat an eyelid; same with employers. They won't give a monkeys that your son had a statement at school, they honestly won't.

I wish you the best of luck.