DS2s annual review. Devistated.

[5inthebed]

Had it thursday just gone, didn't go very well.

He is in MS, and whilst he is doing ok, the general feeling was that he would not be going any further at the school after the next year.

Devistated.

So now I need to decide where to send him before June/July 2012.

Three choices, I intend on visiting all threebefore makeing a choice.

MS school with an ARC, which is a 5 minute walk. Not keen as most of the children are quite violent there, and I know the woman who works there, and she bitches about them all the time. Only good thing is it would feed him into local secondary school with fabulous ARC.

ASD school, which goes all the way to 19 years. Ideal as they know what they are dealing with, but not very sociable for him.

SN school with a range of SN. Ideal even more as he does like to socialise, but picks up other childrens traits.

Which one would you go for?

sorry it went badly at the AR, see it as a reflection on the school and the limitations on what support they can provide rather than on your boy

On the face of it the ASD school with some sort of outreach into MS would sound the best option but obvious you need a visit (possibly one with your DS)and ideally to talk to parents and any professionals you trust to form a view as where will work out best for him.

I think if you look round all three and ask the right questions you will soon know witch is best.

DS2 went to the ASD as a toddler, where he did so well. Reason he didn;t stay was because he is sociable and the pupils would have held him back with that.

The other option is for him to do half there and half at MS, which I know the MS was not too happy about last time it was suggested.

DS2 is becoming more anxious and stressed at school, and even from Reception I knew he would not stay in MS for his full school life.

Just so hard hearing it, as his 1:1 is usually so positive about it all.

1. Is another/different MS school with more support/switched on staff an option?

2. Personally I would be unafraid of the ASD school. Lots of children with ASD want to be sociable and they can learn the rules of socialisation and they are more likely to be specifically taught. Going on the 'evidence' there is no evidence that suggests children do better at mainstream with 'model' peers in social skills development than those that attend ASD schools.

I (and this is a personal opinion) would research the possibility of no.1 and if nothing suitable comes up then go for no. 2. but I would look at it loads and demand answers to questions.

Another thing I would absolutely investigate is independent specialist schools and I'd do it before hand. Apart from anything else you have something to compare the provision too when you go and look at the maintained options but if you think you have an obvious case for independent then go for that.

Good luck, and sorry you're having a hard time right now.

Independant school, not an option as could not afford.

His current MS school is great, his 1:1 is fantastic, she has done courses on ASD, as well as having an A level in it. She is very switched on to DS2.

I think really I need to see how he goes in Y2, because it is more learning based, less play.

5, I didn't mean that you would have to pay for it. I meant it it was the only option that could adequately meet his needs then the LA would have to pay for it (okay, there would definately be a tribunal and some costs for that though).

I think you are right out YR2 though. I have heard from a very swtiched-on SENCO that if a child with ASD can scrape through Yr1 then sometimes Yr2 can be easier as it is more structured and academic etc.

It is your child's entitlement to be educated in mainstream school so you might want to try it for a bit. Do keep an eye on his happiness to attend however.