Any tips for easing an ASD kid back to school?

[nenevomito]

The holidays have been pretty variable with good weeks and bad weeks but the bad weeks haven't been so bad as DS has been with me or family.

I am so worried about him going back to school as I know the first weeks are going to be so difficult for him. We had a window on what it was going to be like at his first swimming lesson of the new term which resulted in a complete meltdown as he couldn't / wouldn't do what he was asked to do, and that was with someone who is used to teaching ASD kids.

Does anyone have any tips on how to make this as painless as we can for him?

My DS's LSA made him a fantastic transition book with pictures of his new teacher and classroom and telling the structure of what his new school day will be like. We have been going through it with him for the last few weeks.
It might be a little late for that for your DS this year but could you do him a timetable / story of what is coming and what he needs to expect? (eg, teachers name, what will happen in his day hour by hour?)A timetable of how many days he has left at home might help too.

urgh, I'm dreading tomorrow.

DS is bouncing off the walls tonight. We decided to tell him when he was going back to school so we didn't have a meltdown in the morning as he hates things being a shock, but the downside is that we're getting stress tonight.

Its at times like these when I just want to run away to an island somewhere with him where he can just be himself.

Hope it went okay. DS went in today and it went okay. He has been given a little table and chair that is his alone, where he can have some time to himself. He had a transition book too, with photos. He is easing in half days working his day up to full day when he's ready.

I don't know if it went OK as getting info out of DS is impossible, but he was certainly bouncing all over the place this evening. Its a bit like being on eggshells as I know that in a week or two he will struggle, before he pulls out of it again.

I just need to get into school and see them as soon as I can really.

My DS couldn't tell me about school, so I have to ask the teacher. I hope he settles down soon.

x

babyheave

I think you are wise to be going into school asap because you need to ensure that they are fully meeting his additional support needs. You are after are his best and only advocate here.

BTW how it is going with regards to making a Statement application?.

I get nothing out of my DS about school either so I just annoy his LSA by asking her instead

Bear the transition book in mind for next year and see if they (or you) can make one prior to him breaking up for the hols. I've been taking about going back to school since the middle of August so he knows when it is coming and instead of being stressed he was actually excited to be going.

As predictable as the advice is, visual timetables can really help (I know, I know, dull, but they work!). My DS has one up in his classroom so he knows what to expect each day and we use them at home too.

How supportive are the school being?

The school are pretty good, but we've already been called with him for "continually patting the teacher and the TA"

Well...erm...did you tell him to stop? Hmm? [rolls eyes]

So I'm in to see the SENCO tomorrow morning to sort it out.