Ds not coping at school this year, help needed pls!

[Hopstheduck]

ds1 is utterly exhausted. He hasn't clicked with his teacher this year and the children sharing his table are taking his stuff and calling him names. Because of his sensory issues he really doesn't cope well with distractions. He isn't sleeping, is crying constantly.

He can barely keep his eyes open now, so I've decided to keep him off school and let him go back to bed this morning. AIBU?
Hisotry witht he school is that since ds struggles through the school day and saves his meltdowns for at home, the school denies that his has any issues. Had a lot of arguments in the past regarding his wheelchair, etc. The senco basically said it must be something I was doing at pick up time to set him off since the meltdowns were occuring outside the school gate. I ended up crying with frustration and not seen him since.

I've written a note to the teacher, but could really do with some advice on how to approach the school with this. I',m trying my hardest to be reasonable when I'm increasingly fed up with the lack of support ds1 is getting. :(

If anyone could once over the note before I give it in, I'd really appreciate it!

XXX is not at school today as he is extremely exhausted. He can barely keep his eyes open and keeps crying. He will be staying in bed this morning. I?m not sure if it is the start of something, possibly viral or simply exhaustion. He has not been sleeping at night; he is having trouble getting off to sleep at night and is lying awake. Unfortunately due to his other issues he doesn?t cope well with lack of sleep. He is very disorientated at the moment and not able to function in school today.

We are working at home on trying to get him more organised, but he simply is not coping well at school this year. He is particularly upset with his table placement in class. He has informed me on a number of occasions that other children on his table are taking his things, and distracting him. They are also calling him names such as ?Dumbo? and ?Stupid?. He is finding this very distressing. He says he has approached you a few times on this matter, but doesn?t feel it has helped. He would ideally prefer a different table placement; he says anywhere other than where he is currently situated. The taunting is also continuing onto the playground, but he says he runs away from them in that situation. He is becoming increasingly subdued and unhappy.

Hopefully, by now you should have received XXX's discharge report from his OT, which was forwarded to the school. Otherwise, please let me know and I can provide you with a copy. It details his sensory issues, which are the cause of why he is struggling so much with the children on his table taking his things. He finds it intolerable being distracted by others.

Please could I either see you at some point, or perhaps chat by telephone in order to resolve these issues?

Kind regards,

Good idea to write a letter as it cannot be overlooked or forgot. the letter is very good and clear. Who is it addressed to could you send it for the attention of the head or senco? My only query is the ending - would you be better demanding a meeting?

Thank you so much for reading it magso.

I've addressed it to his teacher, I wonder if I should cc in the HT? Probably should have sent it to the senco, but I'm not keen to meet with that twat him again.

oh and I will def request a meeting then

Thanks pipinjo.

we don't actually deal with our GP at all regarding ds. most of the contact over the past two years has been through our OT, who really has been a star. Unfortunately she has now had to sign us off as she can only give us the same advice over and over. Before the OT it was the paed that dealt with things, but apparently she has now left, so we're now waiting to see the new paed. So a bit lost at the moment - bloody typical for things to take a nose dive straight after we lose our lovely OT :(

It might still be worth seeing the GP to enquire about the change of paed. He may not have seen ds much but should still have all the letters from tha Ot and paed and may be in a position to offer advice.
Hope the day off has helped ds.