parents eve at secondary

[daireen]

All was going ok, even really well in places. Lots of nice comments about doing really well and great attitude in class.

But there is always one isn't there!

Teacher: your child is 'rubbish' at PE, doesn't even try in football.
Me: What reasonable adjustments have you put in place for ASD, dyspraxia and severs disease

Teacher: Those are classroom 'problems', so don't try and make excuses.

I feel a stroppy email to the SENCO coming on......

The teacher actually said those things?! Used those very words?!

maybe he's struggling with pe because of dyspraxia, teachers can be thick ,my son also has dyspraxia and he lost his balance during a practical science lesson and burnt his hand last week on a bunsen burner theres also question mark over attention def disorder so why let him loose with equipment like that .bloody schools make me so mad

bluemerald, he used the words 'rubbish' and 'problem', the rest is roughly right. Have emailed a complaint, and will wait and see the outcome.

I wish PE could be dropped, as this seems to be the worst bit of the school to deal with.

When the teachers say something I don't like (like that I mean, not just in general things I don't like, that would maybe be taking it too far, lol) I go find the headteacher and grass on them - like a small upset child I then get a bit teary and start talking about disability discrimination, reasonable adjustments and inclusion...

I don't recommend it as a course of action like, but it does seem to work, the headteacher being accosted by a tearful squeaky woman about disability discrimination in front of the other parents

But, if I was actually logical instead of ever so slightly over-emotional, I'd send a letter in to the SENCO and the head suggesting that if a PE teacher doesn't understand why dyspraxia alone would cause issues in PE that maybe he should be given some training, or even just read a pamphlet.

Have a meeting tomorrow with SENCO and the PE teacher. Do any of you have any links to good resources about ASD/dyspraxia and sport.

I've googled and got some infomation, but looking for something specifically on the difficulties in playing team games

Hi

I'm fortunate in that my DS (11) loves sport and is an outstanding footballer & rugby player although its not always been that way and it has been known for him to have a major meltdown when other team members arent doing what he thinks they should . He does however find gymnastics a problem and got upset last week that he was the only child in his class that couldnt do a roly poly. His PE teachers are very understanding and helpful and I appreciate we are luckyin that respect. Drama & Dance are another matter and have had experience along the lines you have had with your child and PE.

Does your child enjoy sport? I'm glad we persevered with team games for DS to the extent he joined a local rugby and football team outside of school as I'm sure that has helped him gain the confidence he needed to join in and has helped him integrate with peers his own age as it seems to matter at that age for most boys.

Saying all this I would still go in all guns blazing if it were my DS and have no words of wisdom but just wanted to say dont write PE off as an option if he can be helped.

daireen - I feel for you. I know this will be an issue coming up for me when my DS starts secondary, he's yr4 now. The only school that we will get by distance is a boys sports academy. My DS has somatodyspraxia. He has problems with planning and sequencing movement, sense of spatial awareness, balance, general co-ordination - but is bright as a button. So like you, there will probably be good academic comments, and then.....
Do you know what areas are affected by the dyspraxia? Until this year i did not have a definitive breakdown of his major weaknesses within the dyspraxia umbrella. He also has SPD - which is also linked with dyspraxia, so that might be worth getting info on.
The other thing that many - but not all - might have is some form of hypermobility. If this is the case, there are lists of sports that should be avoided as they put too much pressure on the joints and can cause permanent damage.

thanks for your messages of support. I think the SENCO had done some education herself before the meeting as the teacher displayed a very different attitude today! I just hope he meant what he said and this was not words.

I'm not sure that team games will ever really be possible, a complete lack of understanding what is going on, difficulties with motor control and sensory issues (especially the shouting!). Sports which my DD can do well are swimming and kayaking, both individual and using repetitive motions, and she does these every week (in club sessions rather than public ones so a more controlled enviroment). The problem is that as the school focuses on ball and team sports (they never swim) so there are few alternatives in school.