Primary School Leavers Assembly.....

[Eliza22]

I've just come back from the school leavers assembly. My ds was in mainstream primary. HF asd. With OCD diagnosis also. He's the only child not transferring to the secondary school opposite our house as he is Statemented and going to a mainstream secondary High School, with asd unit attachment. He will be able to access the unit, as he needs it.

I know that he would never have survived our local high school. Not from an autism viewpoint but, the OCD has floored him. He takes Prozac in a tiny dose each day.

I was a mess in the assembly. So upset. Such a fantastic school that he's left and they've supported him and me, all the way. I will miss them all. I guess it would have been easier, had he transferred with all of his class instead of starting again, by himself, somewhere totally new.

Anyone else in this position? (Slinks away to remove catastrophic makeup following sob fest).

I can only begin to imagine how you feel, I feel sad at DS leaving reception for year 1 today, he has got on so well with his teacher.

Also blubbed my way through leaver's assembly too! He is leaving a fantastic school, such a wrench for me, never mind him. I feel traumatised!

My DD left her lovely pre school today where they have loved and accepted her because she needs to go to school nursery for her own development. I found it very hard and actually just feel a bit numb. I can only imagine what it feels like when you have been there 6 years.

How is you DS feeling about the move?

Ds feels sad.

He's done induction days at his new school. The staff there seem lovely. However, he knows he's different and recently said he's not going to the local school cause he's "weird and dumb". He's clever actually, in lots of ways. He's desperate to keep in touch with 3 boys in particular but, his social inclusion has been hindered with the asd/OCD, obviously. I've contacted the boy's mums and as much as they can, i hope they'll help ds to "stay in touch".

He doesn't go out alone and so, his peers have moved on, in that sense. Two or three of them meet up at the park now, or in town. Ds has missed all of that. He's like the perpetual "little brother". He desperately wants to be part of "it all" but find it so tough just knowing how to "be" around other people. He's described on his statement as a "very vulnerable boy". His classmates, lovely as they are, have outgrown him and as I say, OCD has floored him.

This week, he's wanted to watch old footage of school events on our camcorder. We've talked about making new friends and all the good stuff we have planned for the holidays (SUCH damned hard work to fill those 6 weeks, when you have an isolated child). But yes, he's sad.

Thank you ladies. I know I'm not alone.

Just done the leaver's assembly today too.
We are very sorry to leave the fantastic support DS has had there.
He is also going to a different primary school to all his friends. Most people are going to the nearest high school, some to one further up the road, but the one DS is going to is in the opposite direction and he won't know anyone.
But we are trying to look at it positively and as a fresh start to make new friends with whom he will fit in better ( fingers toes and everything else crossed).

That's what my ds says "there'll be kids like me, with autism, at my new school".