Need advice!

[Scottishdancer]

Ds 4 (10) Asd and severe sensory processing disorder has statement for 20 hours week. Kept him off school today as it was 'Victorian day' where all the children dress up (hates dressing up and non uniform day) and spend the day in the hall where they experience life in a Victorian classroom. The teacher is strict and has a cane (he doesn't use it!) Ds hates teachers shouting and people being told off and they did say he could go out if he didn't like it but it was the whole day so decided to keep him off. Have now found out that on Friday the whole school are being split into 12 groups with 2 or 3 from each class from reception to year 6 and are having an investigation day where they spend 20 mins in one class and then move round to the next. Ds has school anxiety and the main things he gets anxious about are; changing classes, having a different teacher, not being with is friends, change to his routine and noise. Don't know what to do. Do I keep him off again?

Why not?

I would.

Sounds horrendous. Tell the school that there is no way he would cope with that, and they should accept it. Bloody ridiculous.

Aww hes only little still, if youa r eable to have him home with you then it may be best.
However if you would prefer he was at school could they make provision for him... maybe he could spend time somewhere quiet with the TA when all the moving about starts.

He is still little and under the legal school age anyway. Keep him in, they need to rest this time of the year. It is a long, tiring term with a lot of excitement! (a tough combination for ASD kids in my experience) You could always ask the teacher for some work to do at home if it makes you feel more comfortable about him missing school.

Yeah... Keep him off

He's not little - he's 10 He's DS4.

Is he aware enough of his difficulties to make a decision himself? If you were able to tell him what would happen, he could either decide not to go, or you could arrange a system where teachers can call if he doesn't cope.

Is it worth asking the school if they have made "reasonable adjustments" to do something different with your ds, before you decide what to do. If he has a statement then they should know that he can't cope with this (one would hope!!)

I doubt it they have, and then you can keep him off, but it sort of puts it back on to them if they get funny about it.

Personally I would play it like this.
Knowing that school timetables at this time of year are shifted around like you wouldn't believe - sessions practising for school play, assemblies and PE etc moved all around so that every year can practise their performances, days out, school trips, illnesses with staff meaning changes etc , I would say to the teacher that your DS finds it hard enough to cope with the seasonal changes anyway, without the huge changes such as all day costume/group changes as well.
Then I would say that obviously you don't want him to suffer educationally, so if there are any worksheets or course work that he could do at home instead, that you will make sure that he keeps up.
I would put the blame on their shoulders for changing his environment, and that you are the one wanting to keep his education constant, and will help them in doing this.