job share teachers for son with possible aspergers

[peppajay]

My son is currently going through the diagnosis process for aspergers. I know and his teacher know he is different and everything points towards aspergers and his current reception teacher has been amazing and he loves her to bits but tomorrow he leaves her class and in September goes up to year 1.

He hates change and thrives on routine so September is going to be really hard for him but his teacher has made him a wonderful book about going into year 1 and he loves it and really does to get the gist of what is happening and doesn't seem to fazed as has met his new teacher/s a couple of times on a one to one basis because if he met them with the rest of the class he would have freaked out.

Teacher/s being the operative word. He is in a job share class. My initial reaction was 'no way' why have they pit him with a job share when they know he struggles with change. However after talking to the yr 1 head and his current reception teacher who initially was a bit shocked, they have convinced me that it will be a good thing for him as will get him used to change and that there is continuity as one teacher at the beg of week and one at the end. Apparently these 2 teachers will be more tune to his needs than the other yr 1 teachers. I had convinced myself maybe it will be ok but now I am not so sure. His reception teacher has been truly amazing and she told me today she is scared for him in case he has a wobble as she wont be there to help him anymore!!! Last day of term is tomorrow so I have left it too late to raise any concerns now. But I just wondered if there is anybody on here whose child has aspergers and has had job share teachers and whether it was a good thing or not???

Slightly different angle, but I taught in Special school as a job share teacher, and then have been SENCo in mainstream where class teachers have been jobshare, and I've also worked one day a week in a Resource base where obviously someone else was there for 4 days a week.
The children on the spectrum, who rarely coped well with unexpected change, were all fine with the arrangement, because that's waht the arrangements were IYSWIM. It was fine that it was Mrs X on Mont, Tue and Wed, and then Mrs Y on Ths and Fri, because that's what "the rules" said it should be. Only source of upset was if one of the staff were away (ill, on a course, etc.) and not in when expected.
HTH

DS also has AS and I was offered one FT TA.

I actually suggested 2 would be better and so he has 1 in morning and a different 1 in the afternoon.

This was for a few reasons.

1. Our children can be very anxious and hard work at times. I wanted to keep the TAs and not wear them out!

2. In the previous school when the TA had other jobs or was off sick or hols the immediate change played havoc on his anxiety.

3. Although I wanted him to feel secure I do not want him to go through school dependent on one teacher alone.

4. Although I know change in routine and surprises is very difficult for DS but has to learn to cope with a certain amount to hopefully accept a certain amount of changes for when he is older.

Dd had job share teachers in y1 and it wasn't a problem because it was a routine Mrs A on monday, tuesday, wednesday and then Mrs B. It was much easier for her than when a teacher went off sick and she had different supply teachers covering instead tbh.

DS2 had teachers doing a job share for the whole of Y3. This was also his first year in a new school. It was fine. It's the same timetable and structure every week, so not as much change as you'd think. Mrs G on a Mon, Tue and Wed, then Mrs T on a Thu & Fri.

Mine have had this and it was fine because they knew what day they had who. We also moved away from 1 TA for the same reasons as the poster above.

The last thing you want to do is allow total dependance on one person.

Now they are at secondary and because of that it was less difficult than going from an environment where they were always with the same person.

Sounds like school have thought this through. They have put him with the teachers they think will best fulfil his needs. The setup is consistent, if slightly more complex.
His reception class teacher is right to be concerned that he will have a 'wobble' as it is highly likely in the first few weeks. The change from yr R to yr 1 is a big one. However this would be true with only 1 teacher.
I would prepare yourself for the wobble and try and support his new teachers the best you can. He will get through it. Two teachers can have many positives.

The only time ds had a decent teacher was when he had a job share pair, coincidentally in Y1. They were very well in tune with each other and functioned like two halves of a whole. Job share can work very well when it's done right. You rarely get knackered teachers because they get time to recharge each week, and that makes them more effective. I think your son will be fine.

My DS has had job share teachers this year (yr 1) and was totally fine with it.

Sorry, should have said, he is currently going through dx process

Thanks for all your positive messages. I think you all have some very valid points and he doesn't seem bothered and he has met them both and he knows exactly who he is having on what days. So sure wil be fine just had a little wobble last night thinking of all the changes he is going to have to cope with next year!!