Settling in at school - Nursery - ASD

[MaLopez]

I am a mother to a 4 year old diagnosed with ASD. He is becoming verbal and speaks but drops his consonants. He was in nursery for 2 years and now started in a mainstream school with a statement and a 1 to 1 teaching assistant for 25 hours a week.. We were told to come in for an hour to settle him in and school now seems to think that he should only come in for an hour a day and have no plan set up with no end in sight. He was in nursery for 3 hours a day and settled nicely. He got potty trained in the summer and goes happily now for a wee. Still struggling with the poo, but one step at a time

When I picked him up after his first hour, he cried when I said it was time to go home. He was a bit overwhelmed but I feel an hour was nowhere near enough time for him to settle down. Not sure what to do now as I do not want to start a new school fighting, I fight well!, but just want to give them a chance. My son is not rigid, not bothered about routine, eats anything, likes playing outside and does listen to most instructions except when the sensory overload gets too much and then a little trip outside is all he needs to calm down or a little distraction. His main problem is his speech delay.

Please help. I am so stressed and do not want him to miss out on his settling in time. One hour seems so little. Anyone had any experience to share with me, please? I would appreciate any help at all. Kind regards

Some schools do a graduated start for all the children so my first idea would be to check what the other children are doing. Often it's down to birthdate so the summer born become full time last if that makes sense.
If there is a statement for 25 hours 1:1 then surely he should be able to go for those 25 hours if they have the 1:1 organised! I would arrange a meeting like Polter said to arrange a more detailed integration such as mornings for a week, then leaving him for lunch then full time. This really should only take 3 weeks!

Thank you PolterGoose and hattytheherald. I think they are trying to cover the fact that they are not really ready. Met the 1:1 lady on Friday and she was great. I have now put a 4 week plan in place, allowing for their laughable one week of him coming in at noon for a hour(!!) and then ramping in up. I was really trying to defer to their judgement, but I can see I have to get my fighting boots on really early. Will speak the his SEN caseworker and send in my plans both to her and the SENCO and tell them to make it work. Thanks for giving me the oomph I needed xx

ps. Other children are already getting a full day at the end of the first week. I understand that an ASD child might need a little longer. The SENCO mentioned that they had done the same with a child previously, but I still believe every child is an individual and needs are different. I am now cooking on gas!

Well done. Sounds a good plan. I think we need a boxing glove emoticon in the special needs section of this board!
Might be worth mentioning that as the other children are full time it is singling your son out as different from the start.

And I am back. 1 step forward and 2 steps back! SEN caseworker agreed it was ridiculous yesteday but today, tells me to support the school. How am I to support them when they have no plan?? Also, my child was "given a chance, as special school was recommended" This is based on the report written a whole year ago. I guess they want me to be eternally grateful. Off to regroup. I have a settling in plan and if I don't get one from them by the end of the week after the hour a day, I will hand mine in. So very tired. xx