Special needs curriculum - feeling very confused

[jess1975]

My little man is four and in an sld school. He has a diagosnis of asd and sld. This his is second year at this school. The first year was his nursery year. If he was at mainstream he would be starting formal learning. My ds is non-verbal with practically no understanding of language, we have not yet got a communication system in place and last year his communication skills were assessed at 12 months or below. However there are other children in the class who are miles ahead (but still fit into the sld bracket). Notes home talk about literacy groups and maths groups (just counting etc) and exploring various letters (all fun activities). Im very confused as to why he is doing stuff like this. He has no clues what letters even are, he cannot even follow the simplest of instructions. Does this seem odd to you or is it because he's at the age for formal learning they have to be seen to following some sort of curriculum. There was talk of him repeating nursery year but there wasn't enough places. I know they all have an IEP and maybe its the case that hasn't been sorted yet but he had one from last year.

That does sound odd my dd2 is in autism class at a special school, like your boy she did a nursery year there , literacy and numeracy haven't been mentioned so far they have been playing

What assessments where carried out prior to the placement? Does he have a statement? My ds is in a language unit but it doesn't sound like your child would cope with what my ds is doing (which is basically what your ds has come home with). I think the best thing to do would be to phone up the school and arrange a meeting to find out the curriculum your ds is following and arrange to meet with his SALT as well possibly at the same time.

My first thought is to talk to the teacher about what he is actually doing? Although on paper it sounds like it is stuff he cant do, it doesn't mean it is - they may be working at a very low level with him. Or they could just be sending out general notes about what is going on and he is doing something completely different.

Hi all and thanks for your replies. Sld is for severe learning difficulties and not severe language delay. Sorry for the confusion! His home/school diary is unique for him but will definitely make an appointment to find out more.

My DD is in the same year as your DS and sounds of a similar level. She started at SS this year (in to reception year but in a double year group of nursery/reception - which sounds the same as yours.

She does literacy and numeracy - every day in the morning and afternoon there are key sessions for these two areas. But it isn't in the way we would have done these subjects, but at a level appropriate stage (so very very basic).

should have known that! (Acronym)