Angry at SEN team!!!

[adrianna22]

DS 4 is currently going through the process for statuary assessment.

The SEN team called me a few weeks ago, asking if I want DS to be referred to the speech and language unit for an assessment placement. As she has received all my files regarding DS. I told her that it was fine as it was just an assessment and it isn't like he got in.

In the meant time I went to look at ASD units, there is only one that I liked which is very far and they do ABA at that school, and do not use the TEACCH method, unless the child needs it.

So anyway there is a new ASD unit opening around my area, I met with the head and she saw DS at school and fits the criteria. ( only have ASD no learning needs and have mid- low language) I haven't made a decision yet as I haven't seen the school, haven't seen the kids, seen the teaching methods and they use the TEACCH system.

Well the ASD head spoke to the SEN team and ask them why DS was refereed to the language unit as I told her this. ( I wasn't really happy that she did this). They said that they didn't know that DS had ASD.

I'm a bit miffed as I did sent them DS diagnosis report, way after he got a statement. Even the doctor that diagnosed DS, rang the SEN team regarding DS diagnosis and to be seen by an educational psychologist before I applied for the statement. So unless they didn't bother to read his reports, they initially wasted my time.

The ASD unit head, was a bit upset that I still wasn't sure if I want DS to go to the unit or not. So I feel sad, but I've got other schools that I want to see, and I need to see their school, which hasn't opened yet, to get a feel from it and see how they work with the kids etc.

I've also got another dilemma because DS loves his mainstream school, he has made friends, the school are doing well with him. He is very smart, has no behavioural issues as he is passive and shy, like his mum . Even though he has a severe speech and language delay, he can understand everything. So I was considering a spilt placement.

But I'm not so sure.

Do you guys think I'm doing the right thing, regarding the unopened ASD unit as I feel sad?

What should I do about the SEN team has anyone gone through the same thing?

Thanks

I don't blame you for not sending DS to the ASD unit until you have seen it. That is completely reasonable. If he is happy at his ms school have you considered that he could stay there with support?
Bear in mind that there will most likely be kids in the ASD units with challenging behaviour and you will have to consider how that will affect your DS.
What is DS's primary need that is stopping him from staying in ms? You don't have to put him in an ASD unit just because he has ASD as he sounds like he is coping from that perspective and it's his S&L that is the main issue?

As for the SEN team, it could be that they are incompetent or it could be that they momentarily got muddled with another child. If the ASD is down as a need in his statement then that's the main thing. FWIW i've had the same SEN officer for 4 years, gone through SENDIST and she still gets my surname wrong

Thanks for replying fairgame

I guess I feel that because DS has ASD, I'm worried that people may feel that I'm in sort of denial. But regardless I have to think about DS needs as they are now.

I feel his severe delay in speech and language and I guess his attention issues? are his main need, and even though he is coping in MS, I still want him to have intensive speech therapy support as early as possible.

I was thinking of him doing a trial split placement, so I am able to still how he will cope when he gets into year 1.

Thank-you for the reassurance about the unopened ASD unit, as I did feel bad, but I need to be able visit the school, so I'm able to make my judgement.

What are the LA actually offering you at the moment?

If the SEN team weren't aware of the ASD then i take it that they are only considering the SALT unit as a placement.
IME the ASD units are for children who are academically able but are unable to cope in a ms environment full time due to behaviour or sensory needs related to their autism. If your DS is doing ok in this area's then it's unlikely that the LA would offer the ASD unit as it would not be a suitable placement. There are limited places in these unit and lots of children trying to get them so you may have to go down the SENDIST route if you really really want it.

As for the SALT unit, i'm sure that a split placement would be possible either. If your DS is severe enough to need intensive SALT input then surely he would be missing out on therapy if he wasn't in the unit full time. Most of these units are attached to ms schools and the pupils do access ms classes as part of the timetable so he would still be getting the opportunity to do ms but with the appropriate SALT support in place.

Hi Fairgame.

Yes the SEN team are offering the language unit.

I understand about the split placement issue and DS does need the intensive speech input. Yes DS does have very very low sensory needs. Which could be the reason why he can cope in a mainstream setting.

I will have a look at much schools as possible as I will decide from then.

Thanks!

I forgot to say that nobody will look at you and think you are in denial if your DS doesn't go the ASD unit. Most units only have approx 5 places (they do around here anyway) so there are thousands of ASD children who are not in a unit. It's not about the parents denying the diagnosis, it's about where the child's needs can be best met. A lot of ASD kids do absolutely fine in ms so don't feel you need to put DS in a specialist placement just because he has a diagnosis.
Every child with ASD is different. In DS's old ms school there were 3 kids with ASD in his class. One of them had HFA and managed absolutely fine with no support whatsoever and no statement. You wouldn't even know he had ASD as it was so subtle.
Another child had AS had no support as his mum didn't want a statement as she was against 'labelling' him. He was very intelligent but his social skills got worse as he got older. He was on SA+ and needed visual aids and his own desk but he got on ok.
Then there was DS. DS has ASD but with acute sensory needs. He had a statement for 27.5 hours of support from the age of 4 which gave him full time 1:1 including break and lunchtimes. He is bright in some areas but cannot stay in the classroom, exhibits very challenging behaviour, very disruptive, had input from ASD outreach, ss outreach and behavior outreach. Ended up with 2:1 for much of year 4 and has been excluded every year since he started school. He is now in an indie SS for ASD.

You've got to do what's best for the child and not what you are expected to do just because a child has a specific diagnosis.
Don't worry about what other people think, they are not living your life and you know what's best for your DS