Parents with children starting high school next sept 2015, choosing schools and putting support in place.

[marne2]

Just thought I would start a thread where we can all moan and discus what will be happening to our children during the run up to starting high school.

We went to view a school last night ( the school we have decided to send dd1 too ) and I am so confused and worried.

Dd1 has Aspergers, hypermobility, fluctuating muscle tone and suspected dyspraxia, she is not statemented and so far has got through school with no real extra support. Dd1 can be very chatty, can come across as being rude and suffers with anxiety but most of this is under control and is just dd1 being dd1. After looking around the school we realised the main problem may be dd1 getting around the school, the school is on 4 levels and there are a lot of stairs, only the new part of the school has a lift. Dd1 still goes down the stairs one foot at a time ( feet together if that makes sense ) and is very slow. I have spoke to the SENCO and she said dd1 could leave lessons early to get a head start but I am worried this will single her out? She also get disorientated and can't find her way around.

I am starting to wish we had pushed for a statement but I have no idea if we would get one now as she has gone through primary school without one?

So I am worrying about everything and it's not even until next year

Anyone else stressed already?

I'm out of the secondary applications loop, now, as we got DS1 moved out of mainstream, at the end of year 5, but do you still have time to look at other schools with an eye on physical accessibility?

Not much choice of schools here, only one other and it's huge and not very sn friendly, everything about this one is good other than the stairs and lack of lifts, I guess we can't have everything .

Would the SENCO be planning on some sort of induction period during the summer? That might help her to familiarise herself with the buildings and work out, with staff, how she would feel most comfortable about moving about the building.

This is something that would have been a huge issue for DS1, had he stayed in mainstream. He's hugely stressed by crowds and isn't the most physically confident of kids. (Plus the issue that, if he was stressed, it would take all day to find out where he had hidden, instead of the few minutes it took on Monday)

Like polter we were in this situation last year! Dd3 was no where near ready for secondary!!

She has Asd, spd, hypermobility, etc.

She has been really well supported so far, although transition preparations werent amazing!!

She loves the routine and the variety.

Lots of secondaries run summer schools, ours did but the stupid primary senco didnt sign Dd3 up for it . If there is one I would try to do it.

Good luck