Sensory issues at school

[1busybee]

Hi can someone please reassure me. I'm feeling like an awful parent at the moment. I have a ds8 with a diagnosis of Aspergers and sensory processing disorder. He is in mainstream school without a statement and I am feeling more and more demoralised. Currently it feels like the adults in his school completely dont understand him and I dont know how to help. The complaints recently about him are that he is disruptive in the classroom, shouting out during lessons, as well as fidgeting in his seat and putting his feet on the table. He is often in trouble for policing the classroom and for getting involved in others disagreements. He is prone to kicking out (not that I think its at all acceptable but he always feels he's been provoked when he kicks and this is normally at break time when children are all running around or they are queuing up at the end of break). At the end of the week I was also told that he had been pulling another childs hair whilst sat on the carpet with his class. His table in the classroom couldnt be more in the middle and he has his back to the teacher. He is also sitting very close to a child which the Austim specialist teacher suggested was causing a large amount of heightened anxiety and therefore increased sensory arousal. My ds has a CAF in place for a year now and I just feel that we are banging our heads against a brick wall. He can be a lovely little boy, and actually at presnet, at home with his siblings and a structured reward and punishment system is being great. I feel like school are completely misunderstanding him. We have had the OT involved who stated that things like kitcking hitting, touching etc was all sensory seeeking behviour and so to was the verbal interruptions. The Autism teacher, OT and school staff think he is very bright and therefore could this not be why he's calling out? His handwriting is awful and he struggles with it. School have hardly implememted any of the strategies suggested by the OT etc such as use of a computer, more structured break times, sitting on a chair instead of in the middle of the carpet area, standing at the front of lines, having his own work station etc but they will continue to complain about his behaviour. I was told at the end of the week that if he just called out or just put his feet up on the desk it would be one thing but as he's doing both they dont know how to deal with him. He constantly gets sent out of the room to work on his own in a separate area and since kicking a child in the queue last week I have been informed that at the end of break he will go and stand out the front with the dinner ladies and teachers in future. I feel this is a bit harsh and makes him stick out like a sore thumb. Surely if they just moved him to teh front of the line this would help. I feel like I'm constantly having to defend him and am frustrated that school aren't doing more to help. At the same time I feel sorry for his teacher who has 29 other children to teach in her class and I understand that he can be a complete pain. What should I do? I have consdered getting an independent Ed psych report for him to give us a clear picture of what needs doing and we have offered to pay for some 1:1 for him but school have declined. I dont want him being disrutpive and losing friends but I do want his needs understood and him to feel less frustrated!
Thanks for any help and reassurance!

Would ask the teacher too see OT and ask if she could look into developing strategy's by the way of a Sensory Diet, which would also benefit the whole class situation can be used in areas of math's and English will have the benefit of inclusion and self-esteem. can Google examples, know many know of this but can work for children in your situation. It's not a food thing more of a way of active teaching.

Google "School's sensory diet whole class strategy's" this would befit your son , could discuss with head and school's education governors and see if they could fund training for teacher's using School's pupil premium as would benefit the whole class and school, would be a long term intervention plan and strategy.

Google "School's sensory diet whole class strategy's" this would befit your son , could discuss with head and school's education governors and see if they could fund training for teacher's using School's pupil premium as would benefit the whole class and school, would be a long term intervention plan and strategy.

Pupil Premium funding should not be used to prop up training for children with special educational needs! We have to justify every penny of it in relation to how it has impacted the named children who generate that funding - i.e. their academic progress or their access to additional activities. I can't imagine many schools would use it to train staff as suggested and justify that improved support for a pupil with SN means the other children including those in receipt of PP get a better deal in the classroom.

1busybee - I am SO sorry that I did not get to this earlier!

You are a great mum because you are on the case. And your son is having problems because he is not a 'bog-standard' learner, but is having the wrong expectations placed on him ie the expectations that would be right for a bog-standard learner. Your son is unique, and is entitled to education to meet his needs.

It sounds like you really need a statement or at the least an assessment.

Your dear child should not be being blamed for things that are not his fault and behaviour arising from sensory overload is the school/LA failing to meet his needs, not his fault.

Behaviour like touching hair, and policing the classroom is behaviour caused by Asperger's so not his fault, and could be prevented/controlled if his needs were being met.

I strongly recommend calling the National Autistic Society Autism Helpline Number: 0808 800 4104. They can get you a trained volunteer to help sort out requests for assessment etc.

A really good ASD specialised Ed Psych report will be the best money you spend, and if you can afford it, a good Occupational Therapist and Speech and Language therapist as well.

But definitely start with the helpline as timing the reports to fit in with what the LA say about your request for assessment could be important.

By the may, some LAs routinely refuse to assess in cases like this, but you just appeal, do the assessment yourself if you can afford it, and most then back down.

Good Luck