Cross with TAs - what to do

[DorothyL]

Ds has a nervous/comfort thing where he puts his hands together and twists them into different shapes. He does it when he's nervous/anxious/bored. The last two days he's been upset after school and it turns out that his one-to-one and another TA have been onto him to "stop the hand thing". I don't know why they think it's something he can just stop at will? Would you speak to the teacher/senco/TA? I'm always nervous about confronting the one to one because I want a good relationship with her.

Any advice?

Has this happened before ? If not I would just remind the TA that your Ds is twisting his hands when he is stressed, anxious or bored and that he needs to do it A. To show her that her is stressd,anxious or bored and B. Because he needs help!!

If she has done it before I would put it in writing and copy in the HT!!

Good Luck

It hasn't come up before but I'm just so annoyed that they didn't think to ask me about it, instead of telling him to stop it!

do the tas even know this is something to do with his condition? has it been communicated to them?

No we have never talked about it, but I think they should realise it's a nervous thing, or at least ask me about it, not tell him off for it.

tjhjere was a thread about TAs on one of the main boards and I was horrified to read that most have zero SN training.If that's how things are in your case, they won't have a clue about your ds' behaviour and his needs.

I'd have a word with the Head and see if they need help to understand his condition.

You need to sit down with all staff involved with your Ds and explain all his quirks and issues to them!

Maybe you and the senco could make a personal fact sheet for him which staff can refer to if they are unsure about something!

Good luck.