Can DD be excused from doing PE?

[LoveGigi]

DD (8) in year 4 has a recent diagnosis of ASD (Aspergers). It's early days and she is yet to be told of her diagnosis. DD is mostly compliant at school but we have the intense out pouring at home. At present and for about the last 1-2 years DD has detested PE. We have just had to endure her meltdowns and try to get her through it. She also currently has body issues and feels that she has fat legs, this couldn't be further from reality. They have just recently added gymnastics in the timetable on a Tuesday and regular PE is on a Friday. We weren't coping before when it was just Friday we were dealing with now it's also on a Tuesday it will be unbearable. I have always assumed that there was nothing I could do and that she would just have to do PE. Is this the case? Can I somehow manage to get her out of this? If so how? Help!

Anyone?

Im no expert but it probably depends on the school and how accomodating they are. IIRC children have to do PE once per week as part of the national curriculum so you might have to provide medical evidence if you want to pull her out completely.

What is your GP like?

Would he/she be supportive and write a letter stating that the anxiety and disruption it causes is detremental to your daughters well being and negates the positives of PE.

I have heard of children being excused due to the above before.

If not GP, how about her community paediatrician? or similar.

Sympathies, as I have similar issues with my child.

It is a really difficult one because the school could just keep saying its part of the curriculum.

Dd3 missed a whole term of swimming with school in yr 6 because the teacher shouted at her during the first session and she refused point blank to go again.

Primary PE was a nightmare for us too but actually it has been one of the successes at secondary. Dd3 is in the bottom set with a group of equally uncoordinated children who are mostly unable to play team games. She has actually enjoyed some aspects of it especially learning the Hakka and playing short tennis against the gym wall instead of trying to play with another child!!

I dont know how to help you but you are definitely not alone

My ds (5) has very similar issues around P.E. I'm guessing it's very common in children with an ASC. In my son's case it's the crippling anxiety about not knowing how to get things 'right' first time (eg kicking a ball into a net).

I think the DoE is now recommending all primary aged kids do two sessions of P.E a week now - which is just great for kids like ours!

My ds' school has been great though. They let him sit on the sidelines and try and encourage him to join in but don't insist. We're lucky that he's supported and his LSA really tries to encourage/bribe him with stickers.

What's your relationship like with her teacher? Is she supported at all? Would allowing her to wear tracksuit bottoms help? Would they allow her to sit on the sides and take the pressure off participating? Your dd has a recognised medical condition that makes certain things hard for her and that should be recognised and respected. I would make an appointment to see her teacher and the SENCO.

I think the school are in a difficult position as P.E is now a big drive under the Government with childhood obesity issues. I also guess there would be a practical issue about what to do with your dd if she were allowed to sit it out?

Id say speak to teacher. DS, year 6 struggles with PE and it's a massive trigger point for him.

Then meeting secondary he starts in September last week the student support services head asked how he found PE. I said hell on earth and she said many asd students do and they allow them to not partake and work up to lessons as and when able. Basically said there's no point in them not achieving anything all day because PE has stressed them too much.

if you think her teacher will be understanding go straight to her. If not I'd get the GP involved.

Thank you all so much for your replies. It really does help to know we are not the only ones dealing with this issue. My DD struggles with PE on many levels. Her lack of coordination and her need to be perfect at everything is a bad combo. Her peers perceive her negatively and comments are made along the lines of "we've got a crap team" if DD is on their team. She has also been last to be picked for teams which I can't believe they even do this anymore. Her teacher is supportive to a degree, she is aware of DD's dislike of her legs and has okayed it for her to change in the toilets. She is sympathetic but also makes it clear that there isn't an option not to do it. DD would be allowed to wear most things to PE there isn't a uniform but what she wants is to completely cover her legs and their form so she wants to wear a long skirt which will just not be practical. I am currently hunting for the longest gym skirt I can find. The leg issue flares up when she is anxious and in relation to PE mostly. I do find her negative body image particularly hard to deal with, I feel I've tried everything to get her to see sense. I have got the Cygnet course coming up in June which I'm pinning a lot of hope onto. I will definately not be putting DD through the hell that is sports day this year though!

We're having exactly the same with my Dyspraxic daughter,no answers as our school are utterly shire as regards handling it,just wanted to send empathetic waves your way.

Shite

Thanks ivyBean, sending "non shite" school vibes your way! ;-)

I think the only way to achieve this is with medical support. Try your GP or paediatrician.

Thanks icimoi, we have been discharged post diagnosis but I could always call them up and see what they say.

Good luck. I really hated PE at school - for many of the reasons mentioned. And my (ASD) son seems to be the same. For now, not too challenging but I imagine it will get harder as he gets older. I had hoped that things would have changed since the 80s when I was at school and that PE activities could be varied to suit different children's needs a bit more. They have to differentiate for other subjects - eg if struggling with maths, children get more support. Can SENCO help? I would ask if she could have more support (TA?) and maybe slightly different tasks to do. I can't believe they still let them pick teams either - makes me feel physically sick! Can you also talk to the teacher about the bullying nature of the comments of other kids?

Wordsandmusic I will approach senco again, I've had one meeting with her since the diagnosis, see what, if any, suggestions she may have. Sorry to hear that your DS also doesn't like PE. Re the bullying, the next time there is a comment along those lines, I will mention it to her teacher. We are just so exasperated by it all and have been feeling totally helpless. This thread has given me some renewed hope that perhaps I am able to change this situation for the better for DD.

I was told that DS had to take PE as it was part of the national curriculum. However he was allowed to just kick a ball about on the playing field well away from the others.

Now he is at secondary, he is in a PE set for SEN children. He has a great time with other children of a similar ability as the emphasis is on enjoying the sport, rather than excelling at it.

Sunnymeg, it's good to know that the secondary school has been accommodation and that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks.

My dd has been pulled from PE by the school when they realised that her hypermobile joints could be damaged if she fell awkwardly. They usually find something for her to do - she is an unpire now -, and she has exercises from the physio so they let her do those.

If your dc hates PE an OT may be able to sort out why and then sort out a modification of the curriculum to give your dc the PE which is achievable and beneficial.

Hope this helps