Lougle here - just popping in with an update

[lougle]

I hope everyone is plodding on ☺

I just thought I'd say that after 3 schools, plus home education, finally in year 5 the third school's HT has said that she thinks DD2 will struggle in secondary school and has 'aspergers traits'. She thinks it's worth pursuing assessment and that we'll have to carefully plan transition to secondary school. She's also agreed to put it in writing if necessary .

This has in part been prompted by a series of homework fails where DD2 has taken the teacher completely literally (e.g. 'you can write as much as you want' = one sentence.) and has been completely unable to do the fiction homeworks which involve imagining the response or views of book characters.

Also, the mixed year system with 2 years in each class means that she has moved class for the first time since starting there and that has revealed the cracks.

Great news Oh the difference a supportive Head makes! It's awful it's taken this long, hopefully now DD2 will start getting the support in school she needs.

(I used to post here more when my DS1 and your DD1 were getting statemented for school (I was polareyes/notfromaroundhere then).)

Love the one sentence. Oh the difference of having a supportive school. Good luck Lougle.

It's nice to see you all. I lost SN from active (must get it back) and couldn't keep up with the pub...but I should make more effort!

Haha! DS1 would be quite sure that he doesn't want to write anything at all! It's taken his English teacher a year to get anything assessable at all out of him!

HT sounds wonderful - great to have someone who gets it and has a desire to be pro-active and help to make things better for your DD, rather than for them.

lougle how nice to see you. It is good that the HT is recognising the issues and will provide useful info for the assessment. I hope your waiting lists aren't too long.

Thanks for the warm welcome 😊

Hi Lougle great to hear from you, good news that the head teacher is supporting you and hope you manage to get an assessment before secondary!

Dd3 is now home ed after a failed transition into secondary but we have found our home for now among the home ed community

Adds my joy at seeing you too. Glad you are finally getting somewhere and having your voice heard. A supportive head is certainly worth their weight in gold.

Also laughed at the literal homework.

Ds is the same. He's year 8 and "make notes on the following 'what happened during X time, why did it happen etc'" will literally result in a few words like "WW2, hitler did.... Etc"

another chuffed to hear from you... glad the HT seems switched on,
we have been HE for a year now and love it...

I don't think we could HE again....DD2 just completely about avoids anything that is vaguely stretching. It was a useful period when we did it and she really needed to regroup and destress, but I don't think she would do anything but minecraft and, well....minecraft.

What schools are round your way, lougle? Ds1 has ended up at a small mainstream academy secondary. No EHCP (despite my efforts 😉) but it's like a medium size primary so he doesn't really need one atm.

(It's maria btw)

We have catchment secondary with 1200 children, then 3 other surrounding secondaries with 1200, 1200 and 1400 children.

There is a small Christian private school locally that several of our church families have their children in, but we couldn't afford it and it would take out of the state system in terms of help.

The 4 big schools... Any of them known to be good with anxious ASD kids? Or does the Christian school feel like it would be better, despite lacking the often mythical decent SEN department and LA support services

(I know you don't think she needs/ would get an EHCP... but if there aren't any other options)

Our catchment school is supposed to be getting really good with SEN. I think they have 12 children with Downs Syndrome in this year's year 7 alone. They have 'fast start' groups for kids who are behind in core subjects. But it won't make the school smaller.

That might mean they could be good enough to give you a warts-and-all look round, a proper discussion, and a truthful opinion

Good to see you louge

Hi Claw

So many 'old' faces on this thread...I was wondering if many were still about!

Best wishes to you and your girls lougle x

It sounds great that the head is looking for an assessment for your DD and is so proactive. Whilst my DD coped well at primary I am so glad we had her diagnosis at the start of year 6, as having just started at secondary she has fallen apart. She is currently part time (and still missing some days) but the school are being amazing and working towards an ECHP. Sorry for waffling just wanted to say that the diagnosis at least meant we were in the system when it all became too much for her.