DS (aged 7) was diagnosed with SPD when he was at preschool and has more recently been diagnosed with ADHD. School have been great with him overall in terms of trying to understand the SPD and make allowances for this in terms of his behaviour etc. But I’m conscious that the ADHD diagnosis adds something else to the equation and feel that I should be pushing for more formal support for him at school, but I have no idea what!
This sounds so useless of me I know, but I just don’t know what I should expect of them. I really want to support him as best I can. I can’t help but feel that his behaviour is increasingly being perceived/dealt with as simply bad behaviour and not as something resulting from the SPD/ADHD. If he’s had a bad day the teacher will just do that sort of frowny face and say “hmm, he didn’t have a good day today”. I then have to ask in what sense, to understand was he physical towards another child, was he shouting out in class etc. There is no suggested strategy to tackle this. It just feels like they are telling me he has been naughty but without acknowledging what might have caused the problem, what can we do about it etc.
I have asked for a meeting with the teacher who I think is best with him and understands him the most. Am seeing her early this week and will ask what they have observed in terms of when he is being difficult, is it more morning or afternoon, particular lessons, is he trying to avoid doing the work because he finds it hard, what consequences does he get, what strategies have they tried to support him etc. I feel we should agree a plan of action.
He does have a SEN support plan but this hasn’t been updated to reflect the ADHD diagnosis. I will ask for that to be added in.
What support/strategies have your DCs got in place for similar diagnoses? Any tips and advice most gratefully received.....