online school for ASD 12 yr old ds?

[wellbuggerme]

Ive posted in the education, but he for traffic. DS is in mainstream, year 7. Hes average ability. Has EHCP etc (has done for years). The problem isnt the class content. Its "school". He is struggling ++ with the environment. Its the noise and hub bub of the other kids around him in class itself/ around school. To him its too noisy and "I cant get my thoughts out". He cannot be focussed/ concentrate. DH is a teacher at the same school so hes very on it when things crop up and working with teachers/ TA`s with solutions. This last week he has been given a time out card so he can leave the room and go to the SEN room to "chill"/ calm down when its too much. Plus this week he has been given some headphones to put on when needed to see if that helps in class to concentrate if its noisy.

Its not working. DS isnt seeing when he needs to put the defenders on etc BEFORE it all escalates in his head and forgetting to use time out. Result is a crying distressed boy who wants to die (his words). He seems to be spending more and more time in SEN room where hell not be taught anything!! Hes unhappy and even with dh there to help calm him/ suggestions etc it aint working. Once a week I end up having to pick him up from school in the middle of the day as its just too much.

Im looking at taking him out of mainstream. Were selling the house to relocate across the country as well. Im considering online school (interhigh/ my online school). I can see the benefits straight away....he doesnt have friends really, so not losing out there! Anyone elses ASD kids use this? How are they finding it?

Im assuming well get zero funding and we can if we tighten belts afford it .....

some counties fund interhigh etc. some do not. ours does not. but we are relocating (when we get this house sold!) to a different county, so well try there! even if they paid some wed be elated. we don`t expect anything tbh.

well today I have done the online enrolment form! online school here we come!!!!!

we are looking forward to it .

ds is having his ehcp review later this week at mainstream. thats the only reason he`s still on roll there. once thats done and dusted the deregistration letter (dh just needs to print and sign) will be done and handed in!!!

That's great. Once the ehcp review is done, will you still have his old school named on it? What happens if you go back to school in future would that ehcp still stand? Curious as we are awaiting ehcp at mo but god the process is so long!!

ehcps travel with you. yes itll have his mainstream on it, but for wherever he goes after it highlights needs to be met etc/ problems. home schoolers still have a yearly review, just the parents doing the form and sending off . we wanted it done in case he does ever return to mainstream in the future and that school can immediatley see what things (like a TA) need putting in without the fumbling about.

his current school/ sendco knows we are moving to a new area, so its to make sure any new school is prepped. Although this year with ds problems its going to have the reccomendations ds needs "alternative provision" rather than mainstream. the council/ area we re going to does online school (academy 21 ) as aternative provision and we have a chance of funding for the online school weve actually chosen (or a bit of funding). academy 21 is the bargain basement basic version of my online schooling/ interhigh. wey the company that owns interhigh , own academy 21. its their cheapo basic version for councils basically!

where we live now the council has no truck with any online schooling at all. its mainstream, autism units attached to mainstream or special school. theres not enough spaces......there is a waiting list and its up to 2 years apparantly!! some councils are embracing onlineas its cheaper and simpler. ours is not (in a norfolk bumpkin styleee).

@wellbuggerme that's really interesting I had no idea councils funded stuff like that! How did you find that info out? We are under Kent county council. Local to us there are 2 mainstream secondaries with units but they only take 30 pupils at any time from y7-13 so as you can imagine virtually impossible to get in! And there is only 1 special school which is not suited to bright/high functioning children it is aimed at severe learning difficulties.

some councils do, some with persuasion! look at your county councilwebsite and look for "alternative provision" education. should be a list of schools/ units and stuff.

had a nice chat with admin from my online schooling. ds timetable will be sorted by august/ booklist (we provide). Just paid the enrolment fee , thats it all official! induction mid august and term starts 2nd sept!!!!!

no uniform to buy for sept feels very weird, but that money will now pay for ds books (english mainly) ready for term. ds will be the first in our families to not attend state school. when i think of people paying school fees, i think of posh people. we are not posh lol!

Do you think in the long run it might work out equal/cheaper than paying for uniform, equipment, lunches, buses, school trips etc...

interesting...not sure. ds will be doing english, maths, science, DT, history, geography, french= £260 a month. pay 10 months of the year (not july august).