Auties transition to Year 1 - thread 3

[LightTripper]

This is the continuation of the thread for parents and carers of autistic children in reception year at school, going into Year 1 in the autumn. All welcome (also parents with older or younger children who want to ask questions or share their wisdom!)

Welcome!

We’re going to need a new thread soon! A Christmas thread 🎄🎅🏻☃️

Ohhh to Christmas thread! [santa]

Swede I'm sorry to hear they were dismissive. I'm not sure why this is, but it's common. In reception last year we fought hard to just get a basic meeting. Teacher honestly couldn't see any of our concerns. Then SALT said she thought DS had autism. Still bafflement from teacher. Then a few weeks later the teacher suddenly witnessed DS in a meltdown, and she changed her mind pretty much straight away.

I think the defensiveness can be teachers fearing criticism about their ability to differentiate their teaching and look after the needs of 30 kids (clearly this is impossible, even without any additional needs in the class).

Also, it's about budget. If they don't acknowledge a need, they don't have to provide a remedy (TA to support with areas of need).

Well done for typing up notes. When you send them to senco it would be worth noting that you've taken her to GP who immediately asked DD about her feelings around school and that UTI has been ruled out.

Don't be discouraged, you will need to keep pushing school by sounds of it, but you're on right track.

Thank you Mapland I felt a bit down about it all earlier but have typed up notes and am set to keep on pushing for support.

I think I will also see if I can speak to some on the Early Years team at the LA next week. We had an excellent point of contact who went into nursery several times last year and came up with recommendations for support but unfortunately she us now on maternity leave and no idea who is covering.

Sounds like a good plan. Hopefully the SENCO will talk the teacher round/get them up to speed in time.

The podcast with Jamie and Robyn Steward (who wrote the recent book about autism and periods) is really good (I mean, I've only listened to one episode so far but it was great and I'm looking forward to the rest!)
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06sdq0x

Light is that a new series or the original one? I listened to a few of those but can’t remember if I listened to them all.

I wonder if his support workers are funded or private. It doesn’t seem common on MN to have a full time carer funded by the LA?

I’m not sure if I mentioned that I watched the 3rd season of Atypical? I really enjoyed it, I think Keir Gilchrist is so good.

Little it’s only natural to feel down after such a meeting. It’s great you’ve had the weekend to process it before school starts again tomorrow. Good plan to try and speak to LA SENCO person.

I don’t know why some schools are so resistant to working with parents as a team, surely it is completely counter productive?

MapLand how is the morning routine going?

Harley how are things with you?

I hope things are going well for everyone.

Ds has resumed his normal wake-up time - 4:45 the last two mornings. Dh is working away for most of next week so hopefully it won’t get any earlier!

I’ve started reading Calmer, easier, happier parenting after seeing someone mention it the other day. Ready to implement Descriptive Praise. I try to do this but am not specific enough so I’m trying to be now. The book says to work on this for two weeks before reading the next chapter so I’m trying not to read on. Ironically, a friend gave me Calmer, easier, happier boys a few years ago but I’ve not yet read it. I’ll pull it out to see how similar it is. The book claims the techniques work with SN children so we’ll see. I’m truth we don’t have huge behavioural issues most of the time but we do have some and this book is also about changing your own behaviours and preventing issues rather than firefighting.

Went to a birthday party for someone in DS's class today and he seemed to really enjoy himself. He was muttering to himself a lot, talking himself through scenarios, but he actually bounced on a bouncy castle properly for the first time! He has no chill factor though so bounced until he was beetroot red and we had to call him over for a drink! Then later he kept shouting 'we are reception and we love to learn', which he what he should have said at the sharing assembly bit got too overwhelmed by all the people. We have another meeting with the school teacher and senco on Tues. I do think a lot of it is processing time and sensory overload.

@openupmyeagereyes we are muddling though. Ds managed kne day and then 1 1/2 hours one day at school. Hes only wetting now on school days or high stress days like Saturday when he had a party to go to somewhere new. We have a meeting with school tomorrow and they still don't really understand. The biggest issue for him at the moment is people keep grabbing him in school like the librian was asked to take him to get his coat on friday and she grabbed his arm and walked him down the corridor he doesn't like it.
He also made a poppy using a paper plate at kids club on monday he took it into school tuesday and they asked him to tell the class how he had made it the proceeded to have a conversation about how he could have done it better why can't they just say well done!

I think it's probably the original one open there's only about 5 episodes. I have been trying to listen to more but work is crazy and I keep falling asleep - hopefully this week!

Re: the carer funding, apparently it is from something called a Social Care Budget? Sounds like he manages it himself so can focus on what he needs and gets 15 waking hours per week:
network.autism.org.uk/knowledge/insight-opinion/how-i-use-my-social-care-budget

Sorry about your early starts ... that hour really makes a difference.

That sounds really cute with your DS doing his line a bit late Lottie! That's quite a DD thing to do. She's word perfect at home but actually doing it in front of strangers is another matter.

Sorry to hear that school seem to keep passing up great opportunities to build up your DS a bit Harley - must be sooo frustrating!

Lottie well done to your ds for going on a bouncy castle for the first time . They must feel very strange when you’re not used to them as the surface is so unpredictable. It’s a shame he didn’t say his lines at the assembly but he will know what to expect next time so hopefully that will help.

Harley how awful that they critiqued his poppy . Good luck with the meeting today.

Light thanks for linking that article, it was very interesting. It sounds like he has someone overnight too. It’s great he has worked out what works for him and that he’s slowly exploring new things with the help of his safety net. I wonder where his parents fit in.

Ds stirred at 4:15 this morning but then went back to sleep and I had to wake him at 5:15 so he could see dh briefly before he left. I can’t remember the last time I woke him up in the morning, although admittedly I wouldn’t normally need to wake him at that time!

Thanks open feeling better this morning thanks. Sorry about the early mornings again, hope he sleeps a bit better when your DH is away. I'm on the second series of Atypical, go through phases of bibde watching it then leaving it fur a couple of weeks. The book sounds helpful. I think my old Gentle Parenting book has a section on SN children, which probably wasn't relevant when I bought it 4 years ago. Might re visit

How lovely that your DS enjoyed the party Lottie! And that he us enjoying the learning in Reception too. Hope the meeting goes well.

Harley not sure the school should be grabbing students, particularly if they don't like it. Hope meeting goes well today.

Light I wish the school would work with us too. We'll see how today goes. Hope your DD has a good day.

DD went in ok but did grumble a bit about lunchtime. DH and I talked through our plan and I feel that although it won't be a smooth ride, we will go though the proper channels (and be awkward and difficult with school and others if needs be) until we get the right support for DD.

I'm usually a people pleaser and a total door mat but I've got my viking armour/thick skin at the ready now! Next step, call the Communication and Autism Team at the LA.

You can do this Little! I'm usually a complete doormat too but it's amazing what you can do for your child when you need to...

Thanks Light!

Little how did you get on calling the LA?

Things are ticking along here. Ds slept well last night, up at 5:10 which is tolerable. We had a lovely play date yesterday with my friend and her dc and ds has been into school this week without issue so far.

Any ideas for a new thread title?

Sounds like a great start to the week open hope the good sleep continues.

Couldn't get through to the right department yesterday but have a number for the autism team which I can call tomorrow afternoon. DD had a good day yesterday with no before or after school meltdown. Today was ok in the morning but just had a bit of an emotional outburst over something trivial.

Anyone else have a communication book? I just made a note if the after school meltdown in it now but as the teacher was dismissive of meltdowns I'm not sure if it's a waste of time.

Little we have a communication book but it is written in sporadically and only by the TA.

Glad dd is doing better this week, it makes such a difference doesn’t it?

Just made a new thread here - hope the title is OK!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/special_needs/3748449-Primary-school-Auties-into-2020-thread-4?watched=1

Perfect Light, thank you.

Just to say Little I would record the meltdowns whether the teacher is interested or not (you never know, they may get interested if they or you spot a pattern later?) - but then I am an obsessive recorder of things!

Thanks open and Light. Going to opo over to new thread now!

closing the thread