I need advise on how they are handling my child.

[LuxLuxLux84]

I am unhappy with the way my son is being handled at his autism provision, He's only 5 and I think everyone gets carried away trying to show their skills and techniques and forget they are dealing with a small child. I am unhappy with the level of communication and transparency. I am unhappy with so much but feel like I have to be gracious or they may not be kind to him or tell me that they cannot suddenly meet his needs. I am so depressed - this is not the life or education I wanted for him. I need some support and some advice on what I can demand and what I shouldn't. Help please!

Have you spoken to the school senco about your concerns op?

I am going to speak to them tomorrow. I just feel with ASD no one really knows what they are doing but everyone is desperate to prove that they do!

Yep, that sounds familiar!!
Write down everything you are unhappy with and a list of questions so you don't forget anything.

Does your little one have an ehcp? If so make sure they are providing everything in section F.

Do you have a home school/diary? That's super important.

Ultimately if they aren't meeting his needs there are things you can do. Might be worth speaking to your local sendiass to see if they can offer any advice. They will also attend meetings with you. I've always found this helpful as they will call out any bull then and there.

The school
Home diary is not that helpful
As they just write brief notes on it which are mostly positive waffle. I don’t feel they tell me the stuff I need to know like when he is reprimanded in any way or taken out of a learning session. I am really upset but I feel nervous about complaining because I fought to get him in this unit and there is no where else suitable. Does anyone know anything about “ positive handling” and in what instances it is an acceptable intervention?

Positive handling is basically restraint. If a child is at risk of harming themselves or others it can be used.

If restraint is being used often to me it would be a sign his needs weren't be met. That's why i mentioned his ehcp. Is there enough is there to support him. If not it needs looking at. Everytime restraint is used (a lot of schools use team teech techniques) it has to be logged. I'd be asking to see these. Does he have a behaviour management plan? Has need for restraint been discussed with you?

Do you mean they are restraining him? If they are they should be making reports in writing of each incident. To my mind if a school is regularly having to restrain then it is the wrong setting for that child. Very occasionally it may be necessary but the school should be working out triggers and strategies to avoid this rather than using it as a behaviour management technique. I would expect them to tell you at least verbally if restraint has been used and why but not necessarily give you the written record.

They are doing things like lifting him off the ground when he only wanted to lie on the ground in the playground- two teachers lifted him and it upset him we it would have me were I 5 years old and not doing anything but wanting to
Lie down.