Primary school auties: summer and the new academic year - thread 7

[openupmyeagereyes]

New thread.

This is the continuation of the thread for parents / carers of autistic children / children with additional needs. Most of us are parents of children in year 1 / year 2.

Links to old threads

Thread 1 - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/special_needs/3080753-DS-with-ASD-starting-school-Sept-2018-I-am-feeling-overwhelmed

Thread 2 - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/special_needs/3451020-Reception-auties-2018-19-thread-2

Thread 3 - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/special_needs/3628263-Auties-transition-to-Year-1-thread-3

Thread 4 - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/special_needs/3748449-Primary-school-Auties-into-2020-thread-4

Thread 5 - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/special_needs/3953023-Primary-school-auties-summer-and-beyond-thread-5?pg=1

Thread 6 - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/special_needs/4166833-Primary-school-auties-spring-2021-and-beyond-thread-6?pg=1

dimples I think you mentioned Hit the Button. When your ds started using this how did he work out the answers that he didn't know?

Open I would prompt him a bit, e.g. if it was 9 I would say what is one more than nine, we also counted on, on our fingers and used duplo blocks. He has made a lot of progress. When he first started he got 6-8 correct answers in a minute but now he's trying to beat his score of 17

So we're trying to do number bonds to 20 but his top score on that is 5

Thanks dimples I’m doing the same except the Duplo blocks. He’s not sure about it yet so I do it with him ‘helping’ me

Anyone got any weekend plans? I'm mumsnetting in bed, DS on his kindle in his bed, trying to rouse ourselves to have lunch and go to pick some pumpkins!! DS wouldn't sleep last night til 10 but at least the clocks go back soon right?!

We’ve been swimming this morning. Ds manages a few meters of a thrashing doggie paddle but he only swims under water

liv how did ds do with the transition from 1:1 at his ms school to no 1:1? I’m trying not to worry about it and think up endless scenarios…

I’m going to email his caseworker to confirm the place as we’ve not had an official letter yet. I think inevitably we will take the place as it’s an amazing opportunity for him but we’re collating a list of questions for them. It’s very overtly autistic (not sure how to phrase that better) so we need to discuss that with ds as well as telling him about the move. So much to plan and think about. I’m really not sure how he’s going to take it. I had already told him that we were looking at a different school for him one day when he didn’t want to go in to school.

Magrat that sounds heavenly! I would love to be in bed. We've done our normal Sunday routine. Went to the park, came back and ordered a Nando's (ds obviously won't eat anything so he's having milk and Frosties).

Open it wasn't a problem for ds. The class size is only 6 and they have one teacher and two TAs per class. Also generally there's less stimulation, the class rooms are all painting in a mellow grey/blue colour, there's no pictures on the wall and every space is very calm. The main thing I was worried about when he stopped 1:1 was escaping. But they have pass key locks on all the doors and ther playground is all enclosed. I make it sound like a prison but actually it's wonderful, calm and very safe.

It would be good to have better idea of transition. Do you know when he might start?

liv we have quite a detailed transition plan, including a day where we all go in which will be great.

Magrat we have been pumpkin picking this morning.

This is how many ds thought we were buying 😂

Brilliant.

Open that's great. Sounds like the school are pretty on it

He said he wanted 7 because he is 7 🤣

I bought 4 in the end.

There was a tractor the kids could climb in for a photo, ds got in and thought he was allowed to drive it, he didn’t realise it was only a photo opportunity. Finished off with him having a chocolate apple and came home, he’s on the PlayStation for a bit now.

Today is going far better than yesterday. His behaviour was something else yesterday!

Open I can’t speak on ds behalf because he still has to have 1-1 and sometimes 2-1 in his SS, which you already know, but the other kids that went to mainstream and went to his school all had 1-1 and now manage without. His class teacher told me this.

Ds has periods of playing outside with 1 adult with 3 kids. They are trying to wean him away from the full time support but having to do it really slowly and dependent on ds mood, so do little things like ds playing outdoors with couple of other kids and just 1 adult supervising them etc. I imagine he will always need 1-1 tbh knowing what he’s like but I’d be so happy if he got to the point were he didn’t need that intense level of support.

The classes are small, the rooms are big, and ordinarily ds class is 10 kids, 2 teaching assistants & 2 teachers. So it’s a high staff to pupil ratio.

I’m having to ring CAMHS tomorrow as this medication is fucking ds sleep. I’ve done a few days Promethezine and a few days melatonin and neither is working. He just isn’t tired and it’s 11pm every night before he’s settling on sleep meds and then up again at 5.30/6am.

I’m going to see what they suggest but ideally they might increase the Promethezine as he’s on 10mg and I’ve read he can have 20mg. I’ll suggest that then if no joy increasing sleep meds they may have to change his adhd meds to a non stimulant type.

Also he’s having some really raging tantrums were he turns into Satan himself, which isn’t unusual, but he’s having them more often so I’m going to mention that. Yesterday, I was waiting for red horns to grow from his head, truly awful day.

danni can he drop the last dose of the day? Sounds difficult, I hope you can get the right balance soon. Glad today is going better.

Thanks for the reassurance on 1:1. Escaping is the thing I’m most concerned about.

Ds is not eating today. He won’t tell us why.

@openupmyeagereyes DS had 121 in mainstream but now his class has 1 teacher and 4 or 5 tas for 10 children so they have lots of support. Doors have high automated locking mechanisms and high fenced playground. Sounds awful but actually it's great as it is safe.

@danni0509 hugs

Open I don’t actually give him the 4pm dose, I never have. They gave me the option, they said it might help keep him calm before bed but it was my choice to give it or not, I decided not to because I thought well least he’s medicated for school and a weekend day time.

Sorry about the medication danni. I hope they get it sorted for you. Glad he's having a better day today.

Thanks x

Open has ds eaten yet?

No. I think he had a bad dream last night about food making him sick (after his big last week). Now he’s too worried to eat

Bug not big.

We had a breakthrough at dinner time and he ate about 2/3 of his dinner. Poor thing must have been starving.

limpsfieldgrange.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/PDA-booklet.pdf

Thought I’d share something i am reading this morning, 40 pages on pda. Quite informative.

Open im pleased he had something to eat, does your ds get hangry? Ds mood rapidly falls off a cliff when he’s hungry. Then I try feed him and met with not eating, I don’t want it etc etc. Frustrating.

Taking ds to soft play this afternoon. I can’t be arsed at all but I booked and paid last week. His mood is up and down and I’m not quite sure I’ll survive it but gets us out for a bit, I’m walking him there and back (about 30 mins each way) trying to tire him out….