School support for girl with possible asd

[Mrsrosetta]

Bear with me, this may be long.
My dd is 8 years old and is on the waiting list for an asd assessment.
School support this and presume she will get a diagnosis. Before summer she was on a sen plan with one point saying delayed start to school, 9am and to be met with a ta and taken to calm down before going in to the classroom. As you can gather from that, the one thing she struggles with loads is going into school. Gets very upset, in the past has been held by teachers to stop her running away. As she is has gotten older she is able to tell us about all the sensory difficulties she has. Doesn’t like crowds, noises, also doesn’t like people walking behind her too plus getting her clothes on before leaving is also hard as everything is itchy and scratchy.
Had all the late arrangements confirmed before summer then just before school starts back, they say she needs to be in the same time as everyone else, she needs to walk herself in the playground.
Do I stand anywhere with pushing for a late start? As of yet she has no diagnosis or echp.
The morning is really the only massive help she needs as she masks at school mostly and lets it all out at home.
Does anyone have any ideas I could ask for?

Ahh no paragraphs

You can apply for an EHCNA yourself, IPSEA have a model letter you can use. I suggest you do apply.

You say mornings are the only time DD needs help, but that's unlikely to be true. The morning meltdowns, masking and holding it together at school/exploding at home are signs of unmet needs at school.

Has DD had a sensory OT assessment? In some areas sensory OT assessments are available on the NHS and you can sometimes self refer. If you do apply for an EHCP OT assessments can be part of the needs assessment.

Have you got it in writing why the school are no longer willing to make reasonable adjustments? Would an earlier start help? The school are more likely to agree to this than a later start. Would going in a quieter entrance help, even if it was at the normal time? Does DD use ear defenders or noise cancelling headphones?

Thank you that’s all very helpful. I was told to wait till nearer to secondary for the echp but think I’ll look into it ASAP.

Your right she does struggle with lots of aspects of the school day, lots of sensory issues. She is also very anxious about what’s going to happen next etc. Likes to know what’s going on.

We are waiting to see an ot but that’s for motor skills I think.

I haven’t got it in writing as it was all said verbally to me unexpectedly in front of dd. I’ll email on Monday for confirmation but will suggest earlier time instead as that would work as well, she just doesn’t like walking with lots of people and going in at the same time.

She won’t wear headphones at the moment but that is something we could work on even just on the way to school and not in the classroom.

Thanks again, lots for me to think about and you have helped me organise my thoughts.

Don't listen to anyone deterring you from applying for an EHCNA. The bar for a needs assessment is relatively low, and if you have to appeal, potentially more than once, the process could be over a year.

Follow up all verbal conversations with emails so you have a paper trail, you never know when it will be useful as evidence.

The school could help by providing DD with a timetable. Even simple things like a visual timetable and now and next board could help.

The school had suggested a visual timetable so hopefully that will be put in place soon.

Thanks again