Mainstream secondary school, autism, success stories?!

[Kage30]

Please help reassure me. I know every school, every child, every child on the spectrum will be different.

Ds is 11, diagnosed with asd aged 5. He has an EHCP. He has no behavioural issues at school but has had 1:1 provision for learning support (significant learning delays), help with his speech, emotional support etc. He has some a long way but still has significant delays in speech and academically. He is quite sociable and enjoys being around both adults and children. Generally coped fine in mainstream primary but probably wouldn't have without support.

He's off to secondary in September. I put a local mainstream school on his EHCP last year as it seems like a great school after speaking to them and other parents (visits not happened due to covid though!). Most of his current classmates will be going here too. I thought he would be fine in mainstream, but now I'm seriously doubting myself but knowing it's proably too late to change by September 😪

He's become very anxious lately. His behaviour challenging and he's regressed in many areas.

Plus there really isn't much sen provision near us. There are 2 sen schools 20 miles away which are at capacity and are usually for children with the most complex needs. There are 2 ARB units within a 15 mile drive but haven't heard good things about them!

But please tell me your success stories with mainstream secondary after primary?! Help me feel a little better!

My biggest concern is how far behind he is academically. Is most lessons based on ability at secondary? Or is it mixed ability? He never took much notice of what work he was doing until recently. He's really starting to notice he is struggling a lot compared to his peers!

Have you spoken to the Senco at his new secondary school? If not, I would be phoning/emailing them now. Hopefully they will be able to reassure you about some of the things you're understandably anxious about.

My Ds has ASD and is Yr7 now so I know exactly what you're going through. I had months where I would wake up at 4am having panic attacks. My DS is in an autism resource unit but he goes to almost all the mainstream classes with 1 to 2 support.

He has amazed me. He tells me he prefers secondary to primary. He likes the fact that he's doing different lessons and it's not hours of maths or english. They do cool stuff like science experiments and they've made a maze in woodwork.
He can be more anonymous in secondary school as it's so large. There are all sorts of clubs too like coding, basketball etc so you're more likely to meet children with similar interests. He also tells me the lunches are better!

In my DC's school, they stream the children for only maths and english in Yr7 but all schools do things differently. They have 'nurture' classes in these subjects for Dc who are struggling for various reasons. These classes tend to be smaller. I would also say that in a large comprehensive, there will be a huge range of abilities anyway and teachers will be used to that.

His school also has clubs at lunchtimes so if he struggles with unstructured times hopefully there will be something in place. My Ds can also go to the library.

My Ds was given the opportunity to visit his new secondary more than just once before he started because he had an EHCP so it would definitely be worth asking about that. He visited with his LSA from primary a couple of times. She took some photos for a social story book which helped.

In terms of your Ds's EHCP, does it quantify and specify the type of support he must get?

I have a DS with ASD as well and he absolutely loves secondary. He has a full time 1-1 and also is free to go visit the sen resource base whenever he gets a bit overwhelmed, which helps a lot.
His school is totally mixed ability in Yr7 though they set for maths and English in yr8.
I would echo getting in touch with the Senco - ours let DS have a couple of visits to the school even though they were cancelled last year and it really did help. His (and my) anxiety was really high last year too.

DS3 is doing amazingly well in mainstream secondary. There have been bumps along the road but the school are on the ball and nothing is too much trouble. Like Toomanyminifig’s DS, DS3 had an enhanced transition with weekly visits with his primary 1:1 and a transition day over the summer.

Class arrangements and setting are different in different schools. Some set for everything, some nothing, some stream rather than set, some have a diamond arrangement, some set for some subjects and not for others. If you are worried about this speak to the school.

Hi,
I am in the same situation where my DS has a diagnosis of ASD and ADHD. He is due to move up to Secondary in September and I already feel sick with anxiety about it. I had a meeting with the SENCO but it didn't really do much to alleviate my worries. Felt there wasn't going to be that much help on offer for DS. I have looked at an Autism support base within another school near by, but didn't apply as felt DS would never forgive me if he didn't get a chance to go with his friends to the mainstream one near us. I am already dreading September and feel like I can't look forward to the end of the year or make plans as I have no idea what state my DS will be in by then, so totally understand how you feel! It is good to read others experiences that are positive and gives me a little hope.

Felt there wasn't going to be that much help on offer for DS.

nutleywombat Does DS have an EHCP (your mention of an ARP makes me think so, but I wanted to check)? If so, the provision DS needs should be specified and quantified in section F and therefore it must be provided, and you can enforce it if necessary.

Hi, we are currently applying for and EHCP, but it's taken a bit of chasing of the SENCO for her to send it off. The SENCO at the High School made a comment about once DS has it that he would check the support in it and mumbled about if they couldn't provide it then another school night be an option. So wasn't filled with reassurance!

nutleywombat you can apply for an EHCNA yourself, you don’t need to wait for the school.

The SENCO should know that the provision specified and quantified in section F of EHCPs isn’t optional to deliver and there are limited reasons the LA can refuse to name your preferred school even if the school raise objections.

Following this thread with interest.

DS2 is 11 & has inattentive ADHD & autism, diagnosed yesterday! Has had a full (32.5 hours 1:1 support) EHCP in place since reception. He is due to move up to senior school in September. We have put him down for his brother's MS school & he has been accepted.

We're honestly not sure if he'll cope, but hoping he will. He has proved us wrong at every turn so far. The secondary school are aware of his needs & have accepted him. His main issue is not being able to start on a task independently. Once working he is generally ok. Socially has no friends but not bothered by this, will sometimes play with others. No behavioural issues at school (odd meltdown at home).

These are scary times but we feel we would be letting him down if we didn't try. Reassuring to hear other success stories.