Getting DS to visit new school

[EilonwyWithRedGoldHair]

DS9 has been school refusing since July last year. A lot of effort was made to get him to return to school by us, the ALNCo and the Engagement and Inclusion Teams, but his anxiety around meeting his former classmates is too great - he cannot cope with seeing or being seen by them.

He's on the waiting list for assessment for ASD.

A place has been found for DS at a small unit based in different school. We've visited it once outside of school hours and DS was ok with that, but he is not happy to go back while the other children are there. Any ideas on how we can persuade him to go woulds be great - incentives tend not to work with DS as the anxiety and conflict over wanting something but having to do something he doesn't want to get it triggers a meltdown.

Start the transition slowly. Would staff from the unit visit DS at home. Do some work with him at home. Then DS visit the unit over several days when DC aren’t there. Then attend with you when other pupils are in the building but not where DS is going. And so on.

Unfortunately ultimately some DC can’t attend a mainstream school even with a unit, or even attend a school setting at all.

Does DS have an IDP (assuming you are in Wales)? Is DS receiving therapies?

This is the slow transition they have planned. Visit without children, which we've done, next visit at the end of the day when the other children - there's six of them - are playing board games, with one of the engagement team present as he really likes her.

Whatever we do with the adults, it's always going to be the other children who are a problem, I think.

I've lost track of what's happening with the IDP, I'll chase that up. DS was seeing a therapist last year, but it was only six sessions and he refused to go to two. Currently attending a group once a week that's supposed to help him manage his emotions better. We've had a social worker round for an assessment for support a week or so ago.

The school have put a lot of work in and managed to get him bumped up the list for assessment, so hopefully the wait won't be too much longer.

Their plan moves too fast for DS. One visit isn’t enough for a child who has been out of school. They need to move much more slowly. If DS becomes more comfortable with the staff and surroundings it will help when meeting the other pupils when he is ready.

Therapies can be included in IDPs without a limit to the number of sessions or sitting on waiting lists. The therapies need adjusting so DS can engage.