High school problems

[Lorr123]

Hi, my son has just started high school in September he has ADHD, social communication difficulties and anxiety.
he is being refused a time out pass to self regulate and take a few minutes and a toilet pass. He is getting into trouble a fair bit and I think it’s because he’s not getting time out like he did at primary school. His anxiety makes him want to go to the toilet, they don’t get long breaks and we travel a long way to school. He is using the breaks he gets to burn off his excess energy and not going to the toilet. He doesn’t eat lunch either as the queue is so long it takes up his whole break.
None of his professionals will provide a letter supporting this, I got one from the GP on the schools recommendation but the GP has just put ‘ child’s mum wishes him to have a toilet pass and time out pass’ and not mentioning any of his issues or his professional opinion, Any advice please?

Who have you spoken to at the school about this? Ask for a meeting with the SENCO to start with if you haven't met them already. He probably won't be allowed to just wander the corridors but there should be something they can put in place for him.
If the queue is too long for him to manage to get lunch then it might be best for him to take a packed lunch.
Secondary school is very different from primary isn't it!

Have you spoken to the SENCO? Did the primary school speak to the secondary as part of the a transition process? Does DS have a SEN Support plan (e.g. an IEP or whatever the school calls their plans)? I presume DS doesn’t have an EHCP?

The school must make reasonable adjustments and make their best endeavours to meet DS’s SEN.

I second a packed lunch. Has the school got a lunch club? I also agree there needs to be a plan if DS was to have a time out pass - where would he go, who would supervise, what would he do. If you can make suggestions to the school they are more likely to agree.

I’ve spoken to the senco and head of year a number of times and yes he takes snacks with him

No he doesn’t have an EHCP. I’ve had a meeting with head of year as things were even worse. He was getting in trouble for ADHD related things like fidgetting every day. I’m just not sure they are accepting anxiety as a medical need and with the GPS letter being so vague, it seems one battle after another

Can DS take a proper packed lunch rather than snacks? Speak to the SENCO again, follow up with an email. If that doesn’t work speak to the HT or the member of SLT responsible for SEN. Is DS on medication?

Hi yes he’s in medication so doesn’t eat that much during the day. What is HT and SLT thank you

Sounds like a medication review is needed. HT is head teacher and SLT is senior leadership team.

Ok I will thanks. I spoke to CAHMS to see if medication needed a review but when I told them DS is not getting any time out they said it’s more likely that but won’t do me a letter to support it