No suitable school for my 6 year old!

[daisy5678]

J's got autism and ADHD and is currently in a mainstream school with 100% one-to-one support. This is usually adequate except in meltdown mode when he gets very very violent and it takes 2 members of staff to restrain him. Next year, for various reorganisational reasons, there will not be another member of staff available to help my son's TA restrain him and there will also be nowhere to do it.

So he will hurt his TA (as one person is not enough) and will then repeatedly get excluded until he has to be removed from the school.

Now the LEA could pay for a second TA (and pigs might fly) or J could go to a special school.

I would be reluctant to do this for 2 reasons: 1) he often functions very well in m/s - has moved on socially when calm and doing very very well academically.

2. There is NOWHERE . There's an EBD school that would be OK for primary (but hardly ideal) but then he'd be trapped in special forever and the secondary EBD school is just awful.

Apart from that, there's the ASD school, but that basically caters for non-verbal children and a life skills and J is really really verbal. There are no schools within 90 mins drive of here that cater for AS/ HFA (though his dx is officially autism, I know he's v high functioning in many areas)

So what the bleep do I do?

Do I push for 2:1 support, push the LEA to make him a little padded room at the school that they can put him in (which would be better than being restrained and safe for the staff) or what???

Is there an independant school in your county or in the next county?
If not, I would force the lea to provide another lsa, they can always find the funds. They are lying to you.
If not they have got enough time to train someone.
Or you can find someone, and force them to pay.
Sorry, you have probably thought of all these alternatives already. I could be in this situation soon, if my 5 year old doesn't calm down .
Horrible situation!
take care.
x

sorry to hear about your problems with J's schooling. I think if not a little padded room some sort of sensory area or quiet area for J would be good for when it's getting too much for him, to hopefully avert meltdown.

We're in practically the same situation with my DS. He's 9 with AS.
He's in mainstream part time with 1:1 support.
He manages well alot of the time, but also becomes very violent when he has a meltdown. He's hurt staff before, and they simply cannot cope with him when he will not do what the ask him.
He's been excluded numerous times for his behaviour, and is under threat of permanent exclusion.
The only other place for him locally is EBD, which is a horrible school, and everyone (including the LEA) agree is not a suitable placement. The only specialist places for autism are for non-verbal low functioning autistic kids - which DS is completely the oposite of.
I've been looking around on the internet for other independant schools, but the only option is residential. The school looks fantastic but I'm undecided as to if this would be an option for us. And getting the lEA to pay for it would be another story too!!

I know someone who had 2:1 (ie 2 support workers) until a special school place became available. It's not really ideal though as a long term measure.

It would be worth looking at independent mainstream and special schools. Just to examine all options.

Don't suppose you have already had AR? If it's coming up you could get school and ed psych to report that his needs have changed and he now requires 2:1 written into his statement. You could get independent ed psych report if you're feeling rich if LEA are unwilling to support and ed psych is flanneling... then I would be finding a solicitor, talking to IPSEA, etc etc. Don't be afraid to use the system to help you. Are you in touch with your local 'education otherwise' team - do you have a local unit for children who have been excluded that you could visit in advance (obv the main aim is to prevent this!)? Sometimes you can find a sympathetic member of staff at the unit that will give you a few ideas of how to avoid the seemingly unavoidable spiral.
A friend of mine has had her 9 yo at home since christmas for this very reason - and finally the LEA are seeing sense, but it's really important to discuss it with everyone now, put your concerns in writing, keep copies, and hope that you can find a way to avoid exclusion.
On a slightly diff topic - do you get respite? is it 1:1 or 2:1? SS refused to provide respite unless it was 2:1 and this can also be used to back up your argument...
My friend's son was in ms, and they dropped one of the LSAs - she removed him from school as it was not safe for him or the other children and initially the school did not back her up and said they could cope - that's why she had such a drama - in the end the school have admitted that they couldn't cope unless 2:1 in place, so it is all being sorted - he has a safe space that use, and a separate teaching environment if it becomes necessary...

Thank you all for responding. The nearest suitable school is 90 mins away and I can't contemplate residential yet - or hopefully ever - especially when he has periods of real success in mainstream.

They have already said that they won't provide a second LSA - but I'm guessing they'd force an inadequate special school on me as alternative to that OR I could go to Tribunal where I'd probably win but would take months. The LEA have already admitted there's nowhere really suitable (only verbally though) if mainstream fails.

The risk assessment from the school calls for full-time supervision - which he has - but about 4-8 times a week, he needs the second person to help his TA when he has a meltdown. This is always available , but next year won't be, and the space currently used for this won't be either. So it's not so much that the needs have changed, but the (unofficial) provision to meet those needs won't be.

HT raised this in Feb at the review and asked for 2:1 support and a room/ space to be built by the LEA, who just laughed at him .

SS do provide stuff - not respite, cos I didn't want it, but a play worker, but it's just 1:1.

J has another review in June and I will bring it up, but only just won the fight to get full-time one-to-one in writing on the statement (though school have always provided that unofficially too), so unsure about the prospect of going head to head with the LEA to get something that they won't give without a fight OR forcing J into somewhere unsuitable as an alternative.

Think the safe space/ sensory thing might be best to push for. Will push on the basis that it's cheaper than a 2nd TA and cheaper than me suing them for refusing to meet his needs and provide reasonable adjustments under DDA.

Why is it all so difficult ?

Have you seen safespaces?

Some schools have purchased them.

Yes, Yurt - thanks to your website!

I have suggested that - but am assuming that the kids get zipped in (?) and there was lots of muttering about how cruel that would be (cos being restrained by 2 adults is really really nice ) and the OT mentioned how it would make him stand out (because throwing furniture, screaming in a high pitched voice, running out of school and assaulting kids and staff is blending-in type behaviour, isn't it )

But that's what I'm going for. Could be put in a large corridoor corner, or the hall...somewhere anyway...if the LEA agree to fork out 3k for it!

I would assume it would have (indestructible!) sensory equipment in there and the LSA could join in. Although actually being shut briefly in a quiet room calms ds1 and ds3 (NT but prone to meltdowns ) down, so not sure that being shut in is always a bad thing. Better than a continuing meltdown anyway......

That's my theory too. Perhaps best to have nothing in there and then he'll burn out - a bit like a firework!

Now they've just got to agree to fund it...

Hi, just wanted to sympathise, we are in a similar situation in that DS1 (ASD) about to start Reception in Sept and there is nothing appropriate within 90 min drive - we are now gravitating towards home ed. It's so hard isn't it.

Have the TAs/SNAs had proper training, e.g. Team Teach and YOU too?

It's pants. Smelly ones!

The TAs (and ALL staff) have had lots of Team Teach training, but reckon they HAVE to do it 2:1 when restraining (not sure if this is Team Teach policy or just to cover themselves or because he is soooooo strong). They've also had ADHD and ASD training re: challenging behaviour.

I can't fault the school.

The problem is that he's moving key stages and arrangements are different in that part of the school (the Junior bit).

givemesleep, as you know im in the same position with DS. I have just decided that i will fight for the private priory school that is in the next village. Im lucky its there really cos my other option is boarding school over an hour and a half away.

i second pipinjos recommendation of getting school to issue a risk assessment. The MS DS was at did this and on a scale of 1-16 DS scored a 32 and it helped us prove DS did not belong there!!!

Hey Bonkerz, how's things with you? Did you decide against that MS with the unit or will they not accept him? How's the ASD testing coming?

The risk assessment is very clear BUT relies on there being a spare person available at all times - this will not be the case next year.

I genuinely believe that he does belong in mainstream most of the time. Sometimes a whole week will go by without major incident. But as we know, progress in autistic kids is not linear, so it's not like he'll suddenly learn not to be autistic or to have meltdowns. So the psych says we have to see this behaviour as part of his condition. But that means planning for it to happen, not hoping that it won't. And THAT means plans have to be in place!

hi mate,
CAMHS have agreed to do the ADOS test but are struggling to get the equipment BUT have said they will do ADI ir the DISCO test but have to wait for them to get back to me.

LEA on other hand have refused the unit/MS combo as it means changing the admission criteria just for DS which would open the floodgates really. They still think MS is OK alone but we went to see a MS the LEA said would be perfect and head of that MS school is backing us 100% that DS wont cope in MS. going back to panel on 16th June to try and get special school. Got SENDIST on 16th Sept. Have requested the local proiory be named in statement!!! Atleast DS will be at this priory school till GCSE level. Am in smae situation here really cos LEA saying MS but when he moves up in a couple of years the MS will completely dilute the support! Its really crap. Such emphasis has been put on inclusion and yet it is failing our children!!

Maybe now is the right time to OUT the LEAs in a nationwide attack !!!!

Struggling to get the ADOS equipment???? That's weird - either they have it or they don't as it's a standard pack that anyone who's ADOS-trained has to have.

Can he go to the nice m/s but not be in the unit? Or will that not work?

I can see why you want the Priory though - they are great schools.

When's the Tribunal?

Sorry, didn't mean whe's the Tribunal - when's the panel decision? Will they give it to you that day or make you wait weeks? Would be nice for all concerned to know where B would be going in Sept before the school year ends.

How's the PRU coping at the mo?

PRU not coping really as they are letting DS just roam when he is having a meltdown. He has a new target at the moment which is to tell someone before he leaves the room!!! He has made no development there in 6 months and they now need him out as its only a tempo place normally for 8-12 weeks MAX!!!
there is someone at CAMHS who is trained in ADOS test BUT they dont offer it as standard hence trying to get equipment to do it!

16th June is panel to decide if MS or special and will find out normally day after. then it will go back to panel on 30th June to request priory which i have no doubt they will turn down!! I have done it really to force them into looking into a special school in warwickshire which is 16 miles away so could be done on a day basis BUt its a school who have many partially sighted children which could mean DS would be too much of a riskj there! Like oyu there is NOTHING else except boarding school or priory!

Still maintain perfect solution would be to get DS into the MS with UNit attached and let DS have MS for the lessons and peer group and then have LSA from Unit as well as access to Unit for time out and general routine issues. This would be perfect for DS but would mean changing admission criteria and that would not be an option for LEA as it would mean lots of other people requesting it too!!! HAve outlined all these choices to head SENA bloke though so you never knw!

I know nothing about this but wanted to try and help. Could you pay for a private support person for your son?

Also, is it a child's right to have the schooling they need?

I think that every child has the right to an education. Givemesleeps DS struggles in MS without having support.
My own DS cannot function in MS without support and TBH its not about my DS having lots of help and getting a better education its more about ensuring that my son gets 'A' education and that he can be safe. When my son has a meltdown he is not safe in MS, he needs restraining to ensure his own safety, he also needs moving to somewhere that ensures he is safe and not causing disruption. My son is a health and safety risk in MS without support. The LEA need to provide adaquate support for children like my DS to ensure they are safe and having as little impact on the school and the other pupils as possible.

It's supposedly a right, but they balance it against the cost to the public. You can see why someone might prefer my J to go to a special school at 15k a year, say, than to have 2 full time TAs which would be around 22k. But, to me, I want mainstream, so the cost-effective thing is irrelevant to me.

I suppose, in one way, it's good that there're people looking after where out tax is spent, but NOT when they're actively damaging a child's chances.

I could not possibly afford to pay for a private person - things are tight as are - but LEA can afford it (but won't want to ).

J's reasons for needing support are the same as Bonkerz's sons - he's v v bright but unsafe, even with 1:1 support, especially as he gets older. I don't rate my chances of getting him all the way through school in mainstream, esp. as he gets bigger and stronger.

But it's what I want for him for now.

NAB - children have the right to an "appropriate" educational.