Help schools a nightmare wont stay in the classroom like two different children in one

[Kazann]

Hi i am a new to mumsnet my daughter is nearly 7 had an awful reception year at school was referred to a nurture unit for a year where things really calmed down and has just gone back into mainstream in september so this is her 3rd year in a different school she has a statement 15 hours a week for social and communication problems and she has absence epilepsy I know its early days but she is not settling in her new school at all last week was particularly bad she bit a teacher and kicked her helper sometimes she is aware of what she is doing somtimes she is not she is like two different people as if some one comes along and switches a switch on and off she gets very frustrated and angry and has a very short attention span somedays she runs around the school annd doesnt stay in the classroom at all so consequently is not learning alot she is quite sensory smells things does not like loud noises and doesent eat particularly well as she doesnt like the feel or tastes of lots of foods we are thinking of getting her tested for autism has anyone got any help or advice they can give or a child who sounds similar look forward to hearing from you.

bumping this for you...i cannot post now...but hopefully someone else will...i'll be back later!

Hi, it is early days and quite a big change and great you have a statement. My ds was a bit like this in mainstream, particularly the anger and frustration. Gradually he spent less and less time in the classroom which meant when he was there he didn't know what to do and was disruptive, they need to keep her in class as much as poss. Does she have things like visual timetables she can check so she knows where she is supposed to be and what she is supposed to be doing at all times. Someone once suggested that my ds had a cushion to sit on for carpet time so he knew where he was supposed to be sitting and had to try and stay on it (limited success!) My ds goes to a different (special) school now but could probably have coped in mainstream if the school had been more helpful. (He got ASD dx at 5 - he has similar food issues to your dd). Sorry bit rambly...

I think it?s worth getting some further testing done, yes. The lack of awareness of appropriate behaviour and the sensory things could be a sign of an ASD, but we can?t say for sure and it could be other things.

I?d try treating her as if she?s on the autistic spectrum and see if it helps: Really clear instructions in advance for everything, very clear language, see if the classrooms can be free of flickering lights and sudden sounds wherever possible (including LED screens on the computers, which to us can flicker like flash photography), and try very visual ways to explain ? pictures rather than words. Clothing: We can be driven to absolute distraction by clothing that is too tight, or rubs, or has uncomfortable seams, and we can?t even work out why we?re angry about it until it stops. Social interaction: Do helpers/family try to make eye contact and random social conversation ? is her behaviour better or worse as a result of this? Does she have particular routines she can?t stop doing without some sort of meltdown?

Hi Kazann and welcome!
I have a son of nearly 9 who had a difficult time in ms - it brought out the worst in him and he was very unhappy and learnt very little also. He is now in a special school for children with learning disability and asd. He is happy there, making progress and now a mostly gentle child - well gentle by intention anyway - his hugging can be a bit over the top!!
Is your daughter seeing a developmental paediatrician or other specialist (eg psychiatrist)with expertise in autism/asd? If not (community paeds are not always confident with pervasive developmental disorders)I would suggest going to the gp for a referral to specifically consider asd. ( As an ordinary mum I do not know ofcours if your dd has asd but it sounds like an expert opinion is wise)
It sounds like your daughter did well in a small unit but is struggling with the rough and tumble of ms. It is early days ofcourse 3-4 weeks into term is typically when difficulties show up. Firstly are the school implementing her statement and have put everything into place that should be in place. Are there additional things they could do to help support her - such as helping her know the routine/timetable, warning her of changes, reducing noise, supporting her socially at breaks, having a quiet calmdown place to go if that is needed and a means to be allowed to go there.
Work out if you can what has triggered each incident, and see if you can help sort out how to help. As she has a statement for social and communication difficulties, can the school get advice from the local asd support unit?
Do you know about the NAS? www.NAS.org.uk The website is helpful and they have helplines including an education advocacy service (0845-070-4002) they helped me (before my son got his Dx of autism). They run courses (for instance in anger management) but only to parents of diagnosed children.
There are lots of parents on here with children who struggle at school for all sorts of reasons- others will be along soon I am sure.

Hello everyone great to hear from you all your infomation and advice is realy helpful and appreciated suddenly I don't feel so alone unfortunately family members are not very understanding at all which makes life difficult as we don't get much support from the people we need it from most.
School are being realy helpful though i don't think they have had much experience of children with these problems I will suggest the visual timetable and see what they think the TA has had 3 years experience with a child with aspergers so i am hoping she will connect with my dd they are keeping me informed of everything that is happening and meetings with outside people are due to take place.
I am definately going to go ahead with futher testing as i have felt for some time there is more going on i have 3 older children that have had none of these problems and as a parent you just know.
I am going to look up some more info on ASD and will also look on the NAS website. Every day is a new day some are good some are bad but chatting to you all has really helped thank you so much speak to you again soon