Starting school with special needs...advice/experiences? Parents, SALT/Teachers too please!

[Aefondkiss]

I just wondered, if any of you have a moment you could share your thoughts/experiences... not just for my benefit but anyone who has been thinking/worrying about this and has a child with SN.

I am thinking that I will enrol my ds for school this week (Scotland). He is 4.7 (no dx, language is "disordered" according toSALT, ASD "traits" according to consultant Paediatrician). DS will be 5.3-ish when he starts school in August, there has been some talk of deferring his start, which would mean he would be in ms nursery another year(I am not keen on the idea of him being 6+ and starting school).

Teachers/SALTs and other carers could maybe have input too? In what things to consider trying to have in place?

Is there anything I can do to prepare ds for starting school?

tia

wish could defer strts here if i do that myds will have go straight to year 1 following year so hes only going be 4 and 6 weeks when goes

sorry can't really help as dd started at the nursery at 3. but good luck

im already started statement so we have the help in place before he goes, my best advice go talk to the schools and take list of questions you have prepared in advance theres a thred in here with idears on ,

DS has similar problems to your DS, and is the same age, he has started school with remarkably little difficulty, partly as it was the same school he went to nursery at. When he started in the nursery he was absolutely fine - even said "nice nursery" when he was getting him dressed the 2nd morning! So hopefully if you find the right school (caring!) the transition will be easier than you think.

Agree with Phoenix about talking the school - ideally to his reception teacher, senco and the head to have a feel for the sort of support they will offer, and how they deal with kids with language problems etc.

I'm in Scotland too but have only just realised I could defer DS1 for another year - I thought the option to defer was only if the child was younger than 5 at school entry but it now seems that I could just defer him til he is 6+. We are still in 'negotitations; to get the right school so a lot depends on that. I would prefer him to start school but it would have to be the right one. You don't get statements in Scotland - it's a Co ordinated Support Plan - these are quite new (since 2004) and their legal enforceability is not that clear.

if you defer in scotland do they go into recption with younger kids or do they have go straight into class with their own age peer group , just curious s i love to defer my sons place

they would go into the scottish equivalent of reception, which is P1. I've heard that it's a bit harder than English reception, not sure how true that is.

There isn't a reception year - it's just P1. A friend who has had children in both systems said that P1 was more advanced than Reception - but that's just one person's opinion.

Hi there, my ds 4.5 started school last Monday and hates it already. He is on the action plus register, but nothing is in place yet. He has modulation disorer, a sensory disorder.

I niavely thought when the OT told me she had passed on all the info to the SENCO that they had been informed in writing of what he needs might be. I also thought that everyone would be aware of what to expect.

I was so wrong, passing on the info involved a phone call to the SENCO, which probably went in one ear and out the other. I began to suspect this, when the SENCO advised me to let him stay for school dinners as they 'always have something on the menu for fussy eaters' he basically eats chocolate spreads sandwiches and has done for the last 4 years!

My only advice, never assume, double check

in reception here there ment to have aaround 100 sounds and 50 or 0 sight reading words be able work with numbers 1 -10 as well lol sounds be intresting mine has erm grunt , laugh squeals nd scream which can all be very loud be ear defenders all round in school

It was Claw3's experience that made me want to start this thread.(how has your ds got on today Claw?)

my ds is at ms pre-school nursery, since August after his 3rd birthday.

He does have an IEP. early years support teacher, and one to one support, when he is at nursery and salt (though she has stepped back atm, looking to start a course out of school after Easter,or possibly when he starts school).

I will be having a meeting in March with the school which will be to discuss his progress and discuss the transition from nursery to P1. (this will involve ed psych, SALT, early years support and the school and teachers involved)...SALT did say P1 will be much tougher for him than nursery.

I feel like I go into these meetings without an idea about what I should ask/expect, hope for.

Cyber I hadn't heard of Co ordinated Support Plan (though it sounds like my ds is getting co-ordinated support....)

Phoenix, I am fairly certain ds would start in P1 at 6 if we deferred...

I think the school is pretty good, suppose it is a wee bit different in Scotland, I am lucky that ds has good support, was just wondering what concerns others have, about starting school.

What are the arguments for deferring?

Totalchaos that is good to hear, did your ds get one to one support from the start?

Hi

I think we may have a similar system here in Northern Ireland. DS2 has a dx of autism but didn't when we switched from pre-school nursery to P1 (he was 4.7).

I'm not sure how relevant my experiences is because he went straight into a specialist S&L unit attached to a mainstream school. So his classroom was set up to manage children with autism, timelines - everything very visual, traffic light system on each desk. Only 11 other pupils - that sort of thing.

However, he did find this a big jump and we did get behaviours (kicking, biting other children) difficulty getting him to co-operate with rules, etc. It was quite stressful for him. HOwever, he was statemented and we were kept informed with his little 'homework' diary of any concerns.

I think we found the most important thing being communication - not assuming that the school 'know' everything and speaking directly to his teacher if we had any concerns.

We have also recently had a change of unit which he will now attend from P4 - P7 - this transition was much easier. The same systems were in place but he is also a little bit more mature - classes are smaller.

You know your child better than anyone

We brought DS2 to see his school just before he started in September and were able to show him his classroom again, etc and I think that helped.

Afondkiss - He seems to come home from school happy enough, its just getting him there in the mornings. He is still not eating much lunch, which would suggest that perhaps he is not feeling too relaxed at lunchtimes.

I keep telling myself give it time, give it time. Thats easier said than done, as i know the slightest thing could put him off.

Im sure given time, he will adjust. Thank you very much for asking, must dash i have a date with a 200 piece jigsaw puzzle and a 4 year old, yipee

Aefond - no 1-1 support at all! My city LEA is particularly tightfisted overstretched - so no chance of 1-1 without statement, and bog all chance of a statement atm. DS is sociable and keen to please in school, and manages extremely well despite the language problems due to the structured nature of the setting, and high staff ratios - there are always 3 or 4 adults and just over 20 children. DS's school is in a deprived area so that also makes a difference in that they are not mainly used to dealing with high fliers.

In general - I would in conjunction with nursery - consider what sensory/routine things might bother him - e.g. would he be OK sitting in a hall with others for lunch, would he be OK sitting down for story time, would he need a visual timetable with plenty of advance warning for change of activity, would he need prompting to eat at lunch time/to go to toilet etc.

oh and something very basic but important! if he has any problems understanding language/instructions , make that clear to his class teacher.

Helensmelons it is good to read about different schools and the way they help.

Small class size would be lovely. What does a timeline look like and can you tell me about traffic lights?

I will keep the communication thing in my mind, I want to support the school as well as my ds.

Claw I hope your ds does get the recognition of his needs and the proper support.... did you complete the jigsaw?

Totalchaos I was a bit when I read your ds isn't getting one to one but it sounds like he is getting his needs met?

I am thinking about what you have said about sensory issues, wondering if some kind of special cushion might help my ds sit ?(he is a bit of a fidget, but he can sit for a wee while) I need to think of things that might help.

The nursery are quite good at transitions, or were, had a visual timetable in place and were using a sand timer for him, not sure how well that is going, maybe I should ask, I never want to bother them, which is, I know, silly.

I think I could do with making a list of ideas and questions for the next meeting.

joys of postcode health services isn't it - our boys are a similar age and have similar issues - but all along the line your boy has (from what I can gather from your posts) had a lot more input/support. At the moment his needs are being met - more by sheer luck in choice of school - than by any conscious effort by the health pros. Hopefully next academic year - new class - will go as well, but I am already a little twitchy.

I would assume that nothing will be in place unless you ensure it is. ( Sorry my experence was awful and I have learnt to distrust professionals and education providers as a result)Make sure you speak to all the staff who will help/teach your child and ask to be copied into letters (so you know they have been sent and what hasnt been said so you know what gaps to cover). Obviously do this nicely!

I'm in Scotland.
Quick hello to everyone, feel like a stalker 'cos been right back there in the archives.

My son is autistic, have to register for school(primary,scotland) THIS WEEK...

specialist autistic unit advises small class size & nurture class/room.

Not easy, eh...?

Afondkiss - Oh yes we have completing the puzzle, again and again and again! He is sensory seeking and constantly seeks input, like a little robot

Are you having problems with your ds sitting still? what sensory problems does he have?

and Hi Colourist, do you have any schools with small class size in your area? Does such a thing exist!

claw3,

Thought I'd cracked it, small class & nurture room available. Class size around 17....(in past)
Maybe not so small class guaranteed & nurture room available. School in question may have less than necessary for two intake classes. Could lead to bigger class & composite class.
But, still nuture room is there.
Going to hope it works out.

School in question has at least 100 less pupils than nearest for registration, why I need placement for my autistic son.

To quantify... school to register at... 370 pupils

Placement request school.... 270 pupils (& nurture room in situ).

My autistic son did not 'cope' in a small overcrowded nursery with 70 kids.(as bad as u can imagine)

I strive on...