Can anyone please help me?? Got annual review for dd's high school transfer tomorrow and need to put my case across why I don't want dd going to mainstream (she has Aspergers) Amber maybe???

[Blossomhill]

Sorry long title but couldn't think of a shorter one!
I am wracking my brains trying to think of reasons why she shouldn't go to ms asd unit.
Thanks

think of all the ways that the ms asd unit wouldn't fulfil what's set out in her statement? I suppose you'ld focus on the social/sensory issues of being in m/s albeit in a unit. Also - did the asd unit a while back seem to be a bit unwilling to deal with behaviour problems, want kids who would "conform"? just wondering whether hinting if DD was placed there it could be a headache for the staff might be of any use from a "political" POV.

bump

I'll tell you the problem with ASD units on MS schools: They're units. It's fine whilst the pupil is in the unit. But what happens when they're on breaks, at lunch times, going back and forth to the school? In my experience of some (not all) units, these are sensory and bullying nightmare-points for the pupils. The other pupils take the opportunity to call them every name under the sun/bash the living daylights out of them. The unstructured time means they have no clue what to do with themselves, as the whole school is not set up to handle the ASDs...

Not all are like it, but there are some. And they often slip the kids into the MS lessons here and there which means it's even more confusing and more overwhelming than before.

It ticks boxes for the LEA because they can say "oh of course we have provision for children with ASDs", but there's little good evidence that it has good long term outcomes for some of them. Some are good, though, as I say.

Go with your knowledge of what works for your own child.

Thanks Amber have writted it all down and will take to meeting tomorrow

Sorry tc didn't see you there yes you are right I need to mention all of those things thanks for reminder

Have you visited the school they suggest. This should give you some clear ideas why it won't work. Is the school secure? Is it a larger than average school?

If there is someone from the LEA at the transfer review it's best to seem open minded and reasonable and offer to see any schools they suggest.

Above all GOOD LUCK!