primary school transition meeting

[takemesomewheresunny]

I've just been told that we have a transition meeting for ds (dx of HFA last nov) starting school in sept, I think most the bigwigs (no paed sadly) are going to be there, and I think his going on action plus. Reading posts on schools does not give one peace of mind about a child's needs.

But how should I prepare, I can't imagine school giving the same attention as his nursery/preschool (been very luck and they have been fab, only 10 max at preschool). it's a huge school (+700) and only 2 sencos, and the class is 30, and only a helper in the morning. i'm guessing that the year get together a breaks and after school (90 kids running around). it's scary.

I guess write notes for the teacher. his v. gullible, easy target, aloof, controlling, repetitive, attention span of seconds (unless tv, books, gogos or power rangers), a v. mixed bag. No interest in drawing, painting etc Don't think he needs visual aids as currently is the plan, social books or dolls! he grabs, flaps, jumps to/at people when excited or waiting and lots of subtle little things. needs to be told and shown everything several times. ultimately don't know how his going to take it.

Should I be asking for stuff now (and what, assume there will be IEP) or wait and see how the school handles things (you never know they might..) . As crap at meetings, I think I have delayed processing, so it does not sink in till next day, not a useful trait for meetings!

Also DS has never seen a EP are they important?

Sorry v. grabbled post up feel v. up in the air, as ds is not glaringly obvious so makes it difficult.

Have you got anybody to take with you? It sounds like you could use the moral support and somebody to absorb some of the info when they are spouting it at you. I know it can be tough to think and get your point across at the same time, in a room full of 'experts'. Having an ally can buy you some time.

I would take a list a questions with you. Maybe, if you think there are going to be a lot of people, a small sort of report on how you see DS and his needs. If you can, maybe get a report from the nursery so they can say how he is doing. That helps a bit too.

Ultimately, you are just going to have to wait and see though, because no matter what they say they will do, until they do it, they are empty words.

My DS has AS/dyspraxia, is in Yr 5 and has never seen an EP. They don't necessarily help.

Have you got, or have you thought about getting a statement?

I would certainly not attend this meeting alone if at all possible. You need an advocate too, someone to ask questions of these people.

If you have not already obtained a Statement for your DS I would suggest you apply for this asap. It can take six months to get this set up so do not delay unduly now.

You don't need anyone's permission to write to the LEA, IPSEA's website is very useful as it has model letters you can use:-

www.ipsea.org.uk

An EP would be helpful with regards to Statementing as their words do carry weight with their employers the LEA. Many schools however, only get 2-3 visits a year and this is likely why your son has not been seen by such a person. They cannot make any formal diagnosis though but will advise re educational needs within school.

Do not wait how the school handles things as they likely will not - prempt the problems now by asking lots of awkward questions as to how the Jr school are going to try and get his needs met. I would apply for the Statement now regardless of what they say and or do. This is not their child and you as his Mum are his best - and only - advocate.

Junior school can be a very tough time for some children on the autistic spectrum because of the unwritten social rules. If his needs do not get met he and by turn yourself may well encounter problems soon after he starts Y3.

School action plus is really not worth the paper its written on if extra support within school is needed.

So much depends on the school tbh. Ours turned out to be one of those with a great SENCO and is very good with SN stuff.

The transition meetings for my two with ASD were basically an opportunity for everyone to talk about what they thought the potential problems were, and also about which strategies and methods worked best for my boys.

Will someone from the pre-school be attending? They could be very useful, both as moral support for you and also as someone who knows your ds well and can talk about what help he currently receives. If they can't attend, it might be worth arranging to speak to them before the day of the meeting and going through some of your concerns with them and asking for their thoughts and opinions.

It's also worth asking the school about the possibility of your ds going in to visit the school before September so that he (and you) can get a better idea of what to expect. Schools will usually arrange for the pre-school children to visit anyway but my ds was also invited to spend a couple of mornings with the (then) current Reception class so that he could see what the real thing would be like. I stayed with him for the extra visits so was also able to see what playtimes were like too.

The Ed Psych visited ds1 just before he started school but he hasn't needed to see her since then (he's now in Yr5). Ds2 saw the Ed Psych once while he was at pre-school but nothing since then. Tbh she just looked at his previous written reports and did some testing with him but nothing formal. It really didn't make any difference tbh.

Good luck.

Thank you, some great suggestions. It had not occurred to bring someone with me, DH great with the boys, but not interested in the whole ASD side. To him it's just his ds and he loves him and has great patience, but is not so good at looking at the bigger picture (beyond the house). will ask sis.

I think the plan is to visit the school with his keyworker, but I had not thought of when the reception class is there, will ask for that. Sadly he had a fab keyworker that really understood him but has left but many of the others work with him closely. i might suggest we have a meeting before hand to see if we can think of strategies before the school meet.

I'm confused as to whether to statement, as in the setting now he definitely does not need one, but i also know this can all change. I am hoping that if we can get the right set up he will not need one. A morning with the current reception class would be v. revealing. But i will get all the info ready and prepared it is goes horribly wrong so can get the ball rolling quickly.

thanks again, will get a plan of action .

Certainly take an advocate like your sister along to the meeting. Think your DH is being unfair actually but some men cannot (or will not) deal with such issues in their children. He may well see differently at some point.

I would still apply for the Statement now even though you think its okay currently. At least he would hopefully have this during the early part of Y3 if you did so. A Statement (unlike anything else you may get offered) is legally binding and they have to stick to it. It is not just for academic needs, it can address social needs too.

Situations re school can change very quickly and I would preempt the problems re socialisation in junior school before they start to affect him and by turn the family to their detriment.

I write the above too as I have too many good children with a variety of SEN flounder badly in junior school not just academically but socially as well. Their needs were not at all met by school.

Would be more than happy to come with you

Just a thought, sometimes they are good sometimes not so good but there should be a local Parent Partnership Service which can give advice and attend meetings with you. They are supposed to be impartial (though are funded by LEA) and are there to support you in getting your child's educational needs met. Your local library should have the phone no or it will be on your LEA web site.