Is the teacher handling this correctly? re DS hurting other children.(sorry really long!)

[AfternoonsandCoffeespoons]

This might be quite long.

DS (5, moderate learning difficulties, practically no speech) attends SN school. He has, for osme time, been pinching and biting his friends/ classmates. He used to do this a lot at pre-school (mainstream) but it calmed down when he started school, now picked up again a lot.

This is not a behaviour we see at home, and i think it is related to his general frustration at not being able to communicate, rather than any spite or 'wanting' to hurt IYSWIM.

When DS hurts a child, teacher sends him for 'time out'. (a mat to one side of the room). Plus yesterday, she said he nearly missed a trip they went on as he was on his last warning before they left, and wouldn't have been allowed on the trip as punishment. This seems really harsh to me, and i am also questioning the idea of 'punishing' him. It seems to me that a) they've been trying this for nearly a year now and it hasn't made a difference so is it really working? and b) as its related to frustration its a coping mechanism of sorts and it seems unfair to punish him for that. Is there another way?

Really don't know what to do about it though. I know I need to talk to the teacher but don't know what to say. Or should we be seeing someone else? Any advise would be really greatly appreciated.

I have to say I'm surprised that this is the approach a SN school is using with an almost non-verbal 5-year-old. At my MS school children can expect a half day exclusion for biting/deliberately hurting another child or an adult (unless being restrained) but we don't do that for children who are pre-verbal, non-verbal or have communication difficulties because it's understood to be a display of frustration/attempt at communicating this rather than something done to hurt someone!

Punishing a child for not being able to communicate effectively would be wrong in any school, never mind an SN school. I think you need to arrange to meet with someone more senior in the school and ask how this approach fits in with their behaviour policy (especially the exclusion from a trip which is unlawful if due to his disability) but also ask for SALT or someone to work with your child and his teacher to set up a useful communication system - there's nothing to be gained from sending him to time out every time he makes an attempt at communicating!

Punishing afterwards (beyond a simple NO or a timeout) is probably a waste of time. They should be more proactive in looking for the triggers. This is just quick because I'm at home with a sick child but hopefully others will be along with some good ideas!

Thanks for replies. They use PECS at the school and also DS can sign a fair amount. But this means only that he can communicate with adults (who know the signs etc). With the children its that bit more difficult.

I have written in his home/school book to let them know I'm concerned (not specifics but just mentioned that I had discussed hurting with him and i don't think he means to hurt IYSWIM). I don't want to come across as being too PFB. I will see what the reply is this afternnon when he comes home.

Sorry for the delay in replying btw. Didn't expect any replies quite so soon!