Anyone for a starting school in September thread?

[SmellyBill]

Anyone want to join me on a starting school ramble?

DS1 (4.9 dx ASD) is starting (mainstream primary) school in September. He has a statement (though I'm not entirely convinced it is any good but IPSEA and others have told me I will lose at tribunal so not pursing it). He's been for a couple of taster sessions and enjoyed it but is refusing to even try the school uniform on and is adamant he won't be wearing it. As he has been so good on the settling sessions the class teacher doesn't think he has any difficulties . She is in for a shock!

That's us - what about you and yours

Hi SmellyBill, ds is not starting in September, but thought i would comment on the school uniform.

Is it compulsory?

Could you compromise and perhaps, get ds to agree to where part of the uniform, adding to it once he is more tolerant of the bit he is wearing?

Ds refuses to wear underwear and we compromise that he wears it on PE days (twice a week)

Thanks Claw. The uniform is compulsory, the SENCo said he could wear jogging bottoms (in either black or grey) but I am not sure the class teacher will agree. SENCo is off until September but have a Team Around the Child meeting on Monday so hoping to get something sorted. Problem is he objects to all of it, I can't even get the plain white polo top on him.

He has learnt to undress and dress himself recently so whilst that is good for his skill base it makes the clothing issue harder! Shoes are going to be a huge problem too - he is quite distressed atm as he grew out of his trainers so had to get him new ones so we have tears and tantrums about that, nevermind trying to get him to wear a black pair of proper shoes or trainers

Hi bdaonion.
DS1 used to mask his difficulties by being very passive and it was hard work getting people to understand that he wasn't coping. he has recently gone the other way (very disruptive) which has brought a new set of challenges and emotions to go with it. It is a sharp jolt when you see NT children interacting so easily isn't it? Hope you get a good statment so she gets the support she needs.

Yes would love to join this thread.

DD is starting school in sept with split placement between sn school and local ms school where my ds is. We have the first taster session at ms today and sn on monday. I know i'm going to feel upset seeing all the other kids being able to grasp what is happening and what they are doing there..

We're almost there with the statement having had to battle for 1-1 support for her mostly in the ms setting.. Hope it will be in place soon! It's so close now..

DD has tuberous sclerosis.. epilepsy,learning disability, severe language and communication problems, challenging behaviour and severe attention problems.. lucky she's got a winning smile and gives good hugs to anyone who'll have one coz they will have their work cut out for them!

Will check back in again when today is over.. It's going to be a tough time for us all I guess..

I'll join you!

Dd3 is 4.3 has multi sensory impairment, learning, physical difficulties and is non verbal. She's been statemented for well over a year already and goes to a hearing impaired base within a ms school. September she will be going up into reception and I'm dreading it. Nursery hasn't exactly gone well and we've currently got an official complaint in with the school. It's not that the school can't meet her needs, more can't be bothered to meet her needs [sigh] Thankfully dd3 is completely obliviously to all this and loves school [yay]

DD starting in september, no diagnosis yet but appointments at combined SALT and development clinic in august, leaning towards ASD. Has many sign of AS with speech problems too.

Can also seem quite normal at school, doesnt show her usual anxieties at nursery...or they go unnoticed. I get the impression they dont know the half of it!

Luckily we got referred to an inclusion teacher by our HV, she observed how happy she is at nursery but followed up with a home visit yesterday and really got to know what makes her tick. It was nice to be offered support, she insisted SENCO meet before Sept, rang me today...meeting on weds! Great!

Taster visit was last tuesday, she loved it! Cant wait for uniforms too!....main issue is she just made her first friend, she is obsessed by her....she is 3! DD does not understand she will not be in school...neither does her friend! EEEK.

...Oh and my DD is obsessed by Toy Story....school is now referred to as "the bowels of big school", as in "bowels of evil emporer zurgs empire!"....she will only answer to Mickey mouse as her name too! lol.

nice to meet you all, albeit in a virtual way

DJAngel-hope the taster sessions go/have gone well and the statement gets sorted asap.

Bigcar - sorry nursery hasn't met your DD's needs, hope things get straightened out for her start in reception

Woolytree - all sounds very promising with the school support, I am very jealous your DD loves the uniform! lol at only answering to mickey mouse.

Good luck to everyone and would be lovely to hear any updates

Im minnie Mummy..my DH is Goofy!

Hi

DD1 is 4.6, and has a brain malformation (widespread albeit subtle cortical dysplasia) with GDD, including a severe Speech and Language delay (5th centile), no sense of danger & epilepsy.

She will start at our local Special school in September.

I am quite concerned, becuase currently she has full 1:1 support, and needs watching like a hawk. At special school they have small class sizes, but not 1:1.

We haven't even heard anything about how things are working at the school yet. We go in next Friday for a meeting.

DD1 won't meet them properly until September. No transistion until then.

DS2 is 4.2 and starting MS reception in September. In reality, it's going to be not much different for him from nursery. Same place, same staff, same lovely support assistant, just all day and with uniform. I reckon he'll love it.

Just got his draft statement through for reception and his support has been amended from 4 sessions funded (with school to make up anything extra) to full time, which is great.

Can i join? Dd2 (ASD, severe language delay) is starting MS in september, we tried to get her a place in sn school but she was refussed a place , she's going into MS with a statement and full time 1:1 support but i'm still really worried (mainly for her safety).

So far the school are being great, they are making changes to the school to keep dd2 safe but the school does not have a good reputation with sn children (although they have been good with dd1 who has AS).

Forgot to add, since there are so many new to me "faces" in this thread, DS2 has autism and is non-verbal. His teachers have already worked with DS1 and have known him in a professional capacity since he was 2 and otherwise, since he was a baby, which explains why everything will already be familiar for him.

I would like to join as well please. DS(4) starting in MS school. Servere deaf and multiple health problems. We've had 2 settling in sessions so far that I think have gone OK, a few teething problems round equipment but nothing I don't think that can't be overcome. I'm concerned by his coping strategies stopping the teachers realising he's not hearing as its taken 2 terms of preschool before they've started to see the subtle signs of not hearing or not coping. DS has also announced he hates the school uniform and will not be wearing it. I'm reconing on just putting the trousers and polo shirts in his drawers tonight, going on holiday tomorrow and when we come back next week thats whats in his drawers and he's got all summer to get used to the idea.

my ds is currently at a mainstream preschool but moving to a special school in september he is 4, he will be 5 in november, he has autism and has very challenging behaviours!!

My dd just turned 4 (ASD) will be starting reception in September. She will have full time 1:1 support which should cover all her time there less break times. ASD is a social communication disorder so it does puzzle me why break times are not included in her 1:1 support as I can see this being where she will struggle most. She will probably just spend all her break time running about!! . Other than that she has loved her time at nursery so I am hoping she will love school just as much. A little over optimistic maybe but I will face the problems when and as they come. I can't bear to analyse the future too much.

DS1 has ASD and is starting Mainstream in September. He is on Stage 3 which equates to SA+. There is not going to be a Statutory Assessment yet - it's sink or swim - but there are two TAs in the room, and two other children with ASD, both more affected than DS1, so strategies should be in place. hopes

wow there's a fair few of us with new school starters.

Lougle - hope the meeting on Friday goes well.

Ouryve - all sounds good for your DS2, hope it all goes to plan

rebl - hope the school take onboard signs to look for about your DS not hearing/coping. I am liking your plan re swapping all clothes. I think I may start on Weds when we go to ThomasLand and say he has to wear the top all day if he wants to go....

meerkats - hope the transition to school goes well

Eviebaby - does the statement specifically state no cover at break times? DS1's statement is for 25hrs (school to provide 5). The SENCo told his Specialist Teacher that they would leave him uncovered at lunch etc. Apparently they then had a bit of a row(!) and his Specialist Teacher said they must use the hours for lunchtime as he is able to work independently for an hour or so a day in the class. I have no idea if it can be enforced, his Specialist Teacher told me if I get any complaints re his behaviour at lunch to get straight on the phone to the LEA and they would set them straight.

BigWeeHag - hope all the strategies your DS needs are put in place.

Can I join? dd2 - 4.3 is starting MS this September. She has Cerebral palsy and has a statement for 32.5 hours of 1-1 each week. We fought like dogs to get it - now have to convince the school to get of its butt and employ someone..

Hey Hanging - well done for fighting for the right statement for your DD2, hope the school pulls their finger out asap.

Hi, i'm joining you all...

DS is 4.7, dual DXs of ASD and speech and language disorder (expressive/receptive and speech sounds). (his future teacher doesn't even understand him when he speaks! )
He is starting school in september in mainstream infants.
He is on EYaction+ atm, and we are finally going to take the matter of statementing into our own hands and send the initial letter.

DS attends p/t a small language unit (brilliant), and a MS nursery (not brilliant!). Sadly he will be leaving the lang. unit in 3 weeks. I so wish he could stay there longer...

Like others, the matter of the school uniform needs to be addressed , and quite seriously i'm very worried about him starting school.

My ds 4.0, asd, mldand poss adhd, starts at an asd base in september, he has 1-1 at nursery at the moment but the base has 7 children and 5 staff so I think he will be ok. He has his taster session next friday, he is going with his TA, the teacher from the base has been out to see him in his nursery and left him with a trasition book of the staff kids and all the parts of the classroom.
Ds is very ridged but will wear his uniform for nusery which we call school and he loves only problem is the new one will be red and the one he wears now is green. My biggest worry with him is how he will get on with going on the bus as he has to be in a britax car seat in the car as he will get out and climb all over the place.

good morning!

Genie - sorry ms nursery have not been so great but glad the language unit has been good. hope the stat assessment gets agreed and the rest of the statementing process goes smoothly.

jjones - DS1's 1:1 from preschool went with him for his taster sessions too and it seems to have worked well. Will he have an escort with him on the bus?

DS1 is currently wearing a school top . DH put it on him whilst I was at the osteopath this morning, apparently DS1 moaned a bit but made no attempt to take it off. He is not happy when he remembers he is wearing it but I have managed to distract him so far. I'm glad DH got him in one but why when I've tried has DS1 just stripped it straight back off again????

Smelly - No statement did not specify no cover during break times I have just made an assumption which on second thoughts may be incorrect. I have a meeting with school before term ends so I think I should clarify then - Thanks for pointing that out.

Good luck with the uniform. Depends on what the weather is like as to what DD will wear. If it is still warm in September I will try for a dress but she is only used to wearing trousers to will probably not be very happy at all in a dress. I think I need to start practising with dresses and skirts!!

We haven't got our uniform yet! I'm probably in some kind of denial about it all!

Had reasonable induction at ms school on fri but the kids there were all from dd's nursery and so was bound to be ok for dd. Her 1-1 from nursery came too - so I had a chance to chat to her teacher who seems nice but bit anxious re getting it right. They already have me down as stroppy/ over protective mum from when my son was there!

I felt quite emotional throughout the whole visit although kept all that hidden of course. I am very anxious about how she'll cope.

We have the SN school visit on monday and that is a real unknown quantity for me. Then there's a second visit soon when dd is supposed to be left alone for an hour but I know she will freak out if I leave. She even cries when I leave the house when she's with her dad or my mum and looks at my photo wailing and signing/saying ' where's mum?'

I hope there will be some flexibility from the school about this as it's really worrying me! I have a lot of attachment issues myself so that doesn't help. I realise that I have probably made things worse because of that too..

Good news is that the statement now commits to ' individual support to ... access the curriculum....in the classroom ...and when moving around the school.. " so we feel that has it covered and we are going to agree now..

The SN school has agreed with the LEA that funds will be there to allow dd to go with the same 1-1 staff member from their team to the MS school.. let's hope they are good and build up a rapport with her but as I say it all fills me with dread at the moment.

To make it all worse.. I feel I should be making the most of this time with her, but she is being so difficult and exhausting - today I have just wanted to run away and not come back yet now she's asleep feel very guilty.

It should be special time but instead it's just shit..

Sorry for long post feeling very wobbly tonight..