DS will now be missing transfer day at school tomorrow, and they don't seem to care...

[genieinabottle]

...or want to do anything about it.

Unfortunately DS has caught chicken-pox.
Part of his transition plan (DS is 4, asd) was 5 induction sessions at the infant school he will attend in september.

He had 3 which went 'okeish', but he was refusing to stay into the actual classroom and sit down at the tables to do activities. He was alsways outside or in the hallway outside the classroom playing on the computers.
And he was quite unsettled after each session.

He had to miss one session because it fell on the day of his autism assessment (2 weeks ago), now tomorrow is transfer day accros the city so he should be spending the whole morning at the school. But as he has chicken pox , i went to check with them they said he absolutely cannot come.
While i understand that. I'm cross as they said they cannot offer him any other sessions to replace the two missed. Apparently they will be too busy the next 2 weeks with school parties and trips.

Thanks for the idea

I think the trouble will be getting to have a word with the SENco in time as school closes in less than 3 weeks, and she wasn't particularly interested in speaking to me last week (i had some things i wanted to talk to her about re: recent asd dx and Cahms recommendations), i was told to wait for her to phone me....sometimes!

genie,

Sorry to read that DS will miss transfer day tomorrow and wish your son better soon. Chicken pox can make a person feel really rough.

I don't think it bodes particularly well re this school. If you're having such difficulties now these will no doubt magnify come September.

How is the Statement application coming along, have you submitted the request now to the LEA in question?.

Thanks for the tips.
I suppose i could ask for her email address, and explain that some things have changed (re:dx) and also about the transition sessions.
They (senco and HT) had said at our big meeting back a couple of months ago that the school would be as flexible as possible to accomodate DS's needs. It seems it was just empty words...

Yes i have sent the letter... recorded!

So waiting now... will be telling SENco about it if and when i get to see her.

we are doing all the same sort of stuff with DD1 at the moment as shes moving to Jr school. SENCO said to me that because its all done now, if i need to pop her in in Sept on the inset days, to do it. Could they do that for him?

Not sure...
I know he isn't actually starting until the 14th of september, as the teacher and TA are doing home visits, and he will be gradually going in, first week mornings, then mornings and lunch, then 3rd week all day if he seems to manage ok.

I would go in to the school in person tomorow and request a brief 20 min meeting with his class teacher, senco & the head.
Say you have concerns that you are sure can be ironed out very easily and a brief meeting now will make things easier for all.

Be very open and flexible with times yourself, make yourself available.
Then offer to take ds in yourself at the end of school, break times etc during the next couple of weeks to get him familiar.
Take a camera so that they can take some photos & if you can get some photos of your ds in the classroom or school all the better.

If, when you are bending over backwards to make it work for your ds they still seem to be putting barriers in place then perhaps they are just not good enough for your ds.
Good luck & I hope he's not too itchy!