Possible ASD DD cannot cope with PE. School are insisting she will do it.

[Theitsman]

DD (Y8) has had massive struggles at secondary over the last year. Endless school refusal, self harm and violence at home.
She's currently managing to get herself into school but has a pass for PE and can go to the support wing instead. She usually does her homework in this time.

School are now saying that come autumn term they will have to reintegrate her into PE again. I know that even if she has separate changing this will tip her over the edge and we'll back back to square one again. School are insisting that they will be in trouble with OFSTED if she stops doing PE. Does anyone know if this is true? I can't have her forced into PE only to have explosions at home.

It will be months if not a year or so until CAMHS finally get to her and I cannot have her start to her GCSE studies (Y9) go downhill. We've only made it this far by the skin of our teeth.

I've name changed for this by the way. If I don't reply its because I'm stuck on my usual name....

Oh it sounds horrible for you to be forced into a situation you can predict will have a bad outcome.
I'm sorry I don't have useful advice myself so I'm sending solidarity and bumping for you.

IME experience mainstream secondary schools are very rigid when it comes to compulsory subjects. Partly because the message it sends out is if an exception is made for one others in the class will also want to opt out.

Don’t know if this will work and its only a suggestion- is there any sports activity your daughter will do that can not be met in school? Something that involves coaching and progress can be measured. For example , table tennis, ice skating, trampolining or marshal arts? If so, use it as a bargaining tool. Offer the school proof and a plan for outside school p.e. in exchange for allowing her to go to the quiet room whilst the others are doing pe.

This is a sticking point for us too. Apparently it's a Y8 thing. First question is find out what they mean by reintegration. How are they going to make it different to how it's been this year? Are they planning, or could you agree, some compromises that could work for her? Eg graduated return, TA support, a less triggering Just Dance/yoga type option.

We have been talking to several schools. Anecdotally, some DC who exercise a lot out of school get a bye for PE. Others can do something away from the main group with a TA, even if it's just Wii fit. But of course a TA takes money. I would suggest trying to find something that could work for her, even if it costs. If they say there is no money/staff for that then you say what else have you got? If they can't come up with suitable adjustments, then how about she continues to go to the support wing?

I don't know about the law on this but I would go in with the principle that it's like Reduced Timetables. IF there's a law, it'll be one that puts onus on the school or LA to put better adjustments in for her after 6 weeks, not one they can use as a stick to beat her with.

I think you need a meeting with the SENCO and the head of PE. What do they mean by reintegration? I'd find that out first - is it just dump her back in the class or do they have a proper plan? What could she cope with if anything? Could she cope with doing something with a TA? Could she cope with only doing yoga/dance? What exactly can't she cope with? Changing? Anything competitive? Anything in a large group? Make sure you know what exactly will and won't work for her before you go. Tell them that you are concerned that going back is going to tip over into self harm and violence and ask them how they plan to safeguard against that. Tell them that you are very concerned about the impact on her learning in other subjects if she is feeling totally over whelmed and anxious about PE. Good luck OP, I hope they understand what they are dealing with.

Thank you all. I'm reading and planning

The school are right in the fact PE is part of a broad and balanced curriculum. However, they should be making reasonable adjustments. Although that doesn’t necessarily mean a complete exemption - it could be 1:1, a small group etc. Or if the groups rotate around activities each term DD could be allowed to stay with one particular one. Or rather than physically partaking she could be allowed to coach or umpire or analyse like she would if she had a physical injury preventing physical participation. Without an EHCP it is unlikely the school are going to agree to a complete exemption from PE long term.

Highly unlikely that OFSTED will be bothered about her not doing PE. If someone "possibly" had a broken leg you wouldn't make them do PE regardless, so because she "possibly" has ASD and is clearly struggling with things they shouldn't make her do PE.

I used to work in a secondary school and we had a lot of students who wouldn't attend certain lessons because of their SEN, and this was understood by the school. School have to accommodate the needs of students and if doing PE is going to cause such a problem for her then they should agree to let her carry on going to the support wing.

I'd argue your case on this one OP, it sounds like you've all had a tough time and if this is something that's going to negatively impact your daughter to such an extent then the school shouldn't make her do it. Hope things work out okay

My ASD teen was signed off PE lessons, her CAMHS psychiatrist wrote a short letter to school explaining that it was harming her mental health and they agreed. She now goes to the support unit during PE lessons (only three a fortnight now) and does homework, which is a win win for everyone as she struggles to do work outside of school hours.
Do you have any health professionals who can advocate for her?