Y11 and school refusals

[vickibee]

All thru school DS has had excellent attendance but since Xmas he has been refusing to attend and it is a real struggle to get him in. In some days
he says he is burnt out (asd) but I think it’s pressure and expectations. It’s mock exam after mock exam. I think he is panicking and fears failure, he is borderline for passing and is brighter than his results suggest, teachers say he works at a much higher level in class.
he has an offer for a L3 course at college but needs to pass 5 exams incl eng and maths which is looking unlikely.
any advice on how to motivate him and ease his anxiety.? School don’t seem to help much . TIA

What SEN support is in place? Does DS have an EHCP?

Does DS have access arrangements in place for exams?

If DS can’t attend school the LA must make alternative arrangements to ensure DS receives a suitable, full time education. Are they providing this?

Is there a L2 course DS could go on to?

Chat to the college’s SEND team - they are often very flexible when it comes to grades and especially for children with SEND.

TY for the replies, he does have an EHCP and access arrangements for exams
He just can’t do exams , the subject that he is doing coursework in Digital Media he is on course for a level 7. This is what he wants to do at college and he is more than capable of the L3 Course. Staff say he is working at level 6 in class but flunks exams because he doesn’t have good executive functioning. He has worked so hard for ten years at #school but it’s like he’s just given up

@vickibee does he have extra time for exams/small classroom away from main exam room etc?

You need an early review of the EHCP.

As well as alternative arrangements for a suitable full time education the LA must also provide anything specified and quantified in F.

Does DS have all the access arrangements he needs? Extra time, small room, rest breaks, prompter, laptop/scribe/speech recognition software (whichever one is best for DS).

@Verbena17 yes he does, school have helped a lot in this sort of way but not with his anxiety, he just can’t cope with the pressure , I was promised some counselling to help with anxiety but this has not happened.
he also has use of a laptop in some subjects

Does the EHCP not include therapies?

Unfortunately no mention of therapies.

You need an early review in order to pursue therapies - SALT, OT and MH therapies.