Newly diagnosed refusing school work

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New here as newly diagnosed.

year 11 DS has stopped doing school work in class and shuts down refusing to explain or engage further.

I think it’s probably overwhelming and thought of mock exams causing anxiety.

any thoughts anyone how to deal with?

Have you spoken to the SENCO?

What support is DS receiving? Is DS struggling academically? Is there any subject he copes better in? Is DS doing a full timetable of subjects?

Hi @EndlessLight

we don’t have the report yet and so I’ve not spoken to SENCO yet. I have tried previously and some adjustments were in place but I think these were maybe teacher led and with the new school year are no longer in place.

I don’t think the struggle is academic necessarily. I think he struggles with too many steps in instructions and not being clearly broken down.

He’s on a full timetable and does better in his favourite subject and seems very little in any other.

Speak to the SENCO. The school needs to be providing support. Breaking tasks down, giving instructions one by one, providing written instructions is an easy adjustment they can make.

You should try and get him learning support so he can do 1-1 a couple of times a week. Also does he have too many subjects? We cut down DD15 workload as she was struggling last year.