Secondary school

I've had two experiences of secondary school with my ASD daughter however she didn't have a diagnosis until recently though, with the first school, I'm not sure anything would have been done differently because they were brilliant.  She only changed schools because we moved house.

The transition from primary to secondary is very important - if the two schools work together it will go much smoother.  I'm guessing you've picked the school because it will be more suitable for your son?  If so, stick to your intuition because his friends won't be able to help him as much as he thinks they will at the new school.

The key will be having visits put in place for the new school.  My daughter had been on unrelated transition visits twice in Year 5 but in Year 6, she was introduced to the staff of the new school when they came to do the class talk (a few of the anxious children were taken to one side to do this, not the whole class), the senco of both schools arranged a transition meeting to which I was invited along with the EP, she did the class visit to the new school with the TA by her side and then she did a seperate visit to the school with the TA and two other children.  It really made a difference.  On the first day, she toddled off to the bus stop where an older girl that recognised her from primary was waiting to look after her, she was met off the bus and then really looked after for the first few weeks with help moving about the school and reading her timetable.  She was also shown the 'reserved' table in the dining room for invited children only and she was shown to a room reserved for invited children only that she could retreat to for lunch and break but she only did this for a few weeks.  It was a very positive experience.

Unfortunately, the move to the new school wasn't handled well by the new school and she no longer goes.  Its a much bigger school with a different set up to the first.  It doesn't suit her and wouldn't even if she'd known loads of kids from primary there.  

Feel secure in your reasons for picking the school you have and get those transitions put in place.

I've had two experiences of secondary school with my ASD daughter however she didn't have a diagnosis until recently though, with the first school, I'm not sure anything would have been done differently because they were brilliant.  She only changed schools because we moved house.

The transition from primary to secondary is very important - if the two schools work together it will go much smoother.  I'm guessing you've picked the school because it will be more suitable for your son?  If so, stick to your intuition because his friends won't be able to help him as much as he thinks they will at the new school.

The key will be having visits put in place for the new school.  My daughter had been on unrelated transition visits twice in Year 5 but in Year 6, she was introduced to the staff of the new school when they came to do the class talk (a few of the anxious children were taken to one side to do this, not the whole class), the senco of both schools arranged a transition meeting to which I was invited along with the EP, she did the class visit to the new school with the TA by her side and then she did a seperate visit to the school with the TA and two other children.  It really made a difference.  On the first day, she toddled off to the bus stop where an older girl that recognised her from primary was waiting to look after her, she was met off the bus and then really looked after for the first few weeks with help moving about the school and reading her timetable.  She was also shown the 'reserved' table in the dining room for invited children only and she was shown to a room reserved for invited children only that she could retreat to for lunch and break but she only did this for a few weeks.  It was a very positive experience.

Unfortunately, the move to the new school wasn't handled well by the new school and she no longer goes.  Its a much bigger school with a different set up to the first.  It doesn't suit her and wouldn't even if she'd known loads of kids from primary there.  

Feel secure in your reasons for picking the school you have and get those transitions put in place.