Transitioning child from special needs nursery to mainstream school ASD unit

Hi Erinn

We successfully transistioned my son to school - it took some effort but I can share what worked for us.

First we visited the school to take photos of all the environment my son would encounter - including the toilet and basins! We got a cheap photo album and made a social story about school (without words because he had no language at that point) starting with the door he would go through, the peg he would hang his coat on etc. We put the story in chronolgical order of a typical day, so we had to research through the teacher how a day is structured. We regularly looked at this over the weeks before he visited school for the first time and talked positively about it. Include the words 'your school', 'big school' felt too daunting for him and we wanted him to feel he belonged to the school community.We requested he visit school, as agreed between us, as much as was possible and staff were accomodating.

Over the summer we got him used to the uniform by regular contact until he would try it on and increased how long he would keep it on for. It may seem strange to wear uniform in the holidays but whatever works... I still have the photo of my son wearing his full school uniform proudly for the first time. We practised the journey to school  with him wearing it, ignoring looks from passers-by.

It's essential to have thorough hand-over from nursery to school and remember the details of what your child may find difficult. Nursery and school arranged meetings for hand over and we also attended. This really important as getting everyone together in the same room to thrash it out saves yourself lots of time and energy in the long run. We forgot the difficulty our son had with using a new toilet when he started nursery and presumed that because he had been toilet trained for 2 years when he started school that it would be ok. After a week of him holding in pee all day, or sometimes wetting himself and refusing to be changed, we managed to get him to use the school toilet. It can be difficult to forsee problems and I felt terrible as he had sore legs from wetting himself, and stank! 

I had a good tip from another parent - if you wear a scent or particular shampoo, spray a bit on his clothes or rub his clothes on yourself so that he can have a reassuring smell in the new environment. Our school also gave all children a small cuddly toy from their new teacher that they took to school with them. My son didn't take to it but it may work for a child to have a small, familiar object they can keep with them.

I decided to give my son a packed lunch. He wanted the same food every day for over a year but at least I knew he had eaten and wasn't going hungry all day. Sufficient sleep and nutrition are very important in stressful times. Reward him for all the effort he has made for going to school by letting him wind down with his favourite activity. My son still needs half an hour of flapping and stimming when he gets home.

I would advise keeping a contact diary where you note down everything - it can be hard to recall any problems or successes at a later date and you may need them for assessments. It may seem hard work but you will be required to provide your point of view annually at the review and it is best to be specific because your child's support is only accessed legally through his Statement. If he needs support through break and lunchtime you need to be very clear about it. 

I remember how daunting it felt and scary. It will be ok, you're sensible to be thinking ahead. Good luck!

Hi Erinn

We successfully transistioned my son to school - it took some effort but I can share what worked for us.

First we visited the school to take photos of all the environment my son would encounter - including the toilet and basins! We got a cheap photo album and made a social story about school (without words because he had no language at that point) starting with the door he would go through, the peg he would hang his coat on etc. We put the story in chronolgical order of a typical day, so we had to research through the teacher how a day is structured. We regularly looked at this over the weeks before he visited school for the first time and talked positively about it. Include the words 'your school', 'big school' felt too daunting for him and we wanted him to feel he belonged to the school community.We requested he visit school, as agreed between us, as much as was possible and staff were accomodating.

Over the summer we got him used to the uniform by regular contact until he would try it on and increased how long he would keep it on for. It may seem strange to wear uniform in the holidays but whatever works... I still have the photo of my son wearing his full school uniform proudly for the first time. We practised the journey to school  with him wearing it, ignoring looks from passers-by.

It's essential to have thorough hand-over from nursery to school and remember the details of what your child may find difficult. Nursery and school arranged meetings for hand over and we also attended. This really important as getting everyone together in the same room to thrash it out saves yourself lots of time and energy in the long run. We forgot the difficulty our son had with using a new toilet when he started nursery and presumed that because he had been toilet trained for 2 years when he started school that it would be ok. After a week of him holding in pee all day, or sometimes wetting himself and refusing to be changed, we managed to get him to use the school toilet. It can be difficult to forsee problems and I felt terrible as he had sore legs from wetting himself, and stank! 

I had a good tip from another parent - if you wear a scent or particular shampoo, spray a bit on his clothes or rub his clothes on yourself so that he can have a reassuring smell in the new environment. Our school also gave all children a small cuddly toy from their new teacher that they took to school with them. My son didn't take to it but it may work for a child to have a small, familiar object they can keep with them.

I decided to give my son a packed lunch. He wanted the same food every day for over a year but at least I knew he had eaten and wasn't going hungry all day. Sufficient sleep and nutrition are very important in stressful times. Reward him for all the effort he has made for going to school by letting him wind down with his favourite activity. My son still needs half an hour of flapping and stimming when he gets home.

I would advise keeping a contact diary where you note down everything - it can be hard to recall any problems or successes at a later date and you may need them for assessments. It may seem hard work but you will be required to provide your point of view annually at the review and it is best to be specific because your child's support is only accessed legally through his Statement. If he needs support through break and lunchtime you need to be very clear about it. 

I remember how daunting it felt and scary. It will be ok, you're sensible to be thinking ahead. Good luck!