hi all, my son age 8. has asd/aspergers. in a mainstream school. escaped a month ago under a school fence, the teachers managed to get him back inside. i was scared to send him back as they did no changes to the fence. the head never ever rang me to explain. his T.A had a very shifty story as to how it happened. my son told me she was not near him. so..i called the education welfare officer to inform her. she didnt know what to do. last week she called to tell me the school want to push to prosecute of he isnt back in school soon. i then asked her for conformation that the fence was fixed. she told me the school said he wont be able to get out again. the head was on leave. so...after a long chat with my son i managed to get his mind set/ routine changed for the next day. all ran smoothly next day. day after he escaped again, under the same fence. this time all the teachers ran, got him and 3 had to restrain him and carry him in. it then took me 40 minutes again, like the last time to get him to leave the school classroom at home time.
as you can imagine i was fuming. i told the education welfare officer he's not going back there. she said he has to. and i will get prosecuted. he now has no break time/time outside to play. i asked to see the head in place and stated that he needs time out to run free on his own as he cant cope with crowds. she assured me he will get time outside and the caretaker is refixing the fence. its about 1 mile around. i dont know how he will do that in a day.
the next night my son informed me he didnt get to go out at break or lunch. when i asked his ta why...she told me they are trying a 'phasing out' routine from 1 minute a day to build up. so he now has no time outside.
i dont know who to turn to. the education dept at our local council said i cant do anything. as he is too bright for a special school. i stated that the school doesnt meet his needs. and she said 'move him' as you all know its not easy to get a asd choilds mind around moving schools. esp as he only changed to this school a year ago as he was 'too much' for the school he was attending and spent more time at home than he did in education as they always sent him home for his 'outbreaks' as they kindly put it.
this morning, i walked around the whole fence. there must be a good 1 foot gap under the whole lot. even still after the extra metal welded on.
i feel lost? i want to keep my son safe, its dangerous for him at this school, yet i will be prosecuted? can they actually do this by law with a statemented child? with autism.?
