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Homeschooling

Chunky

Hi all,

My name is Megan & I'm mum to 3 lovely boys. My youngest, Joe, was diagnosed with Autism 12 mths ago. All my boys go to mainstream school - my oldest is in Y9 & doing well in secondary school. My middle son is in Y4 & again doing well in primary school. Joe, however, is in Y2 & struggling. He's amazingly bright academically &, for this reason, I've been told that he won't get a statement. He has issues socially & emotionally. I'm not satisfied that the staff have had adequate training following a few rather upsetting incidents. 

The school is being forced into Acadamy status by the DfE & the proposed sponsor has an appalling record with SEN children. Many of our staff are 'jumping ship' before we become an academy, including our SENCO. I'm really concerned where this will leave Joe to the point where I'm considering homeschooling him. But I worry that, if I do, he'll miss out socially.

BUT WHERE DO I START? Any advice would be greatly received, especially from parents who have already gone down this route.

Many thanks.

  • hi megan

    just joined the sight and just reading your post has hit a nerve as i went through the same thing recently.

    we was thinking  of homeschooling our boy who's 7 for a long time and finally took the huge step this xmas holidays. he did not go  back after them as he was so distressed and anxious that we couldn't do it to him any more. like your son he is very bright academically and we worried about the impact it would have socially if we took him out. but to be fair he wasn't getting anything socially from school as he stayed in at playtimes (unable to cope) and i had to pick him up for his dinner hour.

    school is a very stressful place for autistic children and i have found that since taking him out of a situation he was unable to rationalise and cope with he has flourished.

    he never ever asked for 'friends' to come round but now he's had 5 successful play dates because he has felt safe and secure and was able to control who he would see where and when, not forced into a certain situation. also he has just slept out at his cousins house and goes to golf.

    education wise it is hard home educating but in my view very rewarding and you can structure the lessons you know your son can understand and cope with. there is lots of help out there and since homeschooling him we've seen more professonals and had more help then we can remember. 

    the first place to start if you feel its right for you is go on your local council webite and that will tell u what u need to do. it gives you the law regarding home school and your rights and also a copy of the letter you will need to write if going down that route.

    it is hardwork but if your willing to do it i'm sure you'll see the benefits and hopefully a change in your son socially. i understand everychild is different and it might not mean it would be best but if your seriously giving it thought its worth the try. i've spoken to other parents who home school as i'm part of a group and for them its the right choice all round.

    good luck with whatever you choose and always keep fighting for things you believe are right for your child.

    sorry for the length of post hope it helps even if a little

  • Hi Chunky,

    Sorry to hear you're having a bad time

     

    I would first start of with applying for a Statment of Special Educational Needs as even though your child is high functioning, he I presume still has difficulties with social issues, friends etc

    Google and SEN sites like specialneedsjungle (blog) will really be helpful for statementing process.

    The statementing process may also help when trying to get seperate support from social services as if your son has Autism, he may be classed as disabled and therefore need support as a Child In Need.

     

    Also if you decide to go down the home schooling route later, some councils (also known as local authorities) keep the statement as a way to check up how the child is doing etc

     

    If they don't, I presume there's nothing stopping you putting this and funding for home schooling as a need on the statement or try getting round these issues another way

    It will be a tough battle but one you will love for have doing later done the line.

    All the best and you will be fine.

     

    Hope that helps,

    urspecial

  • I totally agree with DaisyGirl. In some respects it is worse at secondary than primary. Just Google Home schooling. Start with the government site and see if there is any help from your Local Authority. His best way to interact with is around common interests.

  • I am an adult female with Asperger's who was homeschooled from high school.

    Your son's autism is what will make him miss out socially, not being homeschooled. This is an old set of thinking from certain teachers/social workers who are ideologically opposed to home schooling.

    If he had a small set of like minded children he mixed with (ie they share his special interests) it is much much better than school where children are forced to socialise with only those children in their age bracket (a thing we never do outside of the school system).

    There are websites for homeschooling in England to let you know how to get started. 

    You say your son has autism, is this classic autism or Asperger's? If it is Asperger's then things at school will only get more difficult as your son fails to develop socially in the same way as his peers. They will grow/devlop away from him. If this is coupled with no support at all from the school it cannot be good.

    Also, remember that a lot of school is wasted (boring) time so your son will progress fast academically (if he is able) being homeschooled compared to school. This leaves lots of time for special interests (musical instruments, nature, science, maths, sports etc.).

    The biggest problem for most parents is that they cannot afford to have one parent constantly at home. Although there are lots of cost savings.

    I would always favour homeschooling. I was homeschooled too late to take away all the trauma that school piled on me, and I never recovered (although I did not have a supportive family life either).