• Replies 5 replies
  • Subscribers 65 subscribers
  • Views 1226 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Move school or not ??

stacey1471

Hi, 

haven't been on to post for a long time, but my son has HFA diagnosis, he is Y1 at the mo.  His main issues are social, all aspects of this. He is a very emotional boy. He is quite bright but finds it hard to keep upo with class as gets very distracted and then gets paniky.

Anyways, throughout reception his mainstream school did a great job he came on loads as in the begg he couldn't cope with school at all. Y1 however hasen't been that great, in class he is a teachers pleaser, and gets on ok. But socially they dont help him nearly enough, he has one friend that he will only play with if he is playing IT, and most of the other children he will cover his ears and hide from in playground before n after school. 

if he doesnt play IT with his friend then he will just walk around on his own watching people or sometimes says i wanted to play but didnt know how or what to say.

So i have had countless chats with teacher and senco he is school action + (not ststemented)

they feel he is coping fine, he has zero support on the playground, and seems the little they do do is very inconsistant. i have recently viewed another school spoken to head teacher and senco there, they have said that they would give my son 1to1 on they playground without a statement then access his needs. 

They seemed to understand his needs and have a better idea of how to support him, 

but the question is, is this enough of a reason to move him... ???? 

my son is very emotional and obvs isnt great with change..

His views are 'i love my sool sooo much and i would miss him loads'. he really isnt keen on moving him. 

i dont want to make the wrong decision??

ive also viewed a special schhol but seems there is no @ideal@ school for HFA children, seems special school isnt quite right but have much more knowledge and mainstream isnt right either. 

Thanks, any advice welcome x

  • Hi there - we applied for and got a statement for our son. He now has a 1-2-1 at all times. It has been a harrowing process as it focuses on all the negatives and challenges he faces - be prepared for that. However, we always knew this would be the case and that the end result was so worth fighting and going through this for. The LEA (we are West Berks) have been fabulous and amazing and are always at the end of the phone as we have had wobbles about whether or not to move our son and talking to someone wh knows everything about your child but is also emotionally removed from the situation is brilliant. This may only be West Berks but they have been fabulous. This is a really hard position to be in and there is no easy answer, the only thing I might say if I can be so bold, is that moving him now will be easier than moving him after another year of being settled in his current school. Good luck and best wishes

  • HI All, 

    Thanks for replying. 

    Yes you are all right i need to get sorted and move him as kn it will be the best for him, i have also now got a number for my parent 2 parntership, so i can get the ststementing process started, have any of you had any experience of applying yourself for statement? how did it go? I wonder how it works as most of my sons issues are social.

    Yes the school in question to move is mainstream but with better support for him. 

    but i did yes visit an autism specific school, it was lovley. i spoke with the head and while she advised not leaving my son to reach chrisis point to move/get statement etc (he has started thumping his head a lot and getting very stressed out as soon as walk thro door after school) she also said 75% of her pupils were on the spectrum only a handful were high functioning, and that it is very had to find the right balance for HFA children between special and mainstream.

    thanks again stacey xx

  • more dialogue with your son, ask him his thoughts, again and again, ask him for the solution he would find best,, maybe one day at the new school to test out the water or a better plan/routine/assistance at the existing school.

    You are caught in between a rock and a hard place to be, you need a professional to be concerned in your sons case to prop you up. How about a letter with your concerns addressed to whom it may concern.

  • Hi

    I would echo everything Crystal12 has said. It's always a battle with schools so to find one where the Head and SENCO are supportive and able/willing to help your son is a massive step forward. Getting the right help early is crucial. Maybe you could both visit the school before the end of term a couple of times which would enable your son to experience it, get used to the other children and the surroundings before making a decision? (Just tell his present school you have an appointment somewhere, no need to tell them where!). I would apply for a statement regardless of whether you do end up moving your son or not, NAS will be able to advise you or your local Parent Partnership or IPSEA - all have websites. It would help the school with funding for your son and your son's specific needs will be assessed properly. Good luck, I hope the school year ends on a happy note for both of you ready for September.

  • Hi - just my opinion, but I would seriously consider moving him to a school much more suited to his needs.  I understand he would be upset by change + that he's little,  but I think it's best to do it sooner rather than later.  You could spend time helping him to adjust to a change of school + explain to him that it's a nicer one than his present one. It could easily get worse for him as he gets older as his present school appear to be unsupportive/don't understand his needs.  What was it about the special school that wasn't quite right - am presuming it is an autism-specific school?  You really need to get him statemented - you can apply to do this yourself.  Good luck.  I know it's a big decision that needs careful, informed consideration.