I am finished with her school, it has helped her in ways we can't but at the same time it is no good for her. Her school has 20 students, all staffed on a 1:1 or 2:1 basis. Its an autism specialist school.
Yesterday was on of her worst days she described. This is how it went.
5:50am got up and in the shower.
6:30am got dressed and ready for school.
7:15am left home and got the bus.
9:15am went to school.
Before lunch she had sensory circuits, SaLT and Art. All really well done.
Lunch time: She had no lunch because the school had none of her safe foods. She got upset with this. One of her staff said they can go shopping for it but she replied 'Its not my job to go shopping. You guys should've had it in the first place. Someone would've taken the last item and could've said its run out but no, no one did that'. Her teacher made her feel angry and upset by saying they can go to the shop. She then was no longer going on about food but rather the fact she hates her teacher and wants everyone to leave her alone.
One of her safe staff came and calmed her down which took hours. When she did they went for a walk and the staff got a phone call saying a student has broken down on the motorway. They had to deal with that, had to help a student change staff. They had to run the school because there were other huge incidents which happened which the head of the school had to help with.
This staff she had been with, the safe one, was told by the head to go and stand outside. My daughter was then 1:1 which someone who is not her staff member. All her staff had left her. She was confused and overwhelmed and wanted to go for a walk. There were no staff to take her so she starts to kick off again. She drew on walls and wanted to hit staff but didn't which is amazing.
When it was time to walk to the bus stop, it took ages to sort out staff, she was reaching boiling point. On the way to the bus stop she was communicating that she was not getting on the bus because its too busy, too noisy and that she just won't cope. The bus she usually gets on she missed because she couldn't leave school. She refused the bus and was walking and trying to get away from staff.
When I picked her up, once again, she was in tears and so overwhelmed. I managed to calm her and she had dinner then was asleep before 7pm. Right now she has missed her usual bus this morning because she is still on bed. She is going to get on the next bus which is usually busy so I'm going to warn staff about this. I'm not happy with the school but she wants to keep going.
She said to me, which i never forget. 'I only work with certain staff because they are the ones who make me feel safe. When I feel safe I can communicate and learn. And if I do get upset they know how to help even when I'm not. I trust them because they know me well. Everyone else doesn't.' That just breaks my heart.